族侄孙子忠,患痢于湖之东双林,腹大痛日夜行百余次,下皆红脓,状若腐烂鱼肠,绝
无粪
。疼而喊叫,声震中外,由孟秋饥饱后,娼家纵欲而得也。一病即伏枕,已十余日矣。予时
寓雉城,相去百里外。渠叔少崖邀予往视。诊其脉皆缓大无力。始用芎归各五钱,加人参、
白芍药、桂心、木香、黄连,服四日不效。改用胶艾汤,也不效。大孔状如竹筒,物食而下
不变色,犹原物,予思之,此脾经为寒湿所伤,脾不裹血故也。非附子理中汤加肉桂、肉果
不可。进五六帖痢始减半,饮食稍进,但所下秽恶仍若前状,亦无粪。渠父仲 家居闻报,
即遍访徽之名家,佥嘱以切勿用补药。兼程而抵苕城,儆虞留款,因询近用何剂?儆虞曰∶
闻用附子理中汤,人参每帖三钱,仲 骇而堕筋,亟使见予,潸然泪下。言曰∶侄五旬仅此
一子,症危如此,倘不测,后将何望?予曰∶郎君险过矣,复何忧?亦以侄只此一子,故殚心
力相扶也。仲 曰∶离家而徽之名公,俱嘱以勿轻用补,侄故兼程而来。竟以补收功,非叔
几乎误事。吾儿自今以往之年皆叔之赐,侄父子何以报效?予曰∶治疾如救焚,医家份内事
。矧属在宗邻,且无德我之望,又何望报。第雉城之约不可失,若浼李钟泉邀吴荜斋代视数
日,俾予得践雉城之约,庶两尽矣。而吴子疑而辞曰∶病者危在旦夕,何孙公欲自脱手而愚
我被恶声也?予闻而晒之曰∶见何鄙哉!丹溪有言,虚回而痢自止。病者再五日可脱然矣。予
也暂留,即以东垣和中胜湿汤与之,服七日即衣冠出市,报谢四邻。吴见之而悔。李钟泉靳
之曰∶孙公欲成尔名,尔欲自没没也。悔之何补。吴由是改容相敬,令其弟游予门,彼也纳
交予而称莫逆。子忠始病也,其友李钟泉重交谊,日夕省候,督其仆事汤药,毋许离蛙步。
所下秽物腥臭不可闻,皆用漆布拭之,昼夜用数十斤。悉其湔浣,了无难色。两月如一日也
。此友也今时所稀观者,因并记之,以着其高。
The clan nephew, Sun Zizhong, suffered from dysentery in Shuanglin, east of Huzhou. He experienced severe abdominal pain and defecated more than a hundred times day and night. The discharge consisted entirely of red pus, resembling rotting fish intestines, with absolutely no feces. He screamed in pain, his voice shaking the interior and exterior. This illness was contracted after irregular eating and drinking during the early autumn, followed by excessive sexual indulgence at a brothel. He had been bedridden for over ten days since the onset. At that time, I was residing in Zhicheng, a hundred li away. His uncle, Sun Shaoya, invited me to examine him. Upon palpating his pulse, it was found to be slow, large, and powerless. Initially, I prescribed Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), each five qian, added with Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi), Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), and Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis). After four doses, there was no effect. I then switched to Jiao'ai Tang (Jiao'ai Decoction), but it also proved ineffective. The anus appeared loose and open like a bamboo tube; food ingested passed through unchanged in color, remaining as it was originally. Reflecting on this, I reasoned that the Spleen Meridian had been injured by Cold-Dampness, and the Spleen Qi failed to contain the blood. Only Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle) supplemented with Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) and Rouguo (Nucis Arecae Semen) would suffice. After taking five or six doses, the dysentery reduced by half, and dietary intake slightly improved, although the foul discharge remained similar to before, still lacking feces. His father, Sun Zhong, upon hearing the news while at home, immediately sought out renowned physicians throughout Huizhou. All advised strictly against using tonifying medicines. Traveling day and night, they arrived at Tiaocheng. Yu Jingyu hosted them and asked what recent prescriptions had been used. Yu Jingyu replied, "I heard Fuzi Lizhong Tang was used, with three qian of Renshen per dose." Hearing this, Sun Zhong was terrified and exhausted. He urgently requested to see me, tears streaming down his face, saying, "My nephew is fifty years old and has only this one son. His condition is critical. If something untoward happens, what hope will remain for us?" I said, "The young master has passed the critical phase; what is there to worry about? It is precisely because he has only this one son that I have exerted my utmost effort to support him." Sun Zhong said, "After leaving home, all the distinguished physicians in Huizhou advised against lightly using tonics. That is why my nephew traveled day and night. To achieve success through tonification—if not for you, Uncle, we would have nearly ruined matters. My son's future longevity is a gift from you. How can my nephew and I repay you?" I replied, "Treating disease is like extinguishing a fire; it is the physician's duty. Moreover, we are clansmen and neighbors, and I harbor no expectation of gratitude, so why should I expect repayment? However, my appointment in Zhicheng must not be broken. If you trouble Li Zhongquan to invite Wu Bzhai to consult for a few days, allowing me to fulfill my commitment in Zhicheng, both sides will be satisfied." Wu doubted this and declined, saying, "The patient is critically ill, on the verge of death. Why does Mr. Sun wish to wash his hands of the case and leave me to bear the blame?" Laughing at this, I said, "How shallow your insight is! Danxi once stated, 'When deficiency is resolved, dysentery stops naturally.' The patient will recover completely in another five days." I stayed temporarily and subsequently prescribed Dongyuan's Hezhong Shengshi Tang (Middle-Regulating and Damp-Dispelling Decoction). After seven doses, he dressed and went to the market, thanking his neighbors. Wu regretted his decision upon seeing this. Li Zhongquan rebuked him, saying, "Mr. Sun wishes to establish your reputation; do you wish to remain obscure? What good is regret now?" From then on, Wu changed his demeanor to show respect, sending his younger brother to study under me. Wu himself also formed a close friendship with me, calling us bosom friends. When Sun Zizhong first fell ill, his friend Li Zhongquan, valuing their bond, visited day and night, supervised the servants in preparing herbal decoctions, and did not allow the patient to take more than a few steps. The discharged foul matter was so rank and odorous that it could hardly be endured. Lacquered cloth was used for wiping, consuming dozens of jin day and night. Li handled all the washing without any sign of reluctance. He maintained this devotion for two months as if it were just one day. Such a friend is rare in contemporary times; therefore, I record this together to highlight his noble character.