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Xu Yuanzhong, in *San Yi Bi Tan* (Notes on Three Anomalies), records that Cailiao Cai originally did not drink alcohol. When he traveled north by official carriage, suffering from the cold, he drank shaojiu (distilled liquor) and found it sweet, thereafter refusing to drink anything else. This continued for over twenty years. One night, after locking his door to sleep, he remained in bed until noon. His family pushed open the door and entered, finding the room filled with smoke; the bedding and curtains were scorched, half of his body was burned, yet his hand still held a smoking pipe. This incident coincided with the case recorded in *Bencao* (Materia Medica) of someone burning to death while leaning against a horse, likely because the tobacco fuse ignited as suddenly as a firecracker.

Chen Duanfu, a learned scholar from Kuaiji named Qingru, stated that a fellow townsman, a certain scholar, had a large capacity for alcohol. One evening, after drinking a full jar of shaojiu and subsequently smoking water pipe tobacco, fire suddenly erupted from his abdomen, turning half of his flesh and bones into charcoal. Those who are addicted to shaojiu should take this as a warning.

The harm caused by opium is immense, divided into "large earth" and "small earth." Large earth originates from foreign countries, as detailed in *San Yi Bi Tan*: "While serving as Keeper of the Archives in Yongjia, Zhang Yuanlong committed the offense of consuming opium. I intended to punish him according to law, but he appealed, saying, 'I have abstained from this for two years. I once traveled by sea to the country of Suluo to procure ship materials and personally witnessed the raw nature of opium; therefore, I dared not consume it.' Upon asking for details, he explained: 'In that country, the custom is naked burial. One acre of land is shared by hundreds of clans. Accumulated over a century, the value of such land is incalculable.' The manufacturing method is as follows: Dig several zhang deep, compact the bottom extremely firmly, and reinforce the sides. Take the excavated soil, pound it to extreme fineness, sieve it to extreme purity, and dry it thoroughly. Then, lay a layer of forged stone in the city, followed by a layer of soil, a layer of poppy petals, and a layer of glutinous rice porridge. Cover with reed mats, then felt, and press down with boards. It takes from spring to autumn to complete. Exchanging gold for this earth yields prices several times higher, yet it essentially absorbs the marrow and blood of people from centuries past; thus, upon seeing it, one vows never to eat it again." The method to cure the addiction is to use Shiquan Dabu Tang (Decoction of Ten Complete Tonics) mixed with opium ash, taken when cravings strike. Initially, the patient feels very weak and fatigued, but gradually recovers with continued administration, returning to normal after more than two months.

Wu Xiaozheng stated: A clan uncle, Chunling, studied the art of Qihuang (Traditional Chinese Medicine). In the autumn of the Yimao year, he died of an epidemic disease. The accountant, Wu Meige, whose nature was unrestrained, smoked foreign opium. He once visited the home of his friend Ni Meicen. As Ni was out, Meige dozed off waiting. He suddenly dreamed that Chunling appeared and said, "You will face disaster; if you can quit opium, you will be spared." I will teach you this prescription," handing him a red paper inscribed with sixteen characters: "Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Zhi Ju Zi (Hovenia Dulcis Seed), Chi Tang (Brown Sugar), each 1 qian; decoct in water and take daily." He warned, "If you do not see smoking implements for seven days, the addiction will break; do not repeat old mistakes." Upon waking, he followed the prescription and it proved effective. Wu Xiaozheng, who previously adhered to atheism, believed Sima Qian's statement about spiritual entities after hearing Meige recount this event, confirming it was not false. My commentary notes: Ren Shen tonifies Lung Qi, and Chi Tang eliminates smoke accumulation; their use is appropriate. People generally know only that Zhi Ju Zi resolves alcohol toxicity. However, Chen Cangqi stated that it quenches thirst, relieves irritability, removes heat above the diaphragm, and moistens the five zang organs, functioning similarly to honey. Thus, its merits extend beyond merely treating alcohol-related ailments. Furthermore, since opium has a hot, dry, and fierce nature, even more so than alcohol, using this prescription to treat it is highly logical.