鸿胪苏龙溪，咳嗽气喘，鼻塞流涕，余用参苏饮一剂，以散寒邪，更用补中益气，以实胰理而愈。后因
劳怒仍作，自用前药益甚，加黄连、枳实，腹胀不食，小便短少，服二陈、四苓，前证愈剧，小便不通。余曰∶腹
胀不食，脾胃虚也；小便短少，肺肾虚也，悉因攻伐所致。投以六君加黄 、炮姜、五味，二剂，诸证悉退。
再用补中益气加炮姜、五味、数剂全愈。
地官李北川，每患咳嗽，余用补中益气即愈。一日复作，用参苏饮益甚，更服人参败毒散，项强口噤，
腰背反张。余曰∶此误汗亡津液而变痉矣，仍以前汤加附子一钱，四剂而痊。感冒咳嗽，若误行发汗过多，
喘促呼吸不利，吐痰不止，必患肺痈矣。
司厅陈国华，素阴虚，患咳嗽，以自知医，用发表化痰
之剂，不应，因清热化痰等药，其症愈甚。余曰∶此脾肺虚也。不信，用牛黄清心丸，更加心腹作胀，
饮食少思，足三阴虚症悉具。朝用六君、桔梗、升麻、麦冬、五味，补脾以生肺金；夕用八味丸，补命门以
生脾土，诸症渐愈。经云∶不能治其虚，安问其余？此脾土虚不能生肺金而金病，复用前药反泻其火，吾
不得而知也。
儒者张克明，咳嗽，用二陈、芩、连、枳壳，胸满气喘，清晨吐痰；加苏子、杏仁，口出痰涎，口干作渴。
余曰∶清晨吐痰，脾虚不能消化；饮食胸满气喘，脾虚不能生肺金；涎沫自出，脾虚不能收摄；口干作渴，
脾虚不能生津液。遂用六君加炮姜、肉果温补脾胃，更用八味丸以补土母而愈。
Su Longxi, an official of the Honglu Temple (Court of State Ceremonial), suffered from cough, asthma, nasal congestion, and runny nose. I administered one dose of Shensu Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction) to disperse cold pathogens, followed by Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) to strengthen the Spleen-Stomach Qi, resulting in a cure. Later, due to fatigue and anger, the condition relapsed. He self-medicated with the previous prescription, which exacerbated his symptoms. He added Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange Fruit), leading to abdominal distension, anorexia, and scanty urination. He then took Erchen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) and Siling San (Four-Ingredient Powder), causing the prior symptoms to worsen significantly, culminating in urinary retention. I stated: "Abdominal distension and inability to eat indicate Spleen-Stomach deficiency; scanty urination indicates Lung and Kidney deficiency. All these are caused by excessive attacking and purging methods." I prescribed Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) supplemented with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Paojiang (Prepared Ginger), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus). After two doses, all symptoms subsided. Subsequently, using Buzhong Yiqi Tang with added Paojiang and Wuweizi for several doses led to complete recovery.
Li Beichuan, an official of the Diguan Bureau, frequently suffered from cough, which was cured each time I used Buzhong Yiqi Tang. One day, the condition recurred. He used Shensu Yin, which made it worse, and then took Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng and Detoxification Powder), resulting in neck stiffness, trismus (lockjaw), and opisthotonos (backward arching of the back). I said: "This is a transformation into Jing disease (spasm) due to erroneous sweating that depleted body fluids." I still used the previous decoction type, adding one qian of Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and he recovered after four doses. Regarding colds and coughs, if excessive sweating is erroneously induced, leading to panting, difficult breathing, and incessant expectoration, it will inevitably lead to Fei Yong (Lung Abscess).
Chen Guohua, an official of the Siting Office, had a constitution of Yin deficiency and suffered from cough. Believing himself knowledgeable in medicine, he used exterior-releasing and phlegm-resolving agents without effect. He then switched to heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving drugs, which aggravated his condition. I stated: "This is Spleen-Lung deficiency." He did not believe me and used Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Calculus Bovis Heart-Clearing Pill), which further caused epigastric and abdominal distension, reduced appetite, and manifested all symptoms of Foot Three Yin Meridian (Liver, Spleen, Kidney) deficiency. In the morning, I prescribed Liujunzi Tang with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Wuweizi to tonify the Spleen to generate Lung Metal (Earth generates Metal); in the evening, I prescribed Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) to tonify the Mingmen (Gate of Life) to generate Spleen Earth (Fire generates Earth). His various symptoms gradually improved. The Classic states: "If one cannot treat the deficiency, how can one address the rest?" This is because Spleen Earth deficiency failed to generate Lung Metal, causing Lung pathology, and yet he reused the previous [cold/bitter] drugs, thereby draining the Fire. I could not comprehend his actions.
Zhang Keming, a scholar, suffered from cough. He used Erchen Tang combined with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), leading to chest fullness, asthma, and morning expectoration. He then added Suzi (Perillae Fructus) and Xingren (Armeniace Semen), resulting in salivary froth discharge, dry mouth, and thirst. I stated: "Morning expectoration indicates Spleen deficiency failing to digest food; post-prandial chest fullness and asthma indicate Spleen deficiency failing to generate Lung Metal; spontaneous saliva flow indicates Spleen deficiency failing to control fluids; dry mouth and thirst indicate Spleen deficiency failing to generate body fluids." Consequently, I used Liujunzi Tang with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger) and Rouguou (Myristicae Semen) to warm and tonify the Spleen and Stomach, and subsequently used Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) to tonify the mother of Spleen Earth (Kidney Yang), leading to a cure.