张某,患发热,医知其非寒邪也。用清解药数剂,腿痛异常,身面渐黄。孟英诊之,脉滑实,腹胀,口干,予
茵陈大黄汤两剂,便行而各恙霍然。
仲秋久雨,吴汾伯于乡试后患恙,自言坐于水号,浸及于膝。人皆以为寒湿之病。孟英切脉,甚数,溲赤苔黄,
口干燥呛,因谓其尊人酝香曰∶病由暑湿,而体极阴亏,已从热化。不可以便泻而稍犯温燥之药。先与轻清肃解,继
用甘凉撤热,渐能安谷。半月后,热始退尽,而寝汗不眠。投以大剂滋填潜摄之药,兼吞五味子、磁朱丸数十帖,乃
得康复。
此证误治即败,少谬亦必成损。苟非诚信于平日,焉能诚服于斯时。闻其寐汗不收,夜不成寐之间,旁言啧啧。
孟英恐其动摇主意,必致全功尽弃,嘱其邀顾听泉、许芷卿质证,而顾、许咸是孟英议。于是,主人之意甚坚,而
大病乃痊。吁!谈何易耶。
朱湘槎令侄新泉之室人,怀妊患痢,医投温燥止涩,腹痛甚而遍身发黄,饮食不思。孟英视之,暑湿也。与∶
(黄)芩 (黄)连 银花 茅根 桑叶 栀(子) 楝(实) 竹叶 茵陈 冬瓜皮而愈。
赤山埠李氏女,素禀怯弱,春间汛事不行,胁腹聚气如瘕,餐减肌削,屡服温通之药,至孟秋加以微寒壮热,
医仍作经闭治,势濒于危。乃母托伊芳表兄林豫堂措办后事,而豫堂特请孟英诊以决之。孟英切脉时,壮热烙指,汗出
如雨,其汗珠落于脉枕上,微有粉红色。乃曰∶虚损是其本也。今暑热炽盛,先当治其客邪,庶可希冀。疏白虎汤
加西洋参、元参、竹叶、荷秆、桑叶。及何医至,一筹莫展,闻孟英主白虎汤,乃谓其母曰∶危险至此,尚可服石
膏乎?且本草于石膏条下致戒云∶血虚胃弱者禁用,彼岂未之知也?豫堂毅然曰∶我主药。与其束手待毙,盍从孟
英死里求生之路耶?遂服二帖,热果退,汗渐收。改用甘凉清
余热,日以向安。继予调气养营阴,瘕瘦亦消。培补至仲冬,汛至而痊。次年适孙夔伯之弟。
王士干室,素多郁怒,气聚于腹,上攻脘痛,旋发旋安。花甲外,病益甚。医治益剧。李西园荐孟英视之,曰∶
此非人间之药所能疗矣。辞不予方。其夫子及婿,环乞手援。孟英曰∶既尔,吾当尽力以冀延可也。然腹中聚气
为瘕,攻痛呕吐,原属于肝,第病已三十载,从前服药,谅不外温补一途。如近服逍遥散,最劫肝阴;理中汤极
伤胃液。名称疗疾,实则助桀。人但知呕吐为寒,未识风阳内煽,水自沸腾。专于炉内添薪,津液渐形涸竭。奈医
者犹云“水已不吐,病似渐轻”。是不察其水已吐尽,仅能哕逆空呕,所以不能纳谷。便秘不行,脉弦无胃,舌痿
难伸,蕴隆虫虫,何可措手?可谓“女人亦有孤阳之病”矣。勉以∶西洋参 肉苁蓉 麦冬 玉竹 生白芍
石斛 竹茹 柏子霜 紫石英为方,猪肉煮汤煎药,和入青蔗浆、人
乳,服后,呕哕皆止,人以为转机。孟英曰∶譬之草木干枯已久,骤加灌溉,枝叶似转青葱。然根 槁矣,生气不
存,亦何益耶?继而糜粥渐进,颇思肉味,其家更喜,以为有望。孟英曰∶且看(大)解后如何?越数日,大便颇畅,
殊若相安。亟迓复诊。孟英曰∶枉费苦心矣!脉不柔和,舌不润泽,虽谷进便行,而生津化液之源已绝,药石能从
无中生有哉?夏至后,果殒。
Zhang, suffering from fever, was diagnosed by a physician as not caused by cold pathogen. After taking several doses of clearing and resolving herbs, he experienced severe pain in his legs, and his body and face gradually turned yellow. Mengying examined him, finding the pulse slippery and excess, abdominal distension, and dry mouth. He prescribed Yinchin Dahuang Tang (Yinchen and Rhubarb Decoction) for two doses. After bowel movement, all ailments vanished instantly.
In mid-autumn, after prolonged rain, Wu Fenbo fell ill following the provincial examination. He stated that he had sat in a damp examination cell with water soaking up to his knees. Others believed it was a disease of cold-dampness. Mengying palpated the pulse, which was very rapid; urination was red, tongue coating yellow, mouth dry with choking sensations. He told Wu's father, Yunxiang: "The illness stems from summerheat-dampness, but the constitution is extremely Yin-deficient, and the pathogen has transformed into heat. One must not use warm-drying herbs just because there is slight diarrhea." Initially, light and clear herbs were used to purify and resolve, followed by sweet-cool herbs to withdraw heat. Gradually, he could eat and rest. Half a month later, the heat completely subsided, but night sweats and insomnia appeared. Large doses of nourishing, filling, and anchoring prescriptions were administered, along with swallowing Wuzi Wan (Schisandra Pill) and Cizhu Wan (Magnetite and Schisandra Pill) for dozens of doses, leading to recovery.
This condition would deteriorate if misdiagnosed; even minor errors would cause damage. Without daily trust, how could sincerity be achieved at this moment? Hearing of his uncontrollable night sweats and sleeplessness, bystanders murmured. Mengying feared this would shake their resolve and ruin all efforts, so he advised inviting Gu Tingquan and Xu Zhixing to verify the diagnosis. Both Gu and Xu agreed with Mengying. Thus, the family's determination strengthened, and the major illness was cured. Alas! How difficult it is.
Zhu Xiangcha's nephew Xinquan's wife, while pregnant, suffered from dysentery. Physicians administered warm-drying and astringent herbs, resulting in severe abdominal pain, generalized jaundice, and loss of appetite. Mengying diagnosed it as summerheat-dampness. He prescribed Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Maogen (Imperatae Rhizoma), Sangye (Mori Folium), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Lianshi (Meliae Fructus), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Yinchin (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), and Dongguapi (Benincasae Exocarpium). She recovered.
Li, a young woman from Chishanbu, had always been frail. In spring, her menstruation ceased. Qi accumulated in the hypochondrium and abdomen like a mass (Jia), food intake decreased, and muscles wasted away. Repeated use of warm-unblocking herbs led to mild chills and high fever in early autumn. Physicians still treated it as amenorrhea, bringing her to the brink of death. Her mother entrusted her cousin, Lin Yutang, with funeral arrangements. Yutang specifically requested Mengying to diagnose and decide. When Mengying palpated the pulse, the high heat scorched his fingers, and sweat poured like rain; sweat drops on the pulse pillow showed a faint pink hue. He said: "Deficiency consumption is the root. Now summerheat is blazing; we must first treat the exogenous pathogen to have hope." He prescribed Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) modified with Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Hegan (Nelumbinis Petiolus), and Sangye (Mori Folium). When another doctor arrived, helpless, and heard Mengying advocated Baihu Tang, he told Li's mother: "In such danger, can one still take Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum)? The Materia Medica warns under Shigao: Contraindicated in blood deficiency and weak stomach. Does he not know this?" Yutang firmly replied: "I take responsibility. Rather than waiting passively for death, why not follow Mengying's path to survive?" Two doses were taken, and indeed the heat receded, and sweat stopped. Sweet-cool herbs were used to clear residual heat, and she improved daily. Subsequently, qi-regulating and ying-yin-nourishing herbs were given, and the Jia mass diminished. By mid-winter, menstruation returned, and she recovered. The following year, she married Sun Kuibo's younger brother.
Wang Shigan's wife, prone to depression and anger, had qi accumulating in the abdomen, attacking upward causing epigastric pain, which resolved quickly. Beyond sixty, the illness worsened. Treatment made it worse. Li Xiyuan recommended Mengying. He said: "This cannot be treated by earthly medicines." He declined to prescribe. Her husband and son-in-law begged for help. Mengying said: "Since you insist, I will try to prolong life. However, qi accumulation forming a Jia mass, attacking with pain and vomiting, originally belongs to Liver pathology. But the disease has lasted thirty years; past treatments likely relied on warming and tonifying. Recent use of Xiaoyao San (Free Wanderer Powder) most depletes Liver Yin; Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) severely damages Stomach fluids. Named as treatment, actually aiding the villain. People only know vomiting as cold, failing to recognize internal stirring of wind-yang, causing water to boil. Adding fuel to the furnace, fluids gradually dry up. Yet doctors say 'water no longer vomits, illness seems lighter.' This fails to see that fluids are exhausted, only hiccups and empty retching remain, hence inability to accept food. Constipation, wiry pulse lacking stomach Qi, flaccid tongue hard to extend, intense heat, how to intervene? It can be said 'women also suffer from solitary Yang disease.'" He reluctantly prescribed Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Rongzhrong (Cistanches Herba), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Yuzhu (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), Sheng Baishao (Raw Paeoniae Radix Alba), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Zhuru (Bambusae Sap), Baizishuang (Platycladi Semen), and Zhiwushi (Fluoritum). Pork broth was used to decoct herbs, mixed with green sugarcane juice and human milk. After taking, vomiting and hiccups stopped, seen as a turning point. Mengying said: "Like long-dried plants, sudden irrigation makes branches look green. But roots are dead, vital energy gone, what good is it?" Porridge gradually increased, craving meat, family rejoiced, seeing hope. Mengying said: "Wait until stool passes." Days later, stool passed smoothly, seemingly stable. Urgently summoned for re-examination. Mengying said: "Vain effort! Pulse not soft, tongue not moist, although food enters and stool passes, the source of generating fluids is cut off. Can medicine create something from nothing?" After Summer Solstice, she died.