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Medicine is a minor aspect of the "Dao" (Way). Among these minor arts, laryngology (throat disease) is even more specialized. However, within the square-inch area of the throat, life can become critically endangered in an instant, yet also be rescued from severe peril in a moment. Human ingenuity harmonizes with heavenly craftsmanship; although one may not perceive the whole picture, seeing the great within the small reveals its merit in benefiting and saving people. When I entered the official school, I had no time to study Qihuang medicine (traditional Chinese medicine), but I frequently witnessed quacks harming patients and greedy individuals pursuing profit. For those who cried out due to having no food for breakfast or dinner, no one extended a helping hand. I sighed, thinking that a scholar born in this world, if unable to hold high office to assist in governing the people, might still achieve their original aspiration of establishing themselves and helping others by mastering a skill to rescue people in emergencies. Alas, half a life of toil, yet my wishes remain unfulfilled. This autumn, while teaching at a borrowed residence at the foot of Dongshan, Mr. Chen Sheng in Feng obtained this manuscript from the You family of Liangxi for fifty taels of silver. As the elder by a day, I came to possess it peacefully. This was undoubtedly Mr. Chen's elegant intent, but also my urgent desire. Is this the result of a worldly expert communicating with spirits? Regarding this, I privately reflect. The classics say: "Rectify your righteousness, do not seek profit; clarify your Dao, do not calculate merit." This is the conduct of sages, shining as bright as the sun and moon. If people act based on this intention, self-reflection will leave no room for regret. Matters that benefit people, though the Dao may seem small, actually bring vast benefits! But those petty, dirty men in the world only act for profit, where is the Dao there? Therefore, I write these few words to warn myself, and to ensure that future generations do not treat this as ordinary prescriptions nor pass it to unworthy persons. Furthermore, understand that this is a book clarifying the Dao, and do not open the door to profit-seeking.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Xin-Chou year of Qianlong, I borrowed a residence south of the Li River. Huishi deeply pondered for several years and borrowed this private secret record.
In the Yi-Mao year of Qianlong, Feng Yanfeng of Cixi, Zhejiang, transmitted and hand-copied it.

The throat is the gateway for respiration and digestion in the human body. Within this square-inch area, illness brings danger, and symptoms are numerous, but generally, the key point returns to Fire (Huo). Because the Shaoyin (Heart/Kidney) and Shaoyang (Gallbladder/Triple Burner) meridians, along with Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) and Sovereign Fire (Junhuo), have pulses connecting to the throat, they often become sites where Fire pathogens accumulate. Sovereign Fire acts slowly, accumulating into pain and swelling; Ministerial Fire acts rapidly, causing severe swelling leading to numbness and Bi syndrome (obstruction). Severe obstruction leads to phlegm blockage and death. The Classics state: "One Yin and one Yang knot together to form Hou Bi (throat obstruction)." Fire is the root of Phlegm; Phlegm is the branch of Fire. Fire has deficiency and excess types. Excess Fire results from overeating fried, roasted, or grilled foods, accumulating toxins. Symptoms include irritability, thirst, constipation of both bowels, and upward congestion of wind-phlegm, preceding Hou Bi onset with chest discomfort, and a wiry and rapid pulse. Treatment should first dispel wind-phlegm, then resolve heat-toxin. Deficiency Fire may result from excessive drinking, anger, or sexual indulgence, with fire flaming upward attacking the throat, causing dryness. Bowel movements are usually normal, and the Shaoyin Heart pulse is faint. Treatment should tonify deficiency and descend fire. Medications should not be purely cold and cooling; although effects may be seen immediately, upper heat remains while middle cold arises, allowing toxic vapors to enter the abdomen via deficiency. Symptoms include high swelling in the chest, upper wheezing and lower diarrhea, cyanosis of fingernails/toes, inability to eat after seven days, and a mouth opening like a fish's gills indicates death. Moreover, treating throat diseases strictly forbids inducing sweating, which causes significant harm. Or using acupuncture/pricking to bleed, which implies sweating; however, for cold injuring the Kidney or swelling in the Di Zhong (throat flower), acupuncture is strictly contraindicated. For internal injury and deficiency causing loss of voice in the throat, there is no cure. (Di Zhong refers to throat flower.) In early throat disease, if chills occur within one day, followed by cooling of the body, no oral ulcers, no double tongue, or free bowel/bladder movements, it should not be mistaken for Heat syndrome. These arise from Yin deficiency and cold. The phlegm here cannot be fully drained, as this phlegm is transformed from body fluids, unlike the phlegm in Heat syndrome cases like Ru E (millet ear tonsillitis) or She Chuang (tongue sores), which heal when phlegm drains completely. If drained completely here, spirit exhausts and death ensues. Initially use medicated powder insufflation or water-dilution methods to clear the throat, then administer medicine. The first dose disperses and harmonizes; the second dose applies warm tonification and nourishment. If after three to four days, chills recur, or heartache, bone pain, or flank pain occur, these are difficult to treat. During attacks, if the jaw is tightly shut, tongue and throat swollen, oral ulcers foul-smelling, or with double tongue, yellow scales on the tongue, or recurrence of chills/fever in the afternoon with constipation, treat as Heat syndrome using Shigao Baidu San (Gypsum Toxin-Resolving Powder). However, easily curable symptoms, such as gradually appearing ones, if chills/fever appear only after three to four days, though ominous, are not fatal. Only if symptoms do not subside, yet the jaw is not tightly shut, lips/mouth not swollen, and skin texture resembles a healthy person, is it incurable. Tongue swelling filling the mouth is incurable. Colors resembling walnut, eggplant, or sandpaper are incurable. If accompanied by double tongue and chills/fever, it is still treatable. Pressing the tongue with a chopstick reveals snow-white color, turning red-purple upon removal. This indicates dead blood internally. If there is bad breath, survival is possible. Especially avoid cases with thirst, shortness of breath, and profuse thick phlegm resembling peach gum, which indicates imminent death. Generalized neck redness and swelling are extremely critical. Red face with purple tinge, blue face with white tinge, or lack of spirit are all incurable. Inability to speak indicates death. Slight ability to speak suggests a chance of survival. Face lacking spirit, preferring to sit low, is also extremely difficult to treat. Di Zhong is vital to life; purple swelling under the tongue (She Xi) connects downward to the Kidney. White swelling is incurable; injury here means death.

When examining throat diseases, always first check the center of the chest/dantian area; redness there is incurable. Purple-black is especially critical; do not administer medication. Remember and be cautious.
For any throat examination method, first prick the Shaoshang acupoint on the hand of the affected side. If blood does not flow, death occurs instantly. Even if purple-black blood flows from the unaffected side, it is a sign of death. Practitioners must distinguish carefully.