齿如黄熟豆。骨气绝。一日死。面青目陷。肝气绝。二日死。面白鼻入奇轮。肺气绝。三日死。面黑耳黄呻吟。肾
气绝。四日死。面上死筋。心气绝。五日死。口张唇青尾枯。脉绝。六日死。面目四肢肿。脾绝。九日死。大凡病儿足
跌耳肿。大小便不禁。皆死候也。忽作鸦声者。是大肠绝也。不治。鱼口气粗。出而不返者。是肺绝也。不治。肝藏血
目乃肝之外应。爪甲青黑。血脉不荫。及目无光彩。筋缩则两手抱头。是肝绝。不治。眼青属肾。肾有两筋。自背脊直
至脑门。贯其二睛。肾绝。两目向上。目不动者。不治。肾乃骨之主。肾绝则齿痒。切牙咬人者。不治。鼻乃肺之外应。
孔干黑燥。是肺绝。不治。面色黑黔者。不治。唇乃脾之外应。唇缩而不盖齿者。是脾绝。不治。胃主肌肤四肢。胃绝
则毛发竖。手足不能收管者。不治。四肢汗出如油。是荣卫俱绝。阴阳离。津液散于四肢。如粘胶者。不治。
头偃于后。天柱骨痿。心绝。颈骨不载。不治。或以为五软。非也。心主血。舌乃心之外应。舌短则语言
不明。心绝则血不流行。身不温暖。及囟门凸起。或陷作坑。目多直视。是皆必死。不治。饮水不歇。是肺
胃俱绝。其水直下大肠中去。必死。痢如死鹅鸭血者。是心绝。或臭秽如糟汤血水者。不治。
凡有顽涎退场门鼻者。是风痰塞关窍。血脉不行。不纳汤药者。不治。心寒者。脉绝也。故令肺胀。不治。
喉中拽锯。口吐白沫。是风痰闭窍。面色青黑。五孔干燥。不治。
以上诸症。是脏腑俱败。荣卫相离。气脉不生。皆不治之症。向有其症而救之。十或一二者也。
The teeth resemble yellow, ripe beans. This indicates the exhaustion of Bone Qi (Gu Qi), and death will occur within one day. The face is cyanotic with sunken eyes, indicating the exhaustion of Liver Qi (Gan Qi), and death will occur within two days. The face is pale with nostrils retracted like a strange wheel, indicating the exhaustion of Lung Qi (Fei Qi), and death will occur within three days. The face is black, ears are yellow, accompanied by groaning, indicating the exhaustion of Kidney Qi (Shen Qi), and death will occur within four days. Dead sinews appear on the face, indicating the exhaustion of Heart Qi (Xin Qi), and death will occur within five days. The mouth remains open, lips are cyanotic, and the tailbone area is withered, indicating the exhaustion of Pulse Qi (Mai Qi), and death will occur within six days. Swelling of the face, eyes, and four limbs indicates the exhaustion of Spleen Qi (Pi Qi), and death will occur within nine days. Generally, if a sick child has swollen ankles and ears, along with incontinence of urine and feces, these are all signs of impending death. A sudden crow-like cry indicates the exhaustion of Large Intestine Qi (Da Chang Qi); this is incurable. Breathing resembling that of a fish, where inhalation occurs but exhalation does not return or is short and shallow, indicates the exhaustion of Lung Qi (Fei Qi); this is incurable. The Liver stores Blood (Xue), and the eyes are the external manifestation of the Liver. Cyanotic and black fingernails, blood vessels failing to nourish, lackluster eyes, and tendon contraction causing the hands to clutch the head indicate the exhaustion of Liver Qi (Gan Qi); this is incurable. Cyanosis around the eyes belongs to the Kidney. The Kidney has two tendons extending from the spine to the forehead, penetrating both eyeballs. When Kidney Qi (Shen Qi) is exhausted, the eyes roll upward and remain fixed; this is incurable. The Kidney is the master of bones. When Kidney Qi (Shen Qi) is exhausted, the teeth itch, and grinding of teeth or biting occurs; this is incurable. The nose is the external manifestation of the Lung. Dry, black, and cracked nasal passages indicate the exhaustion of Lung Qi (Fei Qi); this is incurable. A dark, blackened complexion is incurable. The lips are the external manifestation of the Spleen. Lips that retract and fail to cover the teeth indicate the exhaustion of Spleen Qi (Pi Qi); this is incurable. The Stomach governs the skin, muscles, and four limbs. When Stomach Qi (Wei Qi) is exhausted, hair stands erect, and the hands and feet cannot be controlled voluntarily; this is incurable. Sweating on the four limbs like oil indicates the exhaustion of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), separation of Yin and Yang, and leakage of body fluids into the limbs, becoming sticky like glue; this is incurable. The head tilts backward due to flaccidity of the Tian Zhu Gu (Heavenly Pillar Bone, cervical spine), indicating the exhaustion of Heart Qi (Xin Qi). The neck bone fails to support the head; this is incurable. Some may mistake this for "Five Flaccidities" (Wu Ruan), but it is not. The Heart governs Blood (Xue), and the tongue is the external manifestation of the Heart. A short tongue results in unclear speech. When Heart Qi (Xin Qi) is exhausted, blood circulation ceases, the body becomes cold, and the fontanelle bulges or sinks into a pit. Fixed staring of the eyes are all signs of certain death; this is incurable. Unquenchable thirst indicates the joint exhaustion of Lung Qi (Fei Qi) and Stomach Qi (Wei Qi), with water flowing directly into the Large Intestine; death is inevitable. Dysentery producing stool resembling the blood of dead geese or ducks indicates the exhaustion of Heart Qi (Xin Qi). Or, if the discharge is foul-smelling like dregs soup mixed with blood and water, it is incurable. Whenever stubborn phlegm blocks the anus or nasal orifices, this indicates Wind-Phlegm obstructing the orifices, blocking blood vessels, and preventing the intake of herbal decoctions; this is incurable. Coldness of the heart indicates the exhaustion of Pulse Qi (Mai Qi), leading to Lung distension; this is incurable. A sawing sound in the throat, foaming at the mouth, cyanotic and black complexion, and dryness of the five orifices indicate Wind-Phlegm closing the orifices; this is incurable. All the above symptoms indicate the total failure of the Zang-Fu organs, separation of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), and cessation of Qi and pulse generation. These are all incurable conditions. In the past, among those treated for such symptoms, only one or two out of ten might have been saved.