立斋治一小儿。患痫。吐痰困倦。半晌而苏。诸药不效。年至十三而频发。用肥浓紫河
车。生研烂。入人参、当归末捣丸。每服二钱。日进三五服。乳送下。一月渐愈。又佐以八
珍汤全愈。
又一儿七岁。发惊痫。令其恣饮人乳。后发渐疏而轻。至十四岁。复发。用乳不效。亦
用河车丸数具而愈。常用加减八味丸而安。后至二十三岁。复发而手足厥冷。仍用前法。佐
以八味丸、十全大补汤而痊。
又治数小儿。皆以补中益气、六君子、六味八味等。汤丸相间用之。皆得全愈。
钱乙治皇子病螈 。国医莫能疗。闻乙有异能。召之。进黄土汤而愈。神宗问此何以能
愈此疾。对曰。以土胜水。木得其平。则风自止。帝悦。擢太医丞。
江应宿治一富家儿。病手足螈 。延至二十余日转笃。江后至。曰。此气虚也。当大补
之。以参、术、归、 、茯、芍、黄连、半夏、甘草。佐以肉桂。助参、 之功。补脾泻肝
一饮遂觉少定。数服而愈。所以知儿病者。左脉滑大。右脉沉弱。似有似无。右手主于气
故曰气分大虚。经所谓土极似木。亢则害。承乃制。脾虚为肝所侮而风生焉。证似乎风。
治风无风可治。治惊无惊可疗。治痰无痰可行。主治之法。所谓气行而痰自消。血荣而风自
灭矣。见肝之病。知肝当传脾。故先实其脾土。治其未病。否则成慢脾风而危殆矣。
Xue Lizhai treated a pediatric patient suffering from epilepsy (Xian, 痫). The child vomited phlegm and felt lethargic and fatigued. It took half an hour for him to regain consciousness. Various medications proved ineffective. By the age of thirteen, the attacks became frequent. Xue prescribed Placenta Hominis (Ziheche, 紫河车), specifically thick placentas, which were chewed raw until mushy, then mixed with powdered Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra (Renshen, 人参) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归) to form pills. Each dose was two qian (approx. 6-7g), administered three to five times daily, taken down with breast milk. After one month, the condition gradually improved. Subsequently, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Supplement the Middle and Boost Qi Decoction) was combined with Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction), leading to complete recovery.
Another seven-year-old boy suffered from fright epilepsy (Jingxian, 惊痫). He was instructed to drink breast milk freely. Consequently, the frequency and severity of attacks decreased. At age fourteen, the condition relapsed. Breast milk therapy was ineffective. He was then treated with Placenta Hominis pills for several courses and recovered. He maintained stability using Jiaban Bawei Wan (Modified Eight Flavor Pill). Later, at age twenty-three, he relapsed with cold extremities (Shouzu Jueleng, 手足厥冷). The previous method was repeated, supplemented with Bawei Wan (Eight Flavor Pill) and Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Significant Tonifying Decoction), resulting in a cure.
Several other pediatric cases were treated similarly. Formulas such as Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Supplement the Middle and Boost Qi Decoction), Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), and Bawei Dihuang Wan (Eight Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) were used alternately as decoctions and pills. All patients achieved full recovery.
Qian Yi treated a prince suffering from convulsions (Chou Yuan, 瘛疭). Imperial physicians were unable to cure him. Upon hearing of Qian Yi's exceptional skills, he was summoned. Qian Yi prescribed Huangtu Tang (Yellow Earth Decoction), which cured the illness. Emperor Shenzong asked why this formula could cure such a disease. Qian Yi replied: "Earth overcomes Water; when Wood achieves balance, Wind naturally ceases." The Emperor was pleased and promoted him to Taichi Cheng (Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau).
Jiang Yingsu treated a wealthy family's son suffering from limb convulsions (Shouzu Chou Yuan, 手足瘛疭). The condition persisted for over twenty days and worsened. Upon examination, Jiang stated: "This is Qi deficiency. It requires substantial tonification." He prescribed Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归), [missing character, likely Astragali Radix/Huangqi], Poria Cocos (Fuling, 茯苓), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao, 白芍), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连), Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia, 半夏), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草). Cinnamon Cortex (Rougui, 肉桂) was added as an adjunct to assist the efficacy of Ginseng and [missing herb]. This approach tonified the Spleen and drained the Liver. After one dose, the patient felt somewhat stabilized. After several doses, he recovered. The diagnosis was based on the left pulse being slippery and large, while the right pulse was deep, weak, and faint. The right hand pulse primarily reflects Qi; thus, it indicated severe Qi deficiency. As the classics state, "When Earth reaches its extreme, it resembles Wood." When excessive, it causes harm; regulation restores balance. Spleen deficiency allows the Liver to oppress it, generating Wind. Although the symptoms resembled Wind, there was no actual Wind pathogen to treat; there was no Fright to treat; there was no Phlegm to resolve. The primary treatment principle is that when Qi moves, Phlegm dissipates; when Blood nourishes, Wind extinguishes. "When treating Liver disease, one knows it will transmit to the Spleen." Therefore, the Spleen Earth is fortified first. This constitutes treating the disease before it arises. Otherwise, it would develop into Slow Spleen Wind (Man Pi Feng, 慢脾风), leading to critical danger.