Library

My relative, an elderly woman surnamed Shen from Tiaocheng, at the age of seventy-four, suddenly grew a horn-like growth in the hair on the right upper side of her head. Initially, it was slightly painful. Thereafter, every time she felt pain, the horn would grow slightly larger. By this year (Xianfeng 8th Year), its shape was like a small finger. The flesh at the base of the horn was slightly swollen; the horn itself was hard as stone, with a slightly yellow color. The tip of the horn had three depressions, and the texture was slightly black, resembling rhinoceros horn. She is now seventy-six years old. (Recorded in the 8th Year of Xianfeng.)

Note: Zhu Danxi treated Zheng Jingli, who had a habit of drinking alcohol and eating fried or roasted foods. In his fifties, a horn-like growth erupted from the Sizhukong acupoint (Sizhukong, EX-HN4) on his forehead. It was as long and large as a chicken spur, slightly hard. Danxi stated that one should cut off rich flavors, first resolve food toxicity, and use acupuncture to open and drain stagnation. This condition was not easy to treat. Zheng, fearing the trouble, summoned other physicians who applied cold medicines such as Rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas), and Borneol (Bingpian) externally to cover it. Overnight, it burst open like a mussel shell, with a diameter of three cun. One or two days later, blood splashed out from the wound, reaching several feet high, and he died after a day or two. This was because the cold medicines forced the pathogen outward from the exterior, causing heat to be constrained and unable to vent, leading to such a violent outbreak. Now, Old Lady Shen lives in poverty and hardship, never drinking alcohol or eating meat. It is clear that her condition is not caused by food toxicity. It is unknown what qi mechanism caused this. I record this for those with knowledge to explain. (Another note: *History of the Southern Dynasties* records that Sun Qian grew two fleshy horns on his head in his late years, each one cun long. These were fleshy without bone, differing in form from Old Lady Shen's. Another note: Zhao Yunsong, in *Observations from the Pavilion of Daily Exposure*, stated that Gu Siyuan, a person from Zhongli during the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, lived to be 112 years old. Prince Xiao saw a fleshy horn on his head about one cun long (see biography). Later, I also met two people: one named Jiang Langao from Yanghu, and another surnamed Xu from Jiaxing. Both had fleshy horns on their heads, about one cun high, and both were over ninety years old. This seems to be a sign of longevity. However, both were poor and bitter, and both had no sons, so it was not a sign of losing office. This can corroborate each other and is appended here.)

There are diseases whose signs can be predicted. For example, numbness in the fingers indicates an impending stroke. Dry mouth occurring frequently for a year prior, along with heat in the palms and soles, or thirst desiring well water, or hunger immediately after eating, indicates an impending carbuncle of the back (Fabei). Bone pain in the eyebrows and eyes within three years indicates an impending case of Leprosy (Dafengji). These are conditions where external symptoms provide evidence. As for observing the spirit and complexion, examining the pulse, and being able to identify the disease beforehand, this requires skills beyond the ordinary, achievable only by a divine physician.

*Yi Bian* states that Zhen Xin Tong (True Heart Pain) [symptoms include clenched teeth, locked jaw, blue tongue, black face, incessant sweating, and cold limbs extending past elbows and knees] and Zhen Tou Tong (True Headache) [pain throughout the brain connecting to the teeth], if occurring at Zi or Wu hours, result in death within half a day... [text gap/error in original] ...taking medicine to disperse cold might allow survival amidst death. For acute Zhen Tou Tong, administer He Xi Dan (Black Tin Pill), moxa the Baihui acupoint (Baihui, GV20), and vigorously administer Ginseng (Renshen), Costus Root (Chenxiang), Aconite (Wutou), and Prepared Aconite Root (Fuzi).

When my grandfather, Mr. Qiuqi, passed away (at the age of seventy-eight), he suddenly suffered unbearable heart pain and died within half a day. Physicians were summoned, but only general remedies for heart pain were administered. If these methods had been used, perhaps there would have been some chance of saving him?

For conditions such as Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), Shui Zhong (Edema), Xia Gan (Chancre), Ke Sou (Cough), and Tu Xue (Hematemesis), abstaining from salt is the primary principle. If one cannot eat bland food, even good prescriptions will be ineffective.

Some diseases manifest in one area but affect another. Briefly listed: Qing Tui Ya Gan (Blue Leg Gum Disease) manifests as gum disease but necessarily appears on the legs; incessant coughing with a pulse lacking spirit, and hemorrhoids/fistulas at the anus, indicate extreme yang sinking below, which is incurable. Za Sai (Mumps) [also known as Swollen Cheeks], initially presents with aversion to cold and fever, deep and rapid pulse, swelling and pain around the ears, with a faint redness. As the swelling and pain subside, the testicles suddenly swell. Sometimes, due to the misuse of diaphoretic herbs, patients with weak constitutions cannot tolerate strong sweating, causing the pathogen to sink internally and enter the Jueyin meridians, resulting in testicular swelling and pain while the post-auricular symptoms completely disappear. This is because the post-auricular region belongs to the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exterior pairs. When Shaoyang contracts wind-heat, the pathogen shifts to the Liver Meridian. Treating this as a Hernia (Shan) would be a greater error. Only Wang Yungu Wenqi detailed this in *Huixin Lu* and prescribed: For robust patients with Mumps, Gan Jie Tang (Licorice and Platycodon Decoction) plus Arctii Fructus (Niubangzi), Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Danpi), and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui); one or two doses can resolve it. For weak patients, Gan Jie Tang plus Polygoni Multiflori Preparata Radix (Heshouwu), Polygonatum Odorati Rhizoma (Yuzhu), Danpi, and Danggui; two or three doses will also cure it. If residual toxins cause harm, one must nourish yin to restore fluids and tonify yuan qi to generate true qi, allowing the toxic heat to vent entirely through the swelling. Then use Jiu Yin Bao Yuan Tang (Rescue Yin and Protect Yuan Decoction) [Black Bean 3 qian, Prepared Rehmannia Root 2 qian, Ophiopogon Tuber 1.5 qian, Danpi, Dioscorea Rhizome, Adenophora Root, Prepared Astragalus Root each 1 qian, Prepared Licorice Root 0.8 qian], decocted in water and taken orally. Another condition, Lu Chuang (Barbarian Sore), may also begin with sore throat. The son of Chen Zai'an suffered from this, and treating it according to the methods in *Wu Yi Hui Jiang* was correct. (See "Contemporary Doctors" section).