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*Youke Leicui* (Collection of Pediatric Categories) is a work on formulas and pulse diagnosis for treating infants and children. Why is it called "Leicui" (Categories/Collection)? It is categorized by disease to attach formulas; why is it called "Cui" (Gathering)? Because it gathers the excellence of various schools of thought. By gathering these categories, the essentials of pediatric formulas and pulse diagnosis are fully prepared.

I speculate superficially, hence the term "Ya Ke" (Mute Department) is used for pediatrics. Is pediatrics truly a "mute department"? In the past, when Bian Que passed through Handan, hearing that they respected women, he called himself a "Daixia Yi" (Gynecologist). When he passed through Binyang, hearing that they cherished the elderly, he called himself an "Ermu Bi Yi" (Physician for ear, eye, and bi-syndrome). Upon entering Xianyang, hearing that the Qin people valued children, he called himself a "Xiao'er Yi" (Pediatrician). He applied different methods according to the condition and demonstrated efficacy through substances. Thus, pediatrics is not a "mute department."

Since the way of "Shen, Sheng, Gong, Qiao" (the four realms of medical skill: divine, sage, skilled, and clever) was lost, and the techniques of rash speculation and probing arose, although there were always people who followed the tracks of sages and aligned with ancient philosophers, no single person could cover all eras, nor could one corner encompass heaven and earth. Although those who admire fame and harbor righteousness have their own hearts, patients carrying provisions face difficulties in seeking distant care. Loving fathers and filial sons are forced to rely on those with limited knowledge, and parents doting on weak orphans must entrust their lives to guesswork.

Even worse, for infants too young to swallow even gruel, alkaline water is administered to relieve restlessness; for slight injuries due to improper feeding, needles and stones are falsely employed to seek results. The state of suffering is unknown to observers but identical to those enduring it. Such cases cannot be fully enumerated. Meanwhile, midwives and aunties pray to gods and bewitch with arts before the cradle, thinking themselves successful. Could the book *Leicui* remain unwritten?

Therefore, tracing from conception, investigating the period of full month, observing the thickness of innate constitution, and determining suitability for strength or weakness. One examines the depth of finger vein patterns or verifies the decline or vigor of facial features. No disease is left unexamined, no formula left unprepared. All discussions of former sages and essential formulas recorded in various books, regarding pediatrics and proven effective, are comprehensively included. This enables people to know diseases through appearance and color, and recognize severity through pulse principles. Children of the world and future generations will no longer suffer unjustly; can pediatrics still be called a "mute department"? Hence, it is said that the book *Leicui* must be written.

In ancient times, pregnant women did not eat unwholesome foods, did not look at indecent sights, and did not listen to licentious sounds; this was the prenatal nourishment of ancients. For childbirth, suitable women among the nurses were chosen as teachers for the child; this was the nursing care of ancients. Once children could eat, until they went out for schooling, diet and daily life had strict regulations; this was the upbringing and education of ancients. How do extraordinary diseases arise? Alas! Times are distant, ancients are gone, classics are damaged, teachings are slackened, nurturing exceeds bounds, and overindulgence leads to imbalance. No wonder pediatrics is called a "mute department."

Thus I say: The author of *Leicui* understands the Dao and has grasped the essentials of saving infants. This book, along with *Shanghan Liushu* (Six Books on Cold Damage), was published at the Kaifeng Public Office, also by the intention of Lord Liu Songshi. Was Lord Liu one who loved his own young and thereby extended that love to others' young? Otherwise, why would he promote it so firmly and endorse it so warmly?