光绪丙子秋，儿子庚生病胃胀痛，百治不瘳。耳孟河马培之先生医声，挈儿子就河庄求
治。
日坐先生旁，见其就诊者，日数百辈。其以疡毒来证者，去寻丈外，即听声 色，洞达症结
。讶其先嘱之奇，间诘之，因谓予疮疡之发，患实内蕴。病情神色，未有不达于面目者，故
可望形而得之。其用药非精熟《灵》、《素》，按脉辨证，平章阴阳，无以应手辄效。如兢
兢守一二古方，漫然施治，不莽莽乎？且外症实难于内科，非得真传口诀，未易券获。至于
看法、治法、手法，亦非笔墨所能宣。刀针有当用，有不当用，有不能用之别，如谓一概禁
之，非正治也。如痈疽毒初聚，用针以泄气，可冀消散；毒已成，针之易收口；若令自溃，
必至脓腐穿破，疮口卷脔，难以收功。古书固不可废，而辨证尤为首务。议论所及，又谓王
氏《全生集》一书，近时业疡科者，奉为枕秘。设遇症即录方照服，既不凭脉，亦不辨症，
贻误非浅。《集》中所载阳和汤、犀黄丸、子龙丸，法非不善，而论证究失一偏。白陷者概
认作疽，用阳和汤，不知假寒真热，假热真寒，区别攸分。阳和汤为温散血中寒邪，果系阴
寒凝结，服之或可消散，如伏热郁热之症，皮色白者误投之，是速其溃也。至已溃之症，麻
黄尤所必忌。乳岩起于肝郁，郁久化火掣痛，姜桂必不宜服。肺痈乃金受火克，肺喜清肃，
倘肺有伏热，犀黄丸多溃气之品，讵非转劫真阴乎？子龙丸行水驱痰之剂，只可施之壮实，
如虚羸之质，则吐泻作而生气损矣。先生之论类如是，皆发前人所未发，而其要首贵审脉而
已。爰亟觅旧本，首请详注，重刻行世，以不负先生寿世之苦心。工既竣，因质述其平日之
说，以告世之读是书者。先生尚有《验方新编》亦按部择验过之方，增减重订，成集待刊云
。
光绪九年仲春上浣仁和吴恒仲英
In the autumn of Bingzi year (1876) of the Guangxu reign, my son Wang Geng fell ill with stomach distension and pain. Despite various treatments, he did not recover. Hearing of the medical fame of Mr. Ma Peizhi from Menghe, I took my son to Hezhuang to seek treatment.
I sat by Mr. Ma's side daily, observing his consultations, where hundreds of patients came each day. For those suffering from sores and toxins (Yangdu), at a distance of several zhang, he could clearly perceive the crux of the condition merely by listening to their voice and observing their complexion. Astonished by this miraculous ability to diagnose before inquiry, I asked him about it. He replied that the onset of sores and ulcers stems from internal accumulation of pathogenic factors. The condition and demeanor are invariably reflected in the face; thus, I can ascertain the cause by observing form and spirit. If one does not master the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, differentiate syndromes based on pulse diagnosis, and balance Yin and Yang, one cannot achieve immediate efficacy. To rigidly adhere to one or two ancient prescriptions and treat indiscriminately would be reckless. Moreover, external diseases are indeed more difficult to treat than internal ones; without authentic transmission and secret formulas, success is hard to guarantee. Diagnostic methods, therapeutic approaches, and manual techniques cannot be fully expressed in words. The use of knives and needles has distinctions: when appropriate, when inappropriate, and when contraindicated. To prohibit their use entirely is not correct treatment. For instance, when carbuncles and sores first gather, using a needle to vent Qi may hope for resolution; when the toxin has formed, needling facilitates wound closure; if left to rupture spontaneously, pus and necrosis will penetrate, causing the wound edges to evert and making healing difficult. Ancient texts should not be discarded, but syndrome differentiation is paramount.
Regarding discussions, Mr. Ma mentioned that Wang Shi's *Quansheng Ji* is regarded as a secret treasure by contemporary surgeons. Prescribing formulas blindly upon seeing symptoms, without pulse diagnosis or syndrome differentiation, causes significant harm. The formulas recorded in the *Ji*, such as Yanghe Tang (Warm and Disperse Decoction), Xihuang Wan (Rhino Horn Pill), and Zilong Wan, are not flawed in principle, but their theoretical arguments are somewhat biased. White, depressed lesions are generally identified as deep abscesses (Ju), treated with Yanghe Tang, ignoring the distinction between false cold/true heat and false heat/true cold, which is crucial. Yanghe Tang warms and disperses cold pathogens in the blood; it may resolve cases of Yin-cold coagulation, but for conditions with latent or stagnant heat, even if the skin color is white, misusing it accelerates ulceration. For already ruptured lesions, Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) is particularly contraindicated. Breast cancer (Ruyan) originates from Liver Qi stagnation, which over time transforms into fire causing pulling pain; warming herbs like Ginger and Cinnamon Twig are unsuitable. Lung abscess (Fei Yong) results from Metal (Lung) being overcome by Fire; the Lung prefers clarity and purity. If there is latent heat in the Lung, Xihuang Wan, containing many Qi-dispersing ingredients, would surely deplete True Yin. Zilong Wan is a formula for promoting water metabolism and expelling phlegm, applicable only to robust constitutions; for frail and emaciated individuals, it induces vomiting and diarrhea, damaging vital Qi. Mr. Ma's arguments were generally like these, uncovering insights previously unexpressed, with the core emphasis on careful pulse diagnosis. Therefore, I urgently sought an old edition, requested detailed annotations, and arranged for re-printing to honor his benevolent intention to save lives. Upon completion, I recorded his usual theories to inform readers of this book. Mr. Ma also compiled *Yanfang Xinbian* (New Compilation of Verified Formulas), selecting verified formulas by category, revising them through addition and deletion, awaiting publication.
Early spring, second month, Guangxu 9th Year (1883), Wu Heng Zhongying of Renhe