诸病皆有逆顺,腹胀、身热、脉大,是一逆也;(身热、脉大,而加以腹胀,表里之邪俱盛也,是为
一逆。)腹鸣而满,四肢清泄,其脉大,是二逆也;(腹鸣而满,四肢清冷而兼后泄,阴症也,
脉不宜大而大者,脉症相反也,是为二逆。)衄而不止,脉大,是三逆也;(鼻衄在阴,脉大为阳,阳实
阴虚,是为三逆。)咳且溲血,脱
形,其脉小劲,是四逆也;(咳而溲血脱形者,正气已衰,脉小而急者,邪气仍在,邪正不能相当,是为
四逆。)咳、脱形、身热,脉小以疾,是谓五逆也。(脱形身热,真阴已亏,而火独不清也。其脉细小
疾数者,邪盛正衰之候,是为五逆。)如是者,不过十五日而死矣。(一节之更,时移气易,客强主弱,
则不能胜,故不过十五日而死。)其腹大胀,四末清、脱形、泄甚,是一逆也;(此下言五逆之急
症也。腹大胀者,最忌中虚,若见四肢清冷而脱形泄甚者,脾元败而阳气去也,故为一逆。)腹胀便血,
其脉大时绝,是二逆也;(腹胀便血,阴病也,脉大时绝,孤阳将脱也,故为二逆。)咳、溲血、形肉
脱、脉搏,是三逆也;(咳而溲血者,气血俱病,形肉脱者,败在脾,脉搏者,真脏也,败在胃气,故为
三逆。)呕血,胸满引背,脉小而疾,是四逆也;(呕血,胸满引于背者,脏气连乎背也,脉见细小疾
数,则真元大亏矣,故为四逆。)咳呕腹胀,且飧泄,其脉绝,是五逆也。(上为咳呕,中为胀满,下为
飧泄,三焦俱病,而脉至于绝者,有邪无正也,故五逆也。)如是者,不及一时而死矣。(不及一时,谓
不能周一日之时也。)工不察此者,是为逆治。(病不可治而强治之,非惟无益,适以资害,是谓逆治也。)
All diseases have favorable (shun) and unfavorable (ni) prognoses. Abdominal distension, fever, and a large pulse constitute the first unfavorable condition; (Fever and a large pulse, compounded by abdominal distension, indicate that both exterior and interior pathogens are flourishing, thus constituting the first unfavorable condition.) Abdominal borborygmus with fullness, cold extremities accompanied by diarrhea, and a large pulse constitute the second unfavorable condition; (Abdominal borborygmus and fullness, cold extremities, and posterior discharge indicate a Yin syndrome. A large pulse is inappropriate for this presentation; the mismatch between pulse and symptoms constitutes the second unfavorable condition.) Epistaxis that does not stop, with a large pulse, constitutes the third unfavorable condition; (Epistaxis relates to Yin, while a large pulse relates to Yang. This represents excess Yang and deficiency of Yin, constituting the third unfavorable condition.) Coughing combined with hematuria, emaciation, and a small yet forceful pulse constitutes the fourth unfavorable condition; (Coughing, hematuria, and emaciation indicate that healthy Qi has declined. A small and rapid pulse indicates that pathogenic factors remain. The inability of pathogenic factors and healthy Qi to balance each other constitutes the fourth unfavorable condition.) Coughing, emaciation, fever, and a small and rapid pulse constitute the fifth unfavorable condition. (Emaciation and fever indicate the depletion of True Yin, leaving fire unquenched. A small, thin, and rapid pulse is a sign of flourishing pathogens and declining healthy Qi, constituting the fifth unfavorable condition.) In such cases, death will occur within fifteen days. (As solar terms change and time passes, Qi shifts. If the external pathogen is strong and the host Qi weak, resistance fails, hence death occurs within fifteen days.) Severe abdominal distension, cold extremities, emaciation, and severe diarrhea constitute the first unfavorable condition; (The following describes acute presentations of the five unfavorable conditions. Severe abdominal distension most fears deficiency of Middle Jiao Qi. If accompanied by cold extremities, emaciation, and severe diarrhea, it indicates the collapse of Spleen Yuan and the departure of Yang Qi, thus constituting the first unfavorable condition.) Abdominal distension with hematochezia, and a large pulse that intermittently ceases, constitute the second unfavorable condition; (Abdominal distension with hematochezia is a Yin disease. A large pulse that intermittently ceases indicates impending collapse of solitary Yang, thus constituting the second unfavorable condition.) Coughing, hematuria, loss of flesh and muscle, and a pulsating pulse (bo le) constitute the third unfavorable condition; (Coughing and hematuria indicate pathology in both Qi and Blood. Loss of flesh and muscle indicates deterioration of the Spleen. A pulsating pulse indicates the manifestation of the Zang organs' true pulse, signifying the loss of Stomach Qi, thus constituting the third unfavorable condition.) Hematemesis, chest fullness radiating to the back, and a small, rapid pulse constitute the fourth unfavorable condition; (Hematemesis and chest fullness radiating to the back indicate that Zang Qi connects to the back. A small, thin, and rapid pulse indicates severe depletion of True Yuan, thus constituting the fourth unfavorable condition.) Cough, vomiting, abdominal distension, and sputtering diarrhea (sun xie), with a pulse that is absent, constitute the fifth unfavorable condition. (Upper Jiao presents with cough and vomiting, Middle Jiao with distension, and Lower Jiao with sputtering diarrhea. Pathology in all three Jiaos with an absent pulse indicates the presence of pathogens but absence of healthy Qi, thus constituting the fifth unfavorable condition.) In such cases, death will occur in less than one shi (two hours). ("Less than one shi" means unable to complete a full day.) If physicians do not discern these signs, it is called "treating contrary to the disease" (ni zhi). (Forcing treatment on an incurable disease yields no benefit and only exacerbates harm, which is termed ni zhi.)