治未病。脐在两肾之间。任冲督脉之所系也。儿之初生。断脐护脐。不可不慎。故断脐
。隔衣咬断者。上也。以火燎而断之。次也。以剪断之。以火烙之。又其次也。护脐之法。
脐既断矣。用软布缠裹。待干自落。勿使犯去也。三朝洗儿。当护其脐。勿使水渍入也。脐
落之后。当换抱裙。勿使尿湿浸及脐中也。如此调护。则无脐风之病。所谓上工治未病。十
得十全也。
治初病。儿生旬日之后。脐风为恶病也。凡觉小儿喷嚏多啼。此脐风欲发之候。急抱小
明处。审视口中上 。有泡如珠如米。或聚或散。此病根也。其色白者初起也。黄者久也
。可用银挖耳。轻手刮出。煎甘草薄荷汤拭洗之。预取桑白皮汁涂之。自此日日视之。有则
去之。不可因循。以贻后祸。所谓中工治初病。十全六七也。
治已病。不知保护于未病之先。不知调护于初病之日。其泡子落入腹中。变为三证。一曰撮
口。二曰噤风。三曰锁肚。证虽不同。皆脐风也。撮口证儿多啼。口频撮者。此脐腹痛也。
可用雄黄解毒丸。加乳香没药各五分。丸如黍米大。每服五丸。竹沥生姜自然汁送下。利去
恶涎良。外用蕲艾炒熟杵烂。护其脐。频换。使暖温之气不绝也。不乳者不治。
噤风证。牙关紧急。不能吮乳。啼声不出发搐者。不治。 锁肚证。脐突青肿。肚腹胀
青筋浮露。大便涩不通者。不治。 或问脐风三证。古人有方。何谓不治。予曰。一腊之内
。谓初生八日。草木方萌。稍有触犯。即便折伤。经曰根于中者。命曰神机。神去则机息。
故噤风者。乳食不得入。则机废于上矣。锁肚者。便溺不得通。则机废于下矣。所谓出入废
则神机化灭者。是也。神出机息。虽有神丹。不可为也。岂蜈蚣蚕蝎诸毒药之可治耶。
一小儿生后三日。啼哭不乳。予视其证非脐风。乃脐腹痛也。取蕲艾杵烂。火上烘热。
掩其脐上。以帛勒之。须臾吮乳而不啼矣。
一小儿生八日。喷嚏多啼。请予视。予曰。此脐风也。视其上 果有泡。色变黄矣。乃
挖耳刮去之。其父惨然。爱惜之心见于形色。故去之未尽也。有老妪闻之。急使婢女告其父
。当急去之。其言迫切。父益惧。自取银挖耳刮之不惜也。遣人告予。予回书曰。旬日后当
发惊风。后果病。迎予治之。许浓报。且泣曰。予三十六岁得此一子也。予曰。无伤。投以
至圣保命丹而愈。
[Treating Disease Before It Occurs]
The umbilicus is located between the two Kidneys and is connected to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), and Du Mai (Governor Vessel). When a newborn infant is delivered, severing and protecting the umbilical cord must be handled with utmost caution. Therefore, among methods for severing the cord, biting it off through clothing is the best; severing it by burning is second best; cutting it with scissors and then cauterizing it with fire is third best. The method for protecting the umbilicus is as follows: after the cord is severed, wrap it securely with soft cloth and wait for it to dry and fall off naturally, ensuring it does not become contaminated. On the third day after birth, when bathing the infant, care must be taken to protect the umbilicus and prevent water from penetrating it. After the umbilical cord falls off, the swaddling clothes should be changed to prevent urine from soaking and affecting the umbilicus. By following such care, one can avoid contracting Umbilical Wind disease. This is what is meant by "superior physicians treat disease before it arises," achieving a hundred percent cure rate in ten cases.
[Treating Early-Stage Disease]
After the infant is about ten days old, Umbilical Wind is considered a malignant disease. Whenever an infant is observed sneezing frequently and crying excessively, this is a sign that Umbilical Wind is about to manifest. Quickly hold the infant in a well-lit area and carefully examine the upper palate of the mouth. If there are blisters resembling pearls or rice grains, either clustered or scattered, these constitute the root of the disease. White color indicates early onset, while yellow color indicates a longer duration. One may use a silver ear pick to gently scrape out the blisters, rinse the area with a decoction of Licorice Root and Mint Leaf, and apply juice from Mulberry Root Bark. Observe daily thereafter; remove any new blisters immediately without delay to avoid future complications. This corresponds to "average physicians treat disease at its onset," achieving a sixty to seventy percent cure rate in ten cases.
[Treating Established Disease]
If protection was neglected before disease onset and care was inadequate during the early stage, the blisters may descend into the abdomen, evolving into three syndromes: one called Mouth Grasping (Cuo Kou), another called Jaw Lock (Jin Feng), and the third called Locked Belly (Suo Du). Although the syndromes differ, they all belong to Umbilical Wind. In Mouth Grasping syndrome, the infant cries frequently and purses the mouth repeatedly due to abdominal pain around the umbilicus. Realgar Detoxifying Pill (Xionghuang Jiedu Wan) can be used, added with five fen each of Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao), formed into pills the size of millet seeds. Administer five pills per dose, washed down with Bamboo Sap and fresh Ginger Juice, which effectively promotes the discharge of pathogenic saliva. Externally, stir-fried and pounded Qiai (Artemisia argyi) can be applied to the umbilicus and changed frequently to maintain warmth. Cases refusing to nurse are considered untreatable.
In Jaw Lock syndrome, the jaw is tight and rigid, preventing sucking on milk; if accompanied by inability to cry out and convulsions, it is considered untreatable. In Locked Belly syndrome, the umbilicus protrudes and appears cyanotic and swollen, the abdomen is distended with visible superficial veins, and stool is difficult to pass; this is also considered untreatable.
One might ask: Regarding these three syndromes of Umbilical Wind, ancients had prescriptions; why do you say they are untreatable? I reply: Within the first lunar month (specifically referring to the first eight days after birth), the infant is like newly sprouting grass or wood; even slight trauma causes immediate injury. The Classic states: "Those rooted within are called Shen Ji (Spirit Mechanism)." When the Spirit departs, the mechanism ceases. Thus, in Jaw Lock syndrome, if food and milk cannot enter, the mechanism above is abolished; in Locked Belly syndrome, if urination and defecation cannot proceed, the mechanism below is abolished. This is precisely what is meant by "when entry and exit cease, the Spirit Mechanism perishes." Once the Spirit leaves and the mechanism stops, even divine elixirs cannot save the patient, let alone toxic substances such as centipedes, silkworms, or scorpions.
A case: An infant cried and refused to nurse three days after birth. Upon examination, I determined it was not Umbilical Wind but abdominal pain around the umbilicus. I took Qiai (Artemisia argyi), pounded it, warmed it over fire, and applied it to the umbilicus, securing it with a cloth band. Shortly after, the infant suckled milk and ceased crying.
Another case: An infant sneezed and cried excessively eight days after birth. Upon examination, I diagnosed Umbilical Wind. Inspection revealed blisters on the upper palate that had turned yellow. I scraped them away with an ear pick. The father looked distressed, his affection evident in his expression, resulting in incomplete removal. An old woman heard of this and urgently sent her maid to tell the father to remove them immediately. Her urgent words frightened the father further, who then personally scraped them away recklessly with a silver ear pick. He sent word to me, and I replied in writing: "Convulsions will manifest after ten days." This indeed happened. Upon my arrival for treatment, Xu Nong reported, weeping, "I only had this one son at age thirty-six." I said, "Do not worry." I administered Zhi Sheng Bao Ming Dan (Supreme Life-Preserving Pill), and the infant recovered.