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Ms. Huang, wife of Cheng, was my relative by marriage. She presented with fever, headache, a sensation of burning heat over the entire body (text missing, inferred from context), thirst, delirium, and inability to eat. Previously, she had been treated by Mrs. Cheng Wenfeng, who misdiagnosed her condition as gout syndrome and administered wax pills and acrid-warm agents. I happened to arrive and examined her pulse; all six positions were wiry, surging, and rapid. Observing her tongue, it was deep-colored, scorched, dry, and covered with prickles, while her spirit gradually became lethargic. I then told them: "This is Spring-Warmth disease manifesting as lingering heat due to the passage of the season. The treatment principle should be clearing and resolving." They treated it as gout using acrid-warm methods, which is like adding fuel to fire, sufficient to harm life rather than preserve health. Fang Yu also agreed with my assessment. Therefore, we used Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 5 qian, Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Maimai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) each 3 qian, Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) each 1 qian, and three slices of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). After one dose, her spirit cleared; after two doses, she sweated slightly and could speak; the heat resolved and appetite returned. After another two doses, her body felt light and she could sit and stand independently. Subsequently, she was recuperated using Yiyiren (Coicis Semen), Maimai Dong, Baibian Dou (Dolichoris Semen), Gancao, Huanglian, Baishao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Xiangru (Elsholtziae Herba), and Baifuling (Poria) until cured.

Ms. Cheng Youwang, aged over fifty, experienced menorrhagia that persisted beyond the expected cessation age, with heavy flow. She suffered from generalized body pain, pulling pain in the hands and feet, and chronic toothache lasting for years. This is a syndrome of Qi deficiency and Blood heat. The prescription consisted of Baishao Yao 2 qian, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 8 fen, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 7 fen, Puhuang (Pollinis Typhae), Wulingzhi (Trogopterori Faeces), and Chaohei Cebaiye (Platycladi Cacumen carbonized) each 1.5 qian, and Gancao, Jiangtan (Zingiberis Rhizoma carbonized) each 3 fen. After four doses, all symptoms subsided except for the toothache. The formula was then modified to include Shigao 1.5 qian, Renshen, Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), and Danggui each 8 fen, Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Baishao Yao each 1 qian, Huanglian, and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) each 7 fen, and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Gancao each 3 fen. After another four doses, the toothache was also cured.

Shangshe Jinzhou was my close nephew-grandson. He had an open-minded, heroic, and unrestrained nature. In mid-summer, he boated on the Bili Lake in Tiao with friends, drinking heavily whenever the mood struck, ultimately becoming intoxicated. He presented with vomiting and nausea, body heat, chest and hypochondriac distension and oppression, abdominal pain, constipation, and significantly reduced food intake. Famous physicians in Tiao, such as Yang Diaoyuan, father and son, treated him with various prescriptions for three months. His condition fluctuated, dragging on until late autumn. He became emaciated and exhausted, consuming only two ge of rice daily. His chest and hypochondriac distension and abdominal pain remained unchanged, leaving him depressed and unable to bear it. Both legs showed edema, so he returned home to seek my advice. His left pulse was deep, wiry, and rapid; his right Guan position was firm, solid, and large like a green bean. I questioned him about the formulas taken in Tiao. He replied: "They believed my nephew-grandson had weak constitution and fragile skin, suitable for Spleen regulation, so he took many Spleen-regulating agents." I said: "Incorrect. Your suffering lies in chest and hypochondriac distension, abdominal pain, and dry stool, which are significant. How can regulating the Spleen eliminate these? It only exacerbates the disease." The Classic states: "Obstruction must be unblocked"; and again: "When there is free flow, there is no pain." This describes the treatment for this disease. Thus, we administered Danggui Longhui Wan (Coptis Pill with Angelica Root), purging three times. Stool passed five or six times. Then, we gave Jiu Lian (Prepared Coptidis Rhizoma), Jiu Qin (Prepared Scutellariae Radix), Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Binglang (Arecae Semen), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum), and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) decoction. He suddenly felt relieved, the diaphragm opened, and breathing became smooth. Only slight dizziness and residual leg edema remained. We added Huashi (Talcum), Fuling (Poria), Yiyiren, and Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) to the previous formula, combined with Tiaozhong Wan (Regulate Middle Pill), taken concurrently. He recovered fully in half a month. Jinzhou joyfully said: "Everyone thought my condition resembled Fullness Syndrome, but now I am not full thanks to your effort, Uncle. How could I not be grateful?" I warned him: "I have heard that a gentleman treats his body with caution, not daring to lightly damage the body given by parents. If one does not disrupt the Harmony of Nature, diseases will not arise; if one does not violate Heavenly Constants, disasters will not occur. Qu Boyu once said, 'At fifty, I realized the errors of forty-nine years.' How much more should one learn severe lessons after just recovering, to ensure longevity? Relying on mere skill is insufficient." Less than five years later, while in Yixing, I received the news of his death. Indeed, he died from alcohol injury. Alas, what a pity.