《翼驹稗编》云∶海州刘永有一子,年五岁,出痘遍体,疙瘩大如瓯,凡三四十医皆不
识,有老妪年七十余,见之曰∶此包痘也。吾所见并此而二,决无它虞。六七日疙瘩悉破,内如
榴子,层层灌浆皆满,真从来未睹者。痘书充栋,亦无人道及,可见医理渊深,即痘疹一门
,已难测识矣。余按∶此可以补诸痘书之阙录云。
阜平赵功甫长于治痘,痘始萌,一望已知其结局,自云一生疗痘,无药不用,而从未有
用附子者。今按曾世荣治侯自牧子痘盛,夏用附子,费养恒治冯宪副孙痘,亦用附子,皆采入《
续名医类案》。然则治痘,非无用附子之症,特不恒有耳。
崔默庵论痘症曰∶今人治痘,率用升麻葛根汤,使毒瓦斯尽升头面,后多难治,戒升麻勿
用,多用葛根及横解之剂,少加桂枝,令其毒尽散于四肢,即险逆之症亦可为矣。见刘继庄《广
治小儿疳病集圣丸,(人参、蟾蜍、川连各三钱,归身、川芎、陈皮、五灵脂、蓬莪术
、夜
明砂、使君子、肉芦荟、砂仁、木香各二钱,公猪胆一个,和药末为丸,如龙眼大,每服一
丸。)不寒不热,亦补亦消,最为稳善。《名医类案》所载单方三,亦佳。一用山楂一两,
白酒曲一两,取多年瓦夜壶中人中白最多者,装入二物,炭火 存性,研细末,每服六分,
滚水送下。其一用鸡蛋七枚,轻去壳,勿损衣膜,以胡黄连一两,川黄连一两,童便浸,春
秋五日,夏三日,冬七日,浸透煮熟服之。其一用大蛤蟆十数个,打死置小口缸内,取粪蛆
不拘多少,粪清浸养,盛夏三日,春末秋后四五日,以食尽蛤蟆为度,用粗麻布袋扎住缸口
,倒置活水中,令吐出污秽净,置蛆于烧红新瓦上焙干食之,每服一二钱。(或用炒熟大麦
面和少蜜作饼或丸令儿食。)此皆以人身气化之物,入消导药治之,可称灵妙。
小儿无辜疳,脑后项边有核如弹丸,按之转动,软而不疼,壮热羸瘦,头露骨高,有谓
妖鸟
(一名夜行游女。)夜飞,其翼有毒,拂落于人家晒晾未收之襁褓衣上,儿着之则病。有斥其
说为妄。谓无辜,鸟名,啼时两颔扇动如瘰 之项,小儿肝热目暗,颈核累累,其状相类,
因以为名,宜用消遥散加减治之。有谓因乏乳所致,又有谓饥饱劳役,风惊暑积,八邪所
致,宜用布袋丸治之。余谓妖鸟之说,无论其是否,但见项边有核,即当挑刺以药治之,若
至大而溃脓,法不能疗,至其用药,则仍不外治疳病之法耳。
*Yiju Baibian* records: Liu Yong of Haizhou had a son who, at the age of five, developed smallpox covering his entire body. The pustules were as large as bowls. Thirty or forty physicians did not recognize the condition. An old woman over seventy years old, upon seeing it, said, "This is Bao Dou (a specific type of smallpox presentation). I have seen only two such cases in my life, and I am certain there will be no other danger." After six or seven days, all the pustules ruptured. Inside, they resembled pomegranate seeds, with layers filled completely with pus. This was truly an unprecedented sight. Books on smallpox are piled high like beams, yet no one has mentioned this case, demonstrating that medical principles are profound; even within the specialized field of smallpox and rashes, diagnosis is difficult to fully comprehend. My commentary: This case can supplement the omissions found in various books on smallpox.
Zhao Gongfu from Fuping was skilled in treating smallpox. When the rash first began to emerge, he could predict the outcome at a glance. He claimed that throughout his life, having treated countless smallpox cases, he had used every kind of medicine but never used Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fu Zi, Prepared Root of Aconitum carmichaelii). However, examining the records, Zeng Shirong treated Hou Zimu's son with severe smallpox using Fu Zi in summer; Fei Yangheng also used Fu Zi when treating Vice-Commissioner Feng's grandson's smallpox. Both cases were included in *Xu Mingyi Leian* (Continued Cases of Famous Physicians). Therefore, treating smallpox does involve indications for using Fu Zi; it is simply that such cases are rare.
Cui Mo'an discussed smallpox symptoms, stating: "Currently, people treat smallpox mostly with Shengma Gegen Decoction (Shengma Gegen Tang), causing the toxic qi to rise entirely to the head and face, which often leads to difficult-to-treat conditions later. They warn against using Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) and instead recommend using Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen) along with dispersing agents, adding a small amount of Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi), so that the toxicity dissipates into the four limbs. Even dangerous and adverse cases can then be managed." This is cited from Liu Jizhuang's *Guang... [text cuts off]*.
To treat pediatric Gan syndrome (Ji Sheng Wan), use Ji Sheng Wan: Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Bufo (Bufonis Venenum), Chuan Lian Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) each 3 qian; Dang Gui Shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterori Faeces), Peng E Zhu (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Ye Ming Sha (Phoenicopteris Cornea), Shi Jun Zi (Quisqualis Fructus), Rou Lu Hui (Aloe), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) each 2 qian; one male pig gallbladder. Grind the herbs into fine powder and mix with the pig bile to form pills the size of a longan seed. Take one pill per dose. This formula is neither cold nor hot, both tonifying and resolving, and is considered very safe and effective. Three single prescriptions recorded in *Mingyi Leian* are also excellent. The first uses 1 liang of Hawthorn Fruit (Shan Zha) and 1 liang of White Wine Qu (Bai Jiu Qu), placed inside the most calcium-rich chamber pot (Ren Zhong Bai) available from a multi-year old clay night soil vessel. These are calcined over charcoal until the original nature remains, ground into fine powder, taken 6 fen per dose with boiling water. The second uses seven eggs, carefully peeled without damaging the inner membrane, soaked in 1 liang of Picrorhizae Rhizoma (Hu Huang Lian) and 1 liang of Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuan Huang Lian) in children's urine for five days in spring/autumn, three days in summer, and seven days in winter, until thoroughly soaked, then boiled and consumed. The third uses more than ten large toads, killed and placed in a narrow-mouthed jar. Collect the maggots produced, regardless of quantity, and raise them in fecal liquid for three days in midsummer, or four to five days in late spring/autumn, until the toads are consumed. Tie the mouth of the jar with a coarse hemp bag, invert it in running water to allow the maggots to expel impurities and clean themselves. Roast the cleaned maggots on newly fired red tiles until dry and consume. Dosage is 1-2 qian per time. (Alternatively, make cakes or pills using roasted barley flour and a little honey for the child to eat.) These methods utilize substances derived from human physiological processes combined with digestive-resolving herbs, which can be called miraculous.
Pediatric Wugu Gan (Innocent Gan Syndrome) presents with nodules behind the ears and on the neck side, resembling marbles, which move when pressed, are soft and painless. The child suffers from high fever, emaciation, and prominent skull bones. Some claim this is caused by a demon bird (also known as Night Flying Woman) flying at night; its wings carry poison that falls onto clothes drying outdoors, and if a child wears them, illness ensues. Others dismiss this as absurd, arguing that "Wugu" refers to a bird species whose throat flutters during crying, resembling the neck of patients with Scrofula (Luo Li). Since children with liver heat may have dim vision and swollen cervical lymph nodes resembling this bird's appearance, the name was derived accordingly. Such cases should be treated with modified Xiaoyao Powder (Xiaoyao San). Others attribute it to lack of breast milk, or to irregular diet, overexertion, wind-strike, summerheat accumulation, and the Eight Exogenous Pathogens (Ba Xie), recommending Budai Wan (Cloth Bag Pill) for treatment. I believe that regarding the demon bird theory, whether true or not, whenever nodules are observed on the neck side, puncturing and topical medication should be applied immediately. If the condition progresses to large, suppurating ulcers, it becomes incurable. Regarding medication, it still essentially follows the standard methods for treating Gan syndrome.