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Wang Chao, a residual officer at Wansheng Gate in the capital, suddenly felt a swelling on his back resembling an emerging sore. Upon inspection, it had grown as large as a bowl, with numerous heads. He was advised to seek medicine from Zhang, a surgeon known as "Golden Turtle Child" (Jin Gui'er) located inside Liang Gate. Zhang examined Wang's eyebrows and said, "This sore is extremely malignant; it cannot be cured by medicine alone. Only moxibustion offers a slim hope, though it may be laborious." He then gathered some mugwort for him, saying, "Go home and try moxibustion on the sore. You may not feel pain initially; only when you feel pain can the treatment take effect." He underwent over ten moxa cones but felt no pain. His wife watched and wept. It was not until the thirteenth cone that he felt severe pain. The necrotic flesh around the edges curled up and rotted, falling off easily, after which he felt somewhat relieved. He visited Zhang again to express gratitude. Zhang prescribed topical medication for application. After a few days, he recovered. Thus, it is known that for carbuncles and sores occurring on the back or flanks, the most effective method is moxibustion. (From *Leibian*)

Generally, when one first notices the onset of a back carbuncle (Fabei), before it has fully formed, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, one should cover the area with wet paper and observe immediately. The spot where the paper dries first indicates the location of the impending pus head. Take a slice of garlic, approximately as thick as a three-qian coin, of moderate thickness, and place it on the head of the sore. Apply a large moxa cone for three burns, then replace with a new garlic slice. If the patient feels pain, continue moxibustion until the pain ceases; if there is no pain, continue until pain is felt, then stop. The key is early detection and early moxibustion. If treated within one or two days, ten cases yield ten recoveries; within three to four days, six or seven out of ten recover; within five to six days, three or four out of ten recover. After seven days, moxibustion is contraindicated. If multiple heads (ten or more) grow together, grind garlic into a paste, form a thin cake, place it on the sore, and burn moxa cones clustered on the garlic cake; this can also save lives. If the back initially presents with a patch of redness and swelling, with a millet-grain-sized hard nodule in the center, use a single-clove garlic, cut off both ends, take the middle half-inch section of moderate thickness, place it directly on the sore, and apply moxibustion for fourteen burns, up to forty-nine burns. (Recorded on a stele unearthed at Zijiguan Temple in Jiangning Prefecture)

A young girl named Zhuang Miaozhen previously contracted tuberculosis (Zhai Ji) due to the lingering pathogenic factors from her second sister's death. An itinerant Daoist priest named Zhao passed by her door, saw her, and asked, "You have tuberculosis, why do you not treat it?" She replied, "I have taken many medicines without effect." Zhao smiled and said, "I have a method to cure this easily. On the night of Guihai, during the second watch (10 PM–2 AM), when the six deities converge, remove lower body clothing. Locate the slight depressions on both sides of the waist, known in acupuncture as 'Yao Yan' (Waist Eyes). Stand upright, mark the points with a pen, then lie prone on the bed. Apply small moxa cones, seven burns each time. The consumptive toxins will either be vomited out or purged through diarrhea. Immediately, peace will return, the root cause will be eliminated, recurrence prevented, and contagion halted." She respectfully followed this instruction and thus preserved her life. (From *Leibian*)