《千金》论曰∶裹脐须令白练柔软,方四寸,新绵浓半寸,与帛等合之。缓急得中,急则令
儿吐 。儿生二十日乃解脐视之,或燥刺其腹,疼啼叫,当解之,易衣再裹。解脐须闭户下帐,
冬间用火,令脐里温暖。
凡儿衣盛于新瓶内,以青帛裹其瓶口,上仍用砖密盖头,置便宜处。待满三日,然后根据月吉
地向阳高燥之处埋地三尺,瓶上土浓二尺,须牢筑,令儿长寿有志。若藏衣不谨,令儿不利。
《千金》论云∶小儿用父故衣绵改衣,女用母故衣绵改之。勿使新绵,切不可过浓,恐
伤皮肤,生疮发痫,皆自此始。
《圣惠》论曰∶小儿一期之内,造衣服皆须用故帛为之,不可用新绵。若用新绵,则
令儿壮热或作惊痫。
大抵儿衣日晒夜收,不可露天过夜,次早与儿穿上,致染湿热,使儿不安。此则所谓八邪之
害,久则令儿黄瘦腹痛,身七壮热,夜间啼哭,或生疮疥。世俗谓之无辜疾,谓其衣在露天过夜,
染着无辜鸟屎,令儿致疾,故曰无辜疾。其实非理,先哲所谓八邪之害,则湿热风寒惊积饥饱
是也。
国中小儿变蒸者,阴阳水火变蒸于气血,而使形体成就。是五脏之变蒸,而七情所由生也。
变者,性情变易也。蒸者,身体蒸热也。儿当变蒸之候,身上温温壮热,上唇头起白泡珠如鱼目,
耳尻俱冷,目无光彩,微欲惊而不乳哺,轻则如此。重则脉乱,壮热躁渴,夜啼,伤寒相似,
或自汗盗汗。如此音,须用古法调和,不可深治太过。亦有胎气禀实,当其变蒸之候,皆无形
证,自然一一变易知觉,此为暗变蒸也。就物言之,亦有变,龙蜕骨,虎换爪,豹变文。物类
尚变,况于人乎?故儿初生三十二日为一变,六十四日为二变,兼蒸。九十六日为三变,一百
二十八日为四变,并蒸。一百六十日为五变,一百九十二日为六变,并蒸。百二十四日为七变,
二百五十六日为八变,并蒸。二百八十八日为九变,三百二十日为十变,并蒸。此十变毕后,
更逾六十四日为一大蒸,逾一百二十八日为二大蒸,逾一百九十二日为三大蒸。通计五百七十六
日,总共十变八蒸。儿乃血脉充荣,骨肉坚壮而成人也。
凡一变蒸三十二日,其候当二十八九日之间或有微热,至三十六七日方退,此为先期五日而作,
后期五日而已。重者常有十日,轻者先二日而微觉,后二日而即退,亦全不见候,而暗变者为胎
盛也。《宝鉴》谓初变属肝木,二变肺金,三变心火,四变脾土,五变肾水。五行生克,故有
变蒸。
钱氏谓初变属肾水,为天一生水,故以生成为次序。二说俱通,大抵亦有不根据序而变,如
伤寒不循经之次
第也,但看何脏见候而调之为妙。如蒸于肝则目昏而微赤,蒸于肺则嚏咳而毛竖,蒸于脾则吐
乳而或泻,蒸于心则微惊而壮热,蒸于肾尻冷而耳热。五脏六腑各见其候,以意消息调和,不
必深固胶执而返求全之毁也。抑此自然有是变蒸之理,轻者不须用药,至期自愈。甚者过
期不愈,按候而调之,着中而已。
The *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: When wrapping the umbilicus, white, soft, boiled silk (Bai Lian) must be used, cut into a square of four cun. It should be filled with half a cun thickness of new cotton wool, matching the thickness of the silk. The tightness must be moderate; if too tight, it will cause the infant to vomit. After twenty days from birth, untie the umbilicus to inspect it. If the abdomen is dry or prickly, causing pain and crying, untie it, change the clothes, and re-wrap. When untying the umbilicus, close the doors and windows and lower the bed curtains. In winter, use fire to keep the inside of the umbilicus warm.
For clothes worn by infants, place them in a new bottle, wrap the bottle mouth with green silk, and cover the top tightly with bricks. Place it in a convenient location. After three days, bury the bottle three chi deep in the ground at a sunny, high, and dry place on an auspicious day according to the lunar month. Cover the bottle with two chi of thick soil, tamping it firmly, so that the child may live long and have aspirations. If the clothes are not stored carefully, it will bring misfortune to the child.
The *Qianjin Fang* also says: For male infants, use the cotton from the father's old clothes to make new garments; for female infants, use the cotton from the mother's old clothes. Do not use new cotton, and do not make it too thick, lest it damage the skin, leading to sores or epilepsy, which all start from this cause.
The *Taiping Shenghui Fang* (Comprehensive Miracle Library of the Taiping Era) states: Within the first year of an infant's life, all clothing must be made from old fabrics, not new cotton. If new cotton is used, it will cause high fever or convulsive disorders (Jing Xian).
Generally, infant clothes should be dried in the sun during the day and brought in at night; they must not be left exposed overnight. Wearing them the next morning may expose the infant to damp-heat, causing discomfort. This is referred to as the harm of the "Eight Evils" (Ba Xie). Over time, this can lead to sallow emaciation, abdominal pain, persistent high fever, nighttime crying, or skin sores and scabies. Secular people call this "Wugu Disease" (Gu-Free Disease), claiming it arises because clothes left outdoors overnight absorb bird droppings from "Wugu birds," causing illness. This is actually unreasonable. The "Eight Evils" mentioned by ancient philosophers refer to damp-heat, wind-cold, fright, food stagnation, hunger, and overeating.
In children, Bian Zheng (Transformation and Steaming) refers to the transformation and steaming of Yin-Yang and Water-Fire within Qi and Blood, leading to physical maturation. This is the transformation of the Five Zang Organs, from which the Seven Emotions arise. "Bian" means changes in temperament and nature; "Zheng" means bodily heat generation. During the period of Bian Zheng, the child's body feels warm with significant heat, white bubbles like fish eyes appear on the upper lip margin, the ears and sacrum are cold, the eyes lack luster, and there is slight fright and refusal to nurse. These are mild symptoms. Severe cases present with chaotic pulse, high fever, irritability, thirst, nighttime crying, symptoms resembling Taiyang disease (Shang Han), or spontaneous and nocturnal sweating. In such cases, ancient methods of harmonization must be used; treatment should not be overly aggressive. Some infants with strong prenatal Qi show no obvious signs during Bian Zheng but naturally undergo transformation and perception, known as "Hidden Bian Zheng." Even in non-human entities, there is transformation: dragons shed bones, tigers change claws, leopards alter their patterns. If material things transform, how much more so humans? Thus, 32 days after birth is the first transformation; 64 days is the second, accompanied by steaming. 96 days is the third; 128 days is the fourth, accompanied by steaming. 160 days is the fifth; 192 days is the sixth, accompanied by steaming. 224 days is the seventh; 256 days is the eighth, accompanied by steaming. 288 days is the ninth; 320 days is the tenth, accompanied by steaming. After these ten transformations, an additional 64 days constitute one major steaming; another 128 days constitute the second major steaming; another 192 days constitute the third major steaming. In total, 576 days encompass ten transformations and eight steamings. At this point, the child's blood vessels are full and flourishing, bones and muscles are firm and strong, and the child becomes an adult.
For each transformation lasting 32 days, mild fever may appear around the 28th or 29th day and subside by the 36th or 37th day. This indicates onset five days early and resolution five days late. Severe cases last about ten days; mild cases show slight symptoms two days early and resolve two days late. Some show no visible signs at all, belonging to Hidden Bian Zheng due to abundant fetal essence. *Xiao'er Yaozheng Zhijue* (Key to Pediatric Therapies) states that the first transformation belongs to Liver Wood, the second to Lung Metal, the third to Heart Fire, the fourth to Spleen Earth, and the fifth to Kidney Water. The generation and restriction of the Five Elements cause Bian Zheng.
Qian Yi argued that the first transformation belongs to Kidney Water, based on "Heaven generates One, Water," following the order of generation. Both theories are valid. Generally, transformations do not strictly follow the sequence, similar to how Shang Han does not follow meridian order. It is best to observe which Zang organ shows symptoms and regulate accordingly. For example, steaming in the Liver causes blurry and slightly red eyes; steaming in the Lung causes sneezing, coughing, and erect hair; steaming in the Spleen causes spitting up milk or diarrhea; steaming in the Heart causes slight fright and high fever; steaming in the Kidney causes cold sacrum and hot ears. Each of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs manifests its own signs. Harmonize them with discretion, without rigid adherence seeking perfection, which may lead to failure. Moreover, this natural principle of Bian Zheng implies that mild cases require no medication and heal spontaneously upon expiration. Severe cases that do not heal past the expected time should be regulated according to symptoms, aiming for appropriateness.