三阳伤寒,俱有表证,至于三阴,既无表证可据,而又不必一日太阳、二日阳明循经而传,卒然直中,无拘太少,
今试有人卒然患得三阴条脉证,医者诊视,将不知目为何病,无论治之也。故有谓南地无伤寒者,非无伤寒,实有之而
难于识,难于治也。寒者,天地之一气,《伤寒》者,举一以名书,一百一十三方,果皆治寒之剂哉?犹鲁史错举四时而
名《春秋》也。窃谓伤寒一证,不特霜降以后,春分以前有之,即三时皆有之,不过因时易名,春温、夏暑,其证治已
全具于三百九十七法中,在学人能通其变耳。是《伤寒》实备六气之治,厥后或专论温热,或专主三焦,或主心营肺卫,
要不过《伤寒》中之一气一经,未足以窥全豹也。读书贵在参悟,不可如小僧缚律。如邪中三阴,不必皆寒,故三阴亦
有热下证;直中三阴,多兼内伤,故三阴每多温补证。又况外感不出六经,内伤无过五脏,然则《伤寒》一书,并可以
概杂病,何时何地无之哉?溯心源于长沙,当必沉潜反复于其书,犹必详审于无表证之治,则官墙虽峻,庶几可窥。
幼科惊症,自喻氏以食、痰、风、惊四字立名,大剖从前之讹,实为确论,叶香岩亦宗之。然更有未尽者,近多冬
令气暖失藏,入春寒温间杂,小儿吸收其邪,先伤肺经,起自寒热气粗,延绵失治,渐从胞络内传,上部虽有微汗,而
痰多、鼻煽、烦躁、神蒙,病家惶惧,辄云变为惊症,动用香开,妄投金石,以致阴液消亡,热势愈张,正不敌邪,肝
风陡动,渐见肢牵、目窜、痉闭、发厥,势多倾败。若于病未猖撅之前,先以辛凉开肺,继以甘寒化热,佐以润剂降痰,
两候自能痊可。此盖温邪陷入,阴液内耗,而动肝风,实非惊恐致病也。若误以惊药治之,恐幼稚之衔冤不少,故为之
一辨。
Shaoyang, Yangming, and Taiyang (Taiyang channel syndrome) cold damage diseases all present with exterior syndromes. As for Shaoyin, Jueyin, and Taiyin (Yin channels) cold damage, since there are no exterior syndromes to rely upon, and transmission does not necessarily follow the sequence of "Day 1 Taiyang, Day 2 Yangming" along the channels, but rather strikes directly into the Yin channels suddenly, without being confined to the order of Shaoyang or Taiyin.
Suppose a person suddenly contracts a disease presenting with pulse and symptoms characteristic of the three Yin channels. If a physician examines them, they would not know what disease it is, making treatment difficult regardless of the approach. Thus, some claim that there is no cold damage in the southern regions. This is not to say that cold damage truly does not exist, but rather that it does exist, yet is difficult to identify and difficult to treat.
Cold is one of the qi (vital energies) of heaven and earth. *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) uses "cold" as a representative term to name the book. Do the 113 prescriptions contained therein all serve only to treat cold syndromes? It is akin to the Spring and Autumn Annals (*Chunqiu*), a history of Lu, which erroneously uses the names of two seasons to encompass all four.
I privately hold that cold damage syndromes occur not only after Frost Descent (*Shuangjiang*) and before Spring Equinox (*Chunfen*), but also during the other three seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn). The names merely change according to the season. The syndromes and treatments for Spring Warmth (*Chunwen*) and Summer Heat (*Xia Shu*) are fully contained within the 397 methods of *Shanghan Lun*. It depends on the learner's ability to understand their variations.
Therefore, *Shanghan Lun* actually encompasses the treatment principles for the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire). Later physicians either focused exclusively on Warm Heat diseases, or advocated Sanjiao (Triple Burner) differentiation, or emphasized Xin Ying (Heart Nutrient) and Fei Wei (Lung Defensive) differentiation. These approaches represent only one qi or one channel from *Shanghan Lun* and are insufficient to grasp its complete scope.
Reading requires insight and comprehension; one should not be rigidly bound by rules like a novice monk bound by precepts. For instance, when pathogenic factors invade the three Yin channels, it is not always due to cold; thus, the three Yin channels can also present with heat-type dysentery. Direct invasion of the three Yin channels often involves internal injury; therefore, Yin channel diseases frequently present patterns requiring warming and tonification.
Moreover, external contraction diseases do not exceed the Six Channels, and internal injury diseases do not exceed the Five Zang organs. Thus, *Shanghan Lun* can generalize the treatment of miscellaneous diseases. Where and when are there no miscellaneous diseases? Tracing the source of medicine to Zhang Zhongjing (the Prefect of Changsha), one must delve deeply and repeatedly into his work. By carefully examining the treatment of cases lacking exterior syndromes, although the wall may be high (metaphor for profound knowledge), one might glimpse the path.
In pediatrics, the "Jing" (Fright/Convulsion) syndrome was named by Yu Jia Yan (Yu Chang) using the characters Food, Phlegm, Wind, and Fright. He thoroughly analyzed previous errors, offering a definitive argument, which Ye Tianshi (Ye Gui) also followed. However, there are aspects not fully covered. Recently, winter warmth has caused failure to store yang properly. In spring, cold and warm pathogens mix. Children inhale these pathogens, damaging the Lung Channel first. The onset presents with alternating chills and fever, and coarse breathing. If neglected, the pathogen gradually transmits internally via the Bao Luo (Pericardium Collaterals). Although there may be slight sweating on the upper body, there is excessive phlegm, nasal flaring, irritability, and mental cloudiness. Families panic, claiming it has transformed into a "Jing" (Fright/Convulsion) syndrome. They then use aromatic opening agents and recklessly administer mineral-based medicines (such as cinnabar or realgar), leading to the depletion of Yin fluids and an exacerbation of heat. When Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) cannot resist the Xie Qi (Pathogenic Qi), Liver Wind stirs suddenly. Symptoms gradually include limb twitching, eye deviation, spasm and closure, and syncope. The condition often deteriorates severely.
If treated before the pathology becomes rampant, using acrid-cool herbs to open the Lungs, followed by sweet-cold herbs to resolve heat, assisted by moistening agents to descend phlegm, recovery can naturally occur in two stages. This is essentially Warm Pathogens sinking inward, consuming Yin fluids internally, thereby stirring Liver Wind. It is not actually caused by fright. If mistakenly treated with anti-convulsant/fright-calming medicines, young children will suffer unjustly. Hence, this differentiation is provided.