万历龙飞二年小春月,予始游苕之东双林。于时,族兄吉泉之友吴小峰与其弟小川俱病目,专
科者愈治愈重。其目始红肿,次加太阳痛,继则白星翳叠出。予不以目科名,而识者称予大方,
因谋于吉泉曰∶医以通变为良,昔秦越人过邯郸,闻贵妇人,则为带下医;过洛阳,闻周人爱
老人,则为耳目痹医。闻东宿君国手也,必能随俗为变,愿一言去吾兄弟目疾。吉泉邀予
,
余曰∶嘉靖间论医者,必首西吴,如周仲仁氏,凌汉章氏,王宾湖氏者,皆擅一时名,其家
世必有传也,何需于予。吉泉曰∶渠家慕弟久矣,且其尊人受博士易,为西吴名家,弟好易
,幸一往,藉此为谈易地,勿逊。诊其脉,小峰
之脉,濡而缓大,两目血缕直贯瞳人,薄暮则疼。小川之脉,皆洪大鼓指,黑珠有浮翳瘼,
隐涩难开,大小便皆不利。故于小峰用补,先以清肝散与之。夏枯草五钱,香附四钱,甘草
一钱五分,细茶五分,以彻其痛。药两进而痛止。继用人参、白茯苓、熟地黄、枸杞子、桂
心、牛膝、破故纸、白蒺藜、牡凡皮。服八日而愈。于小川用泻,内用泻肝汤,及当归龙荟
丸。外用象牙、冰片为末点之,七日痊愈。其尊君我峰翁喜诣余曰∶二目均病,年同齿,染
同时,诸医同治而同不愈,先生一补一泻,而二病均愈,何哉?余曰∶此阴阳虚实之辨也。
经云∶实者正治,虚者从治。令侄之症,惟厥阴肝火炽盛,肝常有余,有余者泻之,正治也
。郎君下虚,又为怒所激,怒则火起于肝,肝为藏血之地,故血丝贯瞳人,而薄暮作痛,方
用夏枯草、香附为君,疏其肝气。经云∶肝苦急,急食甘以缓之,故用甘草为臣。茶能清
头目,用以为使,先为去此痛。经又云∶水
流湿,火就燥,故复用甘温补其下元之虚,俾火得归元,此从治也。若用苦寒降火之剂,不惟
血凝而痛加,抑且激其火而使愈炽矣。我峰闻之,语人曰;孙君本阴阳而治寒热,是用《易
》为医也。故补者补效,攻者攻效。语曰∶不知《易》者,不可以为太医。孙君神于《易》
而于医乎何有,愿于吾苕悬一壶也。余哂之,谓∶昔韩伯休且不欲人间知其名,余又何壶之可悬哉。
In the early winter of the second year of Longfei in the Wanli era (1574), I began to tour Shuanglin Town, east of the Tiao Stream. At that time, Mr. Wu Xiaofeng, a friend of my clan brother Jiquan, and his younger brother Wu Xiaochuan were both suffering from eye diseases. Specialists in ophthalmology treated them, but their conditions worsened with each treatment. Their eyes initially became red and swollen, followed by pain in the temporal region, and subsequently, star-shaped nebulae appeared on the white of the eyes. Although I was not known as an ophthalmologist, those who knew me praised my proficiency in using large prescriptions. Through Jiquan, they sought my advice, saying: "Medicine excels in adaptability. In ancient times, when Bian Que passed through Handan and heard that the locals valued women, he served as a gynecologist; when he passed through Luoyang and heard that the people of Zhou revered the elderly, he served as a physician for ear, nose, and bi-syndrome. We have heard that you, Master Dongsu, are a national-level expert capable of adapting to local customs. We beg for your words to cure our brothers' eye disease." Jiquan invited me to visit, but I replied, "During the Jiajing era, medical discussions prioritized the Xiwu region. Figures such as Zhou Zhongren, Ling Hanzhang, and Wang Binhao enjoyed contemporary fame. Their families must have inherited traditions. Why would they need me?" Jiquan said, "They have admired you for a long time. Moreover, his father held the title of Doctor and was a renowned master in Xiwu. You have a fondness for the *I Ching* (Book of Changes). Please make this visit to facilitate a discussion on the *I Ching*. Do not decline."
Upon examining their pulses: Mr. Xiaofeng's pulse was soggy, slow, and large. Red blood threads in both eyes extended directly into the pupils, with pain intensifying at dusk. Mr. Xiaochuan's pulse was surging, large, and forceful against the fingers. There were floating nebulae on the black pearls (cornea), causing a feeling of obstruction and difficulty opening the eyes. Both had difficulties with urination and defecation. Therefore, for Mr. Xiaofeng, I employed a tonification method, first prescribing Qinggan San (Clear Liver Powder). The prescription consisted of 5 qian of Prunella vulgaris (Xiakucao), 4 qian of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), 1.5 qian of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), and 0.5 qian of fine tea, to alleviate the pain. After two doses, the pain ceased. Subsequently, I prescribed Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Poria (Baifuling), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudihuang), Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guixin), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi), Psoraleae Fructus (Poguzhi), Tribuli Fructus (Bajili), and Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi). He recovered after eight days. For Mr. Xiaochuan, I employed a purgation method, internally administering Xiegan Tang (Drain Liver Decoction) and Danggui Longhui Wan (Angelica Dahurica and Gardenia Pill). Externally, I applied powder made from Ivory (Xiangya) and Borneolum Syntheticum (Bingpian) to the eyes. He recovered after seven days.
Mr. Xiaofeng's father, Wofeng Weng, joyfully visited me and said: "Both eyes were diseased simultaneously, they were of the same age, contracted at the same time, and treated by various physicians without success. Yet, with your one tonification and one purgation, both illnesses were cured. Why is this?" I replied: "This is the differentiation of Yin-Yang and Deficiency-Excess. The Classics state: 'Treat excess with standard methods; treat deficiency with following methods.' Your nephew's condition involves only blazing fire of the Jueyin Liver channel, where Liver Qi is often in excess. To purge what is in excess is the standard method. Your other grandson has deficiency in the lower burner, exacerbated by anger. Anger causes fire to arise in the Liver. Since the Liver stores blood, blood threads penetrate the pupils, and pain occurs at dusk. In the formula, Prunella vulgaris and Cyperi Rhizoma serve as the sovereign herbs to soothe Liver Qi. The Classics state: 'When the Liver suffers from tension, use sweet flavors to relieve it.' Thus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma serves as the minister herb. Tea clears the head and eyes, serving as the envoy herb, to first remove this pain. The Classics also state: 'Water flows to dampness, fire moves toward dryness.' Therefore, I again used sweet-warm herbs to tonify the deficiency of the lower burner, allowing the fire to return to its origin. This is the following method. If bitter-cold fire-draining agents were used, not only would blood coagulate and pain increase, but the fire would be激ated and become even more intense."
Hearing this, Wofeng said to others: "Master Sun treats cold and heat based on Yin-Yang principles; thus, he practices medicine using the *I Ching*. Hence, tonification yields results, and attack yields results. It is said: 'One who does not know the *I Ching* cannot serve as a Grand Physician.' Master Sun is divine in the *I Ching*; how much more so in medicine? We wish for you to hang your pot and practice in our Tiao Stream area." I smiled and said: "In the past, Han Boxiu did not wish for his name to be known in the world. How could I possibly hang a pot?"