江州北村左太夫虚羸不食,一日气息淹淹将绝。急延林市之进诊曰∶血脉衰弱不绝如缕
,庶
几万一耳,乃作剂。仅用人参一分,龙眼肉一个,众皆危之。翌朝来诊曰∶证候如前,而毛
窍稍塞,肌肤少和,是脾气旺肺之机,乃可望生。因倍人参、龙眼肉与之,果愈。友松闻之
叹赏曰∶极虚者投大剂纯补,譬如灯火将灭急灌油,不减何俟。林氏可谓得补法之蕴矣。
Kitamura Sadayu of Jiangzhou suffered from extreme emaciation and anorexia. One day, his breathing became faint, and he was on the verge of death. His family urgently summoned Lin Shizhijin for consultation. Lin examined the patient and stated: "The blood vessels are weak, and the pulse is thread-like and nearly imperceptible; there is only a slim chance of survival." He then prescribed a formula containing only one fen (a very small unit) of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and one Longyanrou (Longan Aril). The public considered this approach dangerous. Upon visiting the next morning, Lin remarked: "The symptoms remain unchanged, but the pores are slightly closed, and the skin texture has slightly harmonized. This indicates that the Spleen Qi is strengthening and generating Lung Qi, so recovery is possible." Consequently, he doubled the dosage of Renshen and Longyanrou, and the patient indeed recovered. Yumatsu heard of this and sighed in admiration, saying: "Administering large doses of pure tonifying herbs to a critically deficient patient is like pouring oil into a lamp about to go out; how could it not be so?" Lin could be said to have grasped the profound essence of the tonification method.