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Wang Shuhe, in the "Preface to Examples" of *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders), stated: "Whenever a person falls ill, if it is not treated promptly and they endure it hoping for spontaneous recovery, it will develop into an entrenched disease. This is especially true for children and women, whose conditions tend to worsen. When the seasonal qi is discordant, one should inform the physician early, trace the origin of the pathogen, and treat it in time while it is still in the *Couli* (interstices of skin and muscles); rarely does such a case fail to heal. If the patient endures the symptoms and speaks up only after several days, the pathogenic factor has entered the Zang organs, making it difficult to control." Xu Lingtai, in *Yixue Yuanliu Lun* (Discussion on the Origins and Development of Medicine), said: "Whenever a person feels slightly unwell, immediate regulation and treatment are necessary. One must absolutely not ignore it as a minor illness, leading to gradual deepening, nor should one force oneself to endure it, causing the disease to intensify and leaving endless harm."

When I was serving in Taizhou, my colleague Mr. Wang Yu'an, who was over fifty years old, suffered from a seasonal epidemic syndrome. He adhered strictly to the taboo of "not taking medicine is the best medicine," delaying treatment for several days. Consequently, pathogenic heat closed inward, causing unconsciousness. His family summoned physicians, but it was too late, and he died. Another case involved the son of a relative, the Wang family from Xiushui, who was very young. He accidentally developed fever and cough. His parents did not take it seriously, allowing him to play in the wind without dietary restrictions. The next day, his rash failed to erupt fully, accompanied by chest tightness and wheezing, with various complications appearing. The physician stated that the pathogenic heat was suppressed by wind-cold; despite medication, he died. All these cases resulted from a lack of prompt treatment.

A monk at Zhongkong Temple could cure Kuang Ziyuan's heart disorder by having him live alone in a room, clearing all worldly distractions, and sitting quietly for over a month, after which all illnesses vanished like they had never existed. A monk at Haiyan Temple could treat all types of consumptive diseases, deficiency injuries, hematemesis, and dry consumption. This monk did not know the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) or the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon); he was merely skilled in ensuring proper daily routine and dietary management. Patients staying at his temple for three to six months saw eight or nine out of ten recover. From this, we can see that the method for preserving health and preventing disease lies primarily in nurturing one's true nature and carefully regulating diet, rather than relying solely on herbal medicines.

The kang (heated brick bed) used by people in the North causes illness when used by Southerners, especially those with Yin deficiency constitutions, as the fire qi penetrates deeply, often leading to disease. Zhang Haofang, a Jinshi scholar from my hometown, resided in the capital and slept on a heated kang for a long time, subsequently developing a cough. Physicians mistakenly diagnosed lung deficiency and administered astringent herbs such as Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) and Wubeizi (Galla Chinensis), which ultimately led to his death. Zhang was poor but loved learning, and his character was upright and cautious. He died in middle age, and the scholarly community mourned him.

For those who faint or die from falling from heights, one must be careful not to move them. Wait until their Qi and blood stabilize before providing rescue; some may survive. If one panics and supports or carries them, causing disturbance, there is less than one chance in a hundred of survival. My relative's daughter, the Shen family's girl, aged ten, fell from a building and fainted upon hitting the ground. A physician was urgently summoned, who said, "Fortunately, she has not been moved; there is still hope for life. Otherwise, it would be dire." Medication was then administered, and after a while, she gradually revived and stabilized. For treating contusions and fractures, washing or administering warm human urine is beneficial.

Reading *Xu Mingyi Leian* (Continued Cases of Famous Physicians), I learned that the prohibition against movement applies not only to falls and bruises. It is recorded here in detail. Zhang Zihe treated an elderly man, over sixty years old, suffering from headache due to heat jue. Since he had used emetic drugs a month prior, combined with exposure to fire, the patient first experienced diarrhea. Due to his advanced age and weakness, upon going out and seeing the sun, he collapsed and lost consciousness. His family panicked and wanted to rub or pat him. Zhang said, "Do not disturb the one affected by fire." He gave the patient watermelon, cold water, honey, and snow. Shortly after, the patient revived. Because the patient was elderly and had undergone emesis and purging, his pulse was prone to chaos. With internal inflammatory fire and external solar exposure, he fell. Further disturbance would have made him incurable. Wang Shishan treated a person who suddenly fainted and appeared dead, losing consciousness. Initially, he had slight chills and fever, with a ginger-yellow complexion and deep, wiry, and thin pulses throughout. Wang knew this was caused by wind-strike and long-standing stagnation. He ordered one person to hold him tightly, breathe air into his mouth, and slowly administer hot ginger decoction, prohibiting noise and movement, as moving would prevent the Qi from returning. After a while, the patient indeed revived and stabilized after half a month of warming nourishment. This is not limited to this specific condition; in cases of wind-stroke, Qi stagnation, cold strike, or sudden syncope, one must not recklessly move the patient to sever the Qi. The *Neijing* clearly states, "If Qi returns, there is life." Those who do not understand this and cause disturbance, preventing Qi from returning, often result in premature death. Wei Yuhuang said: "In cases of sudden acute illness, both the family and the physician should know this. Acute illnesses often involve fire; disturbing them scatters the healthy Qi, leading to death." My daughter, aged eighteen, suddenly suffered from syncope. Her family did not know this principle, gathered around making noise, and carried her to another place, causing her to revive and then faint again, making rescue futile. Recording the cases of Zhang and Wang now still breaks my heart.