筠枝先生。创业维艰。大率得之节啬者多。然七旬御女不辍。此先天元阳固密。非人力之所为也。若能良
贾深藏。可以百年用之不竭。奈何以御女之故。而数扰其阳耶。夫阳者亲上而卫外。易出而难收者也。在
根基浅露之躯。毫不敢肆情纵欲。幸而根深蒂固。不易动摇。乃以房中之术。自伐其根。而重加栽
接。致大命危于顷刻。岂误以节啬之方。而倒施之御女乎。夏月阳气在外。阴气在内。此时调摄之药。全
以扶阳抑阴为主。翁偶不快。于饮食起居如常。医者以壮年伤暑之药。香薷黄柏石膏
知母滑石车前木通投之。即刻不支。卧于床褥。次早余见时。则
身僵颈硬。舌强喉哑。无生理矣。余诊毕云。此证虽危。然因误药所致。甫隔一晚。尚可以药速追。急以大
附子干姜人参白术各五钱。甘草三钱。大剂煎服。可解此厄。万不宜迟。渠诸子不能决。余忙取药自煎。众
议姑以前方煎四分之一。服之安贴。再煎未迟。只得从之。药成送进。适前医再至。遂入诊良久。阻药
不用。余面辱其医。进房亲督灌药。寸香之久。翁大呕一声。醒而能言。但声雌而颤。呼诸子乳名云。适才
见州官回。询其所繇。开目视之不语。转问医者何人。曰江西喻。遂抬手一拱。又云。被缝有风来。塞塞。
余甚快。忙出煎所存三分之药以再进。维时姻族杂至。商以肩舆送余归寓。余断欲进药。众劝云。且暂
回寓。或者明日再请。其意中必惧吾之面折医辈耳。及他医进药。哑 如前。越二日而逝。余为之叹惜不
已焉。七旬御女不辍。斧斤于内。而假庸医以权。长子次子继夭。斧斤于外。而开
姻族以舋。气机久动。尚自谓百年无患也。于人乎何尤。
胡卣臣先生曰。献玉而遭刖。认为顽石也。投珠而按剑。诧为不祥也。
至剖石得玉。转灾为祥。尚然不识。则何见耶。医事固裂。亦所遇适穷耳。
Mr. Yunzhi, having established his career with great difficulty, mostly acquired his wealth through frugality and restraint. However, he engaged in sexual intercourse without cessation even at the age of seventy; this was because his *Yuan Yang* (Primordial Yang Qi, the root of life activities) was naturally solid and secure, a condition not achieved by human effort alone. If he had practiced deep concealment and conservation like a skilled merchant, he could have preserved his vitality for a hundred years without depletion. Why did he disturb his *Yang Qi* repeatedly due to excessive sexual activity?
*Yang Qi* tends to move upward and outward to protect the exterior; it is easily lost but difficult to recover. For those with shallow roots, one must absolutely refrain from indulging desires. Fortunately, your foundation was deep and solid, making it hard to shake. Yet, through improper sexual practices, you undermined your own root and attempted erroneous "grafting" (metaphorically referring to incorrect medical interventions or tonification), thereby placing your life in imminent danger. Was this not a mistake of applying methods of restraint and conservation inversely to the act of indulgence?
In summer, *Yang Qi* floats on the exterior while *Yin Qi* resides within. Medications for regulation during this period should primarily focus on supporting *Yang* and suppressing *Yin*. The elder gentleman occasionally felt unwell, yet his diet and daily routine remained normal. The physician prescribed medications for heatstroke in young adults, administering herbs such as *Elsholtziae Herba* (Xiangru), *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huangbai), *Gypsum Fibrosum* (Shigao), *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* (Zhimu), *Talcum* (Huashi), *Plantaginis Semen* (Cheqianzi), and *Akebiae Caulis* (Mutong). Consequently, his condition deteriorated immediately, confining him to bed.
The following morning when I examined him, his body was stiff, his neck rigid, his tongue stiff, and his voice hoarse, appearing devoid of vital signs. After palpating his pulse, I stated: Although this syndrome is critical, it was caused by erroneous medication. Having passed only one night, it is still possible to rapidly reverse the situation with proper medicine. Urgently administer a large dose of *Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata* (Fuzi), *Zingiberis Rhizoma* (Ganjiang), *Panax Ginseng* (Renshen), and *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu), each 5 qian, along with *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao) 3 qian, decocted and taken orally. This can resolve the crisis. Do not delay.
His sons were unable to make a decision. I hurriedly took the herbs and decocted them myself. The crowd suggested brewing only one-quarter of the prescription first; if he stabilized after taking it, the rest could be brewed later. Reluctantly, we agreed. When the medicine was ready and presented, the previous physician happened to arrive again. He examined the patient for a long time and obstructed the administration of the medicine. I publicly rebuked that physician, entered the room, and personally supervised the administration of the drug. After approximately the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the elder gentleman vomited loudly once, woke up, and could speak, though his voice was soft and trembling. He called out his sons' childhood names, saying, "I just saw the Prefect return." When asked about the cause, he opened his eyes, looked around, but said nothing. He then asked who the physician was. Upon hearing "Yu Chang from Jiangxi," he raised his hand in a salute and added, "There is wind coming from the seams, shivering." I felt greatly relieved and hurriedly went out to retrieve the remaining three-quarters of the decoction to administer again.
At that time, relatives and clansmen crowded in, discussing sending me back to my residence via sedan chair. I insisted on continuing the treatment. They advised, "Please return to your residence for now; perhaps we can invite you again tomorrow." Their intention was likely fear of my confronting the other physicians. When other physicians administered their prescriptions, the symptoms remained unchanged. Two days later, he passed away. I sighed with endless regret.
Engaging in intercourse at seventy without cessation is like chopping wood from within; yet relying on mediocre physicians to manage one's health. The death of the eldest and second sons is like chopping wood from without; yet provoking disputes among kin and clans. With the mechanism of Qi disturbed for a long time, he still believed himself safe for a century. What blame can be placed upon others?
Mr. Hu Youchen said: "Offering jade and suffering the punishment of foot amputation is because it is mistaken for common stone; throwing pearls and being met with drawn swords is because it is regarded as an ill omen. Even after cutting open the stone to find jade, turning disaster into auspiciousness, if one still fails to recognize it, what kind of insight is that? The division in medical practice is indeed severe, but it is also due to encountering unfortunate circumstances."