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Liu Congzhou, a native of Qujiang County in Shaozhou, was skilled in medical arts and held unique insights. He wrote ten essays that largely differed from secular views. In his discussion on dysentery (Li Ji), he stated: Common people consider white dysentery as a cold syndrome (Han Zheng) and red dysentery as a heat syndrome (Re Zheng), thus using medications as opposite as ice and charcoal. This is actually incorrect. If the hands and feet are warm, it indicates a heat syndrome; one should decoct rice soup to mix with Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria), followed by taking twenty pills of Yinggan Wan (Miraculous Response Pill), which will lead to recovery. If the hands and feet are cold, it indicates a cold syndrome; one should take Yihan Wan (Already-Cold Pill) or similar formulas. When treating dysentery, differentiation should be based on this (temperature of extremities), regardless of whether the stool is red or white initially. Regarding fever in midsummer, there are two syndromes: Shanghan (Cold Damage) and Maoshu (Summerheat Invasion). If fever fluctuates, it is Maoshu; if fever persists continuously without abating, it is Shanghan; these should be differentiated accordingly.

The daughter of a certain household suffered from swelling. Physicians were summoned but could not identify the cause. Ma Siming asked about the origin of the illness. The patient replied: While pulling wheat ears by hand, a red object approximately two chi long, resembling a snake, entered her finger. She fainted from fright and subsequently felt pain and swelling in her arm. Over more than a month, the condition spread to half her body, causing unbearable pain and swelling in all joints. Ma Siming prescribed treatment, and she recovered completely. (From Liu Yingshu's *Yi Yuan*)

Hua Tuo was from Qiao County in Peiguo. He mastered the art of preserving life and health. Approaching a hundred years old, his appearance remained that of a vigorous adult, leading contemporaries to believe he was an immortal. He was proficient in herbal prescriptions, typically prescribing no more than a few ingredients, accurately estimating dosages by heart without needing scales. His acupuncture involved only a few acupoints. If a disease manifested as internal accumulation beyond the reach of needles and herbs, he would have the patient drink wine mixed with Mafei San (Numbing Powder). Once the patient was intoxicated and unconscious, he would incise the abdomen and back to remove accumulations. If the pathology was in the intestines and stomach, he would resect and wash away the diseased tissue, then suture the wound and apply Shen Gao (Divine Ointment). The wound healed in four or five days, and full recovery occurred within a month.

According to the *Biography of Hua Tuo*: A scholar-official felt unwell. Hua Tuo said, "Your disease is deep-seated and requires surgical removal from the abdomen. However, your lifespan will not exceed ten years. This disease will not kill you; endure the pain for ten years, and your natural life will end. There is no need to subject yourself to such surgery." The scholar-official could not tolerate the itching and pain and insisted on removing the disease. Hua Tuo proceeded with the operation, and the patient recovered shortly after. Ten years later, he indeed passed away. (From *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, Book of Wei)

When Bian Que passed through Qi, he first met Duke Huan of Qi and said, "You have a disease." The Duke ignored him. Upon meeting again, Bian Que said, "You have a disease, but it is still treatable." The Duke said, "You wish to treat healthy people to claim credit." On the third encounter, Bian Que walked away. A few days later, symptoms appeared, and the Duke summoned Bian Que. Bian Que remarked, "Initially, when I saw you, the disease was in the skin, accessible by acupuncture. Secondly, it was in the blood vessels, accessible by herbal decoctions. Now, seeing you, the disease has penetrated into the bone marrow. Even the Lord of Life cannot help." A few days later, Duke Huan died.