伙人叶殿和,庚寅秋患感,旬日后,汗出昏瞀,医皆束手。乃甥余薇恒挽孟英勘之,曰∶此真阴
素亏,过服升散,与仲圣“少阴误发汗”同例,下竭则上厥,岂能引亡阳为比,而以附、桂速其毙耶?以∶元
参地黄 知母 甘草 白芍 黄连 茯苓 小麦 龟板 鳖甲 牡蛎 驴皮胶,为大剂投之,得愈。
家叔南山,于秋间患感,日治日剧,渐至神昏谵妄,肢震动惕。施、陈两医,皆谓元虚欲脱,议投峻
补。家慈闻而疑之曰∶盍与孟英商之。孟英诊曰∶无恐也,通络蠲痰,可以即愈。用∶石菖蒲 羚羊角 丝瓜
络冬瓜子 苡仁 桑枝 橘络 旋复 葱须 贝母 钩藤 胆星为剂,化服
万氏牛黄清心丸一颗,覆杯而安,调理半月而愈。
段春木,秋杪患发热,而腰痛、腿痛如刀割。孟英视之,略不红肿,脉至细数,苔色黑燥,溺赤便黑。予∶
西洋参 麦冬 生地 犀角 银花 楝实 石斛 知母 甘草 竹沥 蔗汁,为大剂。投之,热渐退,痛渐已。
惟舌绛无津,故仍与甘凉濡润为方,数日后,忽舌绛倍加,燥及咽膈,水饮不能下咽。孟英曰∶真阴涸竭,药
难奏绩矣。然窃疑其何以小愈之后,骤尔真阴涸竭,或者背余而服别药乎?继其契友来询云∶段死而舌出,此曷
故欤?孟英闻之,爽然大悟。因撷《伤寒》(瘥后)女劳复之文示之。其人顿足云∶良
然。彼于小愈后,曾宿于外,次日归,即转剧。苟直陈不讳,或尚可活乎?孟英曰∶未必然也。烧 散、鼠矢
汤,皆从足少阴以逐邪。彼不过热邪袭入此经,所谓“阴阳易”是也。今少腹无绞痛之苦,原非他人之病易于
我。真是女劳之复,以致真阴枯涸,更将何药以骤复其真阴哉?然而从此“女劳复”与“阴阳易”,一
虚一实有定论,不致混同而治矣。
Ye Dianhe, a shop assistant, contracted an exogenous pathogen in the autumn of the Gengyin year. Ten days later, he presented with sweating and mental confusion (Hunmao). Physicians were at a loss. His nephew, Yu Weiheng, invited Wang Mengying to examine him. Wang said: "This is a case of inherent deficiency of True Yin (Zhen Yin), exacerbated by excessive use of ascending and dispersing herbs. It follows the same pattern as Zhang Zhongjing's description of 'misapplied sweating therapy in Shaoyin disease'. When the lower jiao essence is depleted, upper yang becomes inverted. How can this be compared to Yang collapse (Wang Yang) and treated with Aconite (Fuzi) and Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), which would only hasten death?" He prescribed a large dose of: Scrophulariae Radix (Yuanshen), Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Dihuang), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Poria (Fuling), Triticum Semen (Xiaomai), Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Guiban), Trionycis Carapax (Biejia), Ostreae Concha (Muli), and Asini Corii Colla (Lvpijiao). The patient recovered.
My uncle, Nanshan, contracted an exogenous pathogen in autumn. Despite daily treatment, his condition worsened progressively until he suffered from coma, delirium, and tremors/twitching of limbs. Doctors Shi and Chen both diagnosed it as critical deficiency of Yuan Qi with impending collapse, proposing the use of potent tonifying formulas. My mother doubted this and suggested consulting Wang Mengying. Wang examined the pulse and said: "Do not worry. Unblocking collaterals and eliminating phlegm will lead to recovery." He prescribed: Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shichangpu), Cornu Saigae Tataricae (Lingyangjiao), Luffae Fructus Retinervus (Sigualuo), Benincasae Semen (Dongguazi), Coicis Semen (Yiren), Mori Ramulus (Sangzhi), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Jieluo), Inulae Flos (Xuanfu), Allii Fistulosi Bulbus (Congxu), Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (Beimu), Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis (Gouteng), and Asteris Radix et Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Fel Tapis (Danning) as a decoction, along with one pill of Wan Shi's Niuhuang Qingxin Wan dissolved for administration. The patient stabilized shortly after taking the medicine and recovered after half a month of convalescence.
Duan Chunmu suffered from fever in late autumn, accompanied by severe lumbar and leg pain described as knife-like cutting. Wang observed no redness or swelling. The pulse was fine and rapid; the tongue coating was black and dry; urination was reddish, and stool was black. He prescribed a large dose of: Panax Ginseng Caudex Americanus (Yangshengshen), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Rhinocerotis Cornu (Xijiao), Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Yinhua), Meliae Fructus (Lianshi), Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Phyllostachyris Succus (Zhuli), and Sacchari Sinarum Sucus (Zheshi). The fever gradually subsided, and the pain ceased. However, the tongue remained crimson without fluids. Therefore, he continued prescribing sweet-cool moistening formulas. Several days later, the tongue became deeply crimson, dryness spread to the throat and chest diaphragm, making swallowing even water impossible. Wang stated: "True Yin has been exhausted; medication is unlikely to succeed. I suspect that after slight improvement, True Yin suddenly collapsed, possibly due to taking other medications secretly." Later, a friend came to inquire: "Duan died with his tongue protruding. What is the reason?" Wang suddenly realized the truth. He showed the friend the passage on "female labor relapse" (Nü Laofu) after recovery from febrile diseases in the *Shanghan Lun*. The friend stamped his foot and said: "Indeed. After slight improvement, he stayed out overnight. Upon returning the next day, the condition worsened drastically. If he had confessed frankly, perhaps he could have been saved?" Wang replied: "Not necessarily. Shaokun San (Burnt Underwear Powder) and Shushi Tang (Rat Dropping Decoction) expel pathogens via the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian. His condition was merely heat pathogens invading this meridian, known as 'Yin-Yang Exchange' (Yinyang Yi). Currently, he lacks the cramping pain in the lower abdomen, indicating the illness did not transfer from another person. This is truly 'female labor relapse', causing exhaustion of True Yin. What medicine could rapidly restore such depleted True Yin? However, from now on, there is a definitive distinction between 'female labor relapse' and 'Yin-Yang Exchange'—one being deficiency and the other excess—preventing them from being confused and treated identically."