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A child accidentally swallowed a coin, which became lodged in the throat and could not pass down. All physicians were unable to retrieve it or induce its passage. Therefore, Dai Ren (Zhang Congzheng) was summoned. Dai Ren pondered deeply and suddenly devised a strategy: he took clean white paper, rolled it tightly like a chopstick, and cut the end crosswise with a knife to create a hook-like shape; additionally, he took another chopstick, bound a needle hook to its end to prevent detachment, and first inserted it into the throat, gently lifting and pressing to probe. Upon feeling the hook enter the hole of the coin, he then inserted the paper roll into the throat against the hook tip. Feeling the hook tip penetrate the end of the paper roll without injuring the mucosa, he lifted it out, retrieving the coin.

Luan Yingang from Tangxi suffered from hematochezia (blood in stool). A physician administered purgatives, after which the patient died in silence. His son, Luan Qi, saw Dai Ren and asked, "My father's death, no one knows what syndrome it was?" Dai Ren said, "The disease damaged the Heart. The Heart governs blood circulation; thus, when damaged, blood cannot be controlled. If accompanied by warm body heat, death ensues. Fire corresponds to the number seven; death must occur on the seventh day. Treatment should not involve purging. If purged, death would occur before reaching that number." Luan Qi said, "He died on the fourth day. Why do you say the disease damaged the Heart?" Dai Ren said, "Wisdom was insufficient yet forced planning occurred; strength was lacking yet forced action taken. How could the Heart not be damaged? Initially, Luan Yingang competed with Xing over a house and lost, thus contracting this illness." Luan Qi was greatly convinced and bowed to study medicine.

The son of Scholar Huo, aged twelve, had swelling in one testicle. Dai Ren observed and said, "This resulted from fright. Fright as a pathology, if ascending, leads to hematemesis (vomiting blood); if descending, it damages the Kidney leading to edema." He prescribed Hupo Tongjing San (Amber Meridian-Unblocking Powder), which resolved the swelling after a single purgative discharge.

A man from the Bu family in Shangqu, aged twenty-eight, suffered from physical weakness, powerless limbs, and a sallow complexion. On the left hypochondrium/lateral aspect, there was a mass resembling an arm in vertical extent. Pain occurred intermittently without fixed timing. Food intake remained unchanged, stools were normal, and urine was slightly yellow. This had persisted for two or three years. Physicians exhausted their strategies and sought Dai Ren's treatment. Observing the affected region, Dai Ren identified it as involving the Foot Jueyin Liver Channel and the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel. Zhang said, "Jia Gallbladder and Yi Liver correspond to green. Sallow color indicates the Spleen." Palpating the Gallbladder pulse as small, he attributed this to fright. Fright causes the Gallbladder to receive pathogenic factors, resulting in fright-induced phlegm-fluids and green water in the abdomen. The patient stated, "Previously, during military encampment, I experienced fire. Since then, I have been ill." At night, Dai Ren administered Zhouche Wan (Boat and Cart Pill) 150 pills, Junchuan San (River-Dredging Powder) 4-5 qian, mixed with fresh ginger juice. In the early morning, the patient indeed discharged four to five movements of green water. Someone asked why so much ginger was added. The answer was, "Pungent flavor can subdue Wood." After purging, mild pain was felt, so a second purge was ordered with dosage reduced by one-third compared to the previous. Another three to four movements of green water were discharged. Pain ceased, appetite returned, and strength recovered. Dai Ren told Bu, "Your wife must also be ill." Bu asked, "The Imperial Physician has not seen my wife; how do you know?" Dai Ren said, "How many years have you been afflicted by this fright?" Bu realized, "When the fire occurred, I was sleeping soundly in the thatched hall. Woken by shouts, I was too frightened to speak in my sleep. Fire blocked the door; my father pulled me from the fire. It has been five years." Zhang said, "Your Gallbladder harbors latent fire and fright. Jia-Yi Wood invades Spleen-Earth. This is Shaoyang Ministerial Fire invading Spleen-Earth. Heat in the Spleen allows consumption of food and digestion of grains. Although heat digests grain, essence and qi are incomplete; you will likely have no offspring. Defective meridians harm women. Your wife must have hot hands and feet, powerless limbs, and irregular menstruation." Bu replied, "My wife is indeed so, for five years." Later, disciples studying the *Neijing* asked about the principle of "first purge the unsuppressed, then purge the suppressed" and how to apply it. Zhang said, "For example, Gallbladder-Wood invades Stomach-Earth; Earth fails to control Wood. The failing Qi seeks rescue from its Son; Ji Earth generates Geng Metal. Geng corresponds to Large Intestine; pungent flavors belong to Metal. Thus, large amounts of ginger are used to subdue Wood. However, if Spleen-Earth is not opened first, Earth Qi cannot move." Therefore, Zhouche Wan was used first to clear blockages, representing "purging the unsuppressed"; subsequently, Junchuan San mixed with ginger juice was used for heavy purging, representing "purging the suppressed." Generally, Yang stems overcome Yang stems; Fu organs overcome Fu organs; Zang organs overcome Zang organs.