《名医录》云∶李王公主患喉痈,数日痛肿,饮食不下。召到医官,尽言须用刀针溃破。
公主闻用刀针,哭不肯治。痛迫,水谷不入,忽有一草泽医曰∶某不用刀针,只用笔头蘸药
痈上,霎时便溃。公主喜,令召之。方两次上药,遂溃出脓血一盏余,便宽,两日疮无事。
令供其方,医云∶乃以针系笔心中,轻轻划破而溃之尔,他无方也。
宋·咸平中,职方魏公在潭州,有数子弟皆幼,因相戏,以一钓竿垂钩,用枣作饵,登
陆钓鸡雏,一子学之而误吞其钩,至喉中,急引之,而钩须已逆不能出。命诸医,不敢措手,
魏公大怖,遍问老妇,必能经历。时有一老妇人年余九十岁,言亦未尝见此,切料有识者可
出之。时郡中莫都料性甚巧,令闻魏公。魏公呼老妇责之曰∶吾子误吞钩,莫都料何能出之?
老妇曰∶闻医者意也,莫都料曾在水中打碑塔,添仰瓦。魏公悦,亲属勉之曰∶试询之。遂
召莫都料至,沉思良久曰∶要得一蚕茧及念珠一串。公与之。都料遂将茧剪如钱,用物柔其
四面,以油润之,中通一小窍,贯之钩经,次贯念珠三五枚,令儿正坐开口,渐加念珠,引
之
须臾而出,并无所损。魏公大喜,遂浓赂之。公曰∶心明者意必大巧,意明者心必善医。
叙曰∶头者,身之元首,一有疾苦,无问标本,宜先治之。失而不治,虽有股肱,弗能
用矣。今考十方以治头,所以尊元首而用股肱也。有医责者,尚知务哉!
The *Famous Doctors' Records* states: Princess Li Wang suffered from a throat carbuncle (throat abscess), experiencing pain and swelling for several days, unable to eat or drink. The summoned imperial physicians all stated that it was necessary to use a knife and needle to lacerate and drain the pus. Upon hearing that knives and needles would be used, the princess cried and refused treatment. As the pain intensified and she could not take in food or water, suddenly a folk physician appeared and said, "I will not use knives or needles; I will only dip the tip of a brush into medicine and apply it to the carbuncle, which will rupture instantly." The princess was delighted and ordered him to be summoned. After applying the medicine twice, the carbuncle ruptured, discharging over a cup of pus and blood, providing immediate relief. Within two days, the wound healed without incident. When asked to provide his prescription, the physician replied, "I merely tied a needle to the center of the brush and gently scratched the area to induce rupture. There is no other prescription."
During the Xianping era of the Song Dynasty, Wei Gong, the Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments, was serving in Tanzhou. Several of his young sons were playing together. One used a fishing rod with a hook suspended by a line, using jujube flesh as bait, to try and catch chicks on land. One son imitated this action but accidentally swallowed the hook. It lodged in his throat, and when they tried to pull it out urgently, the barbs had reversed direction, preventing its removal. Various physicians were summoned, but none dared to attempt the procedure. Wei Gong was terrified and questioned old women everywhere, believing they must have experienced such incidents. At that time, an old woman nearly ninety years old stated that she had never seen such a case but surmised that someone with expertise could retrieve it. In the prefecture, there was a skilled craftsman named Mo Duliang (Master Mo, the Chief Architect). News reached Wei Gong. Wei Gong called the old woman and reproached her, saying, "My child has swallowed a hook; how can Master Mo retrieve it?" The old woman replied, "It is said that medicine relies on intent. Master Mo once salvaged steles and pagodas underwater and repaired inverted roof tiles." Wei Gong was pleased, and his relatives urged him, saying, "Try asking him." Thus, Master Mo was summoned. After pondering for a long time, he said, "I need one silkworm cocoon and a string of prayer beads." Wei Gong provided them. Master Mo then cut the cocoon into the shape of a coin, softened its four sides with materials, lubricated it with oil, and pierced a small hole through the center. He threaded the hook wire through it, followed by three to five prayer beads. He instructed the child to sit upright with his mouth open, gradually adding beads to guide the mechanism. In a moment, the hook emerged, and the child was unharmed. Wei Gong was overjoyed and bestowed heavy rewards upon him. Wei Gong remarked, "One whose mind is clear possesses great skill; one whose intent is clear is necessarily a good physician."
Preface: The head is the chief of the body. Once afflicted with disease, regardless of whether the condition is root or branch, it should be treated first. If neglected and left untreated, even if the limbs are intact, they cannot be utilized. Herein, ten prescriptions are examined to treat head diseases, thereby honoring the chief and preserving the utility of the limbs. Those engaged in medicine should certainly strive for this!