小儿初生,或不能发声,谓之梦生,多不知临时救急办法,甚为可悯。切勿断脐带,速用磁盆盛温水,将
胞衣泡入,用手缓缓搂之,使暖气渐渐入儿腹,再以热汤烫洗脐带,即能回阳气而发声也。若温熨后犹不发声
者,即取猫一双,以布袋裹其头足。使伶俐妇人,拿着猫头,向儿耳边,以口啮猫耳,猫必大叫一声,儿即醒
而发声,此时方可剪断脐带。或用老葱煎半熟,向儿臀部打之,亦能发声。又有因难产,或冒风寒,举之迟,儿
气欲绝,不能啼者,脐带胞衣亦按前法温暖之,令暖气入腹,气回即苏,再以父母之口气呵而接之。凡断脐带,
世俗皆以刀剪断之,最为不妥。但用大纸捻蘸香油,燃火于脐带上烧之令断。盖所以补接阳气,不但为回生起
死之良法,并且日后无伤寒泄泻之患。初生肾缩,亦受寒气所致,用硫黄、吴茱萸各一钱,研成极细末,捣葱
取汁调膏涂小腹,另以蛇床子烧烟熏之即伸。
闷脐生者,在小儿粪门有一膜,闷住肠气,则不能出声,拍之则膜破而啼矣。又有轻巧妇人以银簪轻轻挑破,亦甚
方便合宜。或不能挑,急以暧衣包紧,勿令散放,以热水浸其胞衣,寒天则以火炙之,久则热气入腹而气内鼓,其膜自
破,声自出矣。又有生下无谷道者,乃肺热闭于肛门,急以金银或玉簪之物,向肛门正中谷道刺穿之,或以火针刺穿,
但不可刺深。以中空油纸捻套住,免其再合。儿初生下遍身如鱼皮,或如水晶,破则流水,以密陀僧研成极细末搽之即
愈。初生遍身无皮俱红肉,急以稻米粉干扑之,候其皮生全则止。初生大便小便不通,腹胀危急,令妇人口含热水,吮
儿之前后心,及脐下手足心共七处,每一处吮吸七口,至肉色红为止,须臾即通。初生尿闭,以葱一根切碎,以人乳半
杯同煎,去葱取乳分作四次服之,尿即通。不吮乳者,服此亦即吮乳。除此方法外,尚有两个很有效验的方法列在下面∶
一、小儿初生大小便不通,腹胀危急欲死。可急用大田螺一个,一两上下者,连皮捣烂,涂在儿脐下,一刻
即大小便均通矣。此法可谓真神方也。
二、若小儿只是小便不通,芤草鲜者一两,与乳同煎,而后去芤草取乳,令小儿吮之小便即可通。此法较
葱法不但无辣味,力尤快大也。芤草若无鲜的,干的亦可。
When a newborn infant is born, some may fail to cry, a condition known as "Meng Sheng" (Dream Birth, referring to temporary silence due to cold or qi obstruction). Many people are unaware of emergency rescue methods for this situation, which is truly pitiable. Do not cut the umbilical cord immediately. Quickly use a porcelain basin filled with warm water to soak the placenta (Baoyi), gently hold it by hand so that warmth gradually enters the infant's abdomen, and then scald the umbilical cord with hot water. This will restore Yang Qi and enable the infant to cry. If the infant still does not cry after warming compresses, take two cats, wrap their heads and limbs in a cloth bag. Have an agile woman hold the cat's head near the infant's ear and bite the cat's ear with her mouth; the cat will let out a loud cry, causing the infant to wake up and cry. Only at this point should the umbilical cord be cut. Alternatively, decoct old green onions until half-cooked and beat the infant's buttocks with them, which can also induce crying. In cases of difficult labor, exposure to wind-cold, or delayed handling, where the infant's Qi is nearly exhausted and unable to cry, warm the umbilical cord and placenta using the aforementioned method to allow warmth into the abdomen. Once Qi returns, have the parents exhale breath into the infant's mouth to reconnect the Qi. Regarding the umbilical cord, laypeople typically cut it with knives or scissors, which is highly inappropriate. Instead, use a large paper wick dipped in sesame oil, ignite it, and burn through the umbilical cord. This practice supplements and reconnects Yang Qi; it is not only an excellent method for reviving infants on the brink of death but also prevents future ailments such as Cold Damage (Shanghan) and diarrhea.
"Shen Suo" (Kidney Retraction, referring to the retraction of the scrotum and penis) in newborns is also caused by cold invasion. Use one qian of Sulfur (Liuhuang) and one qian of Evodia Fruit (Wuzhuyu), grind them into an extremely fine powder, mix with juice extracted from crushed green onions to form a paste, apply to the lower abdomen, and fumigate with smoke from burning Cnidium Fruit (Shechuangzi) to relieve the condition.
Infants suffering from "Men Qi Sheng" (Stifled Umbilicus Birth, where the anus is blocked by a membrane preventing gas passage) have a membrane over the anus that obstructs intestinal Qi, preventing them from crying. Patting the area will break the membrane, allowing the infant to cry. Agile women may also gently pierce the membrane with a silver hairpin, which is convenient and appropriate. If piercing is not possible, tightly wrap the infant in warm clothing to prevent heat loss, soak the placenta in hot water, or heat it with fire in cold weather. Over time, heat enters the abdomen and builds internal pressure, naturally breaking the membrane and allowing sound to emerge. In cases where an infant is born without an anal opening (absence of the Chong Dao/Valley Path), caused by Lung Heat blocking the anus, urgently pierce the center of the anal opening with a gold, silver, or jade hairpin, or use a heated needle, but do not pierce too deeply. Insert a hollow oil-paper wick to prevent the opening from closing again.
If a newborn's skin resembles fish scales or crystal glass and breaks to release fluid, apply extremely fine powder of Lead Monoxide (Miduoseng) to the affected area to heal. If a newborn has no skin and displays red flesh all over, dust generously with rice flour until the skin regenerates. For newborns with urinary and fecal retention accompanied by dangerous abdominal distension, have a woman hold warm water in her mouth and suckle seven points on the infant: the anterior chest, posterior back, below the umbilicus, and the palms and soles of the hands and feet. Suck each point seven times until the skin turns red; bowel and bladder movements will resume shortly. For urinary retention in newborns, chop one green onion, decoct it with half a cup of human milk, remove the onion, and administer the milk in four divided doses to promote urination. Infants who refuse breastfeeding may also begin nursing after taking this remedy. Besides these methods, two other highly effective remedies are listed below:
1. For newborns with urinary and fecal retention, dangerous abdominal distension, and impending death, urgently take one large apple snail (weighing approximately one liang), crush it whole including the shell, and apply the paste to the area below the infant's umbilicus. Urinary and fecal passages will open within fifteen minutes. This method can be considered a miraculous prescription.
2. If the infant suffers only from urinary retention, decoct one liang of fresh Plantago Seed Herb (Kao Cao) with human milk, remove the herb, and let the infant suckle the milk to promote urination. This method is superior to the green onion remedy as it lacks pungency and acts faster and more powerfully. Dried Plantago Seed Herb may be used if fresh ones are unavailable.