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Mr. Wu Jiuyi suffered from abdominal pain and diarrhea every morning for half a year. His stool was green, and his abdomen was distended. Everyone considered it to be spleen-kidney deficiency diarrhea (Pi Shen Xie). He underwent moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV-4) for thirty cones and took herbs to tonify the spleen and kidney, but all were ineffective. He himself understood medicine and believed that since both the Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) pulses were imperceptible, while only the Guan (bar) pulses were deep and slippery, he was deeply worried, as others claimed that prolonged diarrhea would lead to the extinction of the six pulses. I examined his pulse and said, "Do not worry. This is diarrhea caused by food stagnation and phlegm-dampness in the Middle Jiao. The accumulation is sticky and lodged in the center, causing the Cun and Chi pulses to be hidden and invisible. The treatment method should be to purge the accumulation below. Your use of tonifying methods was erroneous!" He asked, "Dare we use purgatives?" I replied, "What harm could there be? The *Su Wen* states: 'When there is a pathogen, there is no injury [to the healthy qi], nor is there injury [from the treatment].' If we do not seize this opportunity, the Yuan Qi will become weaker over time, making subsequent purgation difficult." I prescribed Baohe Wan (Harmonize the Stomach Pill) by Danxi, 2 qian, combined with three Beiji Wan (Emergency Rescue Pills), administered at wu geng (3–5 AM). By si ke (9–11 AM), he passed half a bucket of thick, stagnant material, and the distension and pain resolved immediately. The next day, all six pulses became visible. Subsequently, he was treated with Muxiang Huazhi Tang (Aucklandia Decoction to Transform Stagnation) by Dongyuan for regulation, leading to recovery. He expressed gratitude, saying, "Everyone believes that the impending extinction of the six pulses indicates extreme deficiency, yet you alone perceived the truth and employed purgation. This is because your investigation into principles is profound; thus, your insights, actions, and discussions all stem from Neo-Confucian scholarship. How dare others follow in your footsteps?"

Shen Daguan suffered from swelling and pain in his left knee for one and a half years, unable to stand or walk. His stool was loose, occurring three times a day. His pulse was wiry and tight. I said, "This is damp-heat condensing in the collaterals due to spleen deficiency, flowing downward." The ancients stated that swelling belongs to dampness, and pain belongs to fire. The prescription used Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), and Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) as sovereign drugs; Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Zhu Ling (Polypori Sclerotium), and Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanacis Cortex) as minister drugs; Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) as assistant drugs; and Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis) as envoy drug. After four doses, the pain decreased, the swelling subsided, and the diarrhea stopped. Later, a pill formula was prepared using Cang Zhu, Cang Er Zi (Xanthii Fructus), Wu Jia Pi, Yi Yi Ren, Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Gou Qi Zi (Lycii Fructus), Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex), Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Huang Bo, and Wu Yao Ye (Litseae Folium), bound with wine paste. After more than a month of regulation, his gait returned to normal.

Mr. Shen Jian'an suffered from dysentery for twelve days, accompanied by abdominal pain, rectal prolapse, tenesmus, belching, and loss of appetite. A friend treated him with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) plus Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), which exacerbated the abdominal pain and tenesmus. Upon palpating his pulse, I found the Right Guan pulse slippery, large, and forceful against the fingers. I said, "This is accumulation and stagnation firmly knotted in the intestines and stomach, causing tenesmus and rectal prolapse." It should have been pushed out via purgation, but since he was constitutionally weak and prone to depression, I dared not use harsh methods. Instead, I regulated the qi and aided digestion. The prescription consisted of Mu Xiang (Vladimiriae Radix), Shan Zha (Crataegi Fructus), Bing Lang (Arecae Semen), Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Bai Shao Yao, Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), and Qin Jiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix). After taking the medicine, he felt somewhat relieved. The next day, he took Qishang Wan (Seven Injuries Pill) for two doses and recovered completely.

His wife suffered from fever, headache, generalized body pain, dry retching, thirst, chest and diaphragmatic fullness and oppression, and restlessness. Physicians prescribed Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Infusion), which worsened the dry retching and added irritability. I examined her pulse: the Right hand pulse was flooding and large, twice as strong as the Left, which was floating and rapid. I diagnosed this as Gan Huoluan (Dry Cholera). I prescribed Huoxiang Zhengqi San (Agarwood and Patchouli Powder to Rectify the Qi), removing Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Jie Geng (Platycodi Radix), and adding Bai Bian Dou (Phaseoli Semen Album) and Xiang Ru (Moslae Herba). After one dose, vomiting ceased, appetite returned, and generalized body pain disappeared. However, thirst, frontal headache, and difficulty urinating persisted. I then prescribed Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Xiang Ru, and Hua Shi (Talcum), each 5 qian; Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum), Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), and Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), each 2 qian; Bing Lang, and Mu Gua (Chaenomelis Fructus), each 1 qian; Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), 0.5 qian; and three slices of Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). After one dose, she was cured.