时疫善忘者,蓄血之所致也。蓄血在上焦,其脉芤,胸前及心下必痛,必拒按而软,犀角地黄汤主之。蓄血在
中焦,其脉或芤、或弦、或涩,两胁及脐上必有痛处拒按而软,桃仁承气汤主之。蓄血在下焦,其脉多沉
结,脐下必有痛处拒按而软,抵当汤主之。
善忘虽为蓄血主证,然必验之大小便。屎虽 ,大便反易,其色必黑,小便自利,方为蓄
血之的证。否则,仍当参之多言、谵狂诸法治之。
时疫昏沉,热入至深极险证也。盖热初蒸及心之经,则心神不安,多梦呓,醒时自清。蒸心之经渐深,则心神
渐烦,多言,所言皆日用当行之事,无糊涂语。蒸及心包,则精神间有昏处,多言间有糊涂语,犹清白语居多。
迨蒸心包渐深,则心神昏处居多,言多妄见妄闻,甚至疑鬼疑神,非人所见闻者,犹省人语也。至热直入心脏,则
昏沉全不省人事矣。此热入浅深之次第,见证轻重之辨也。所以多言谵语,热之浮浅者,栀、芩、知、膏可解;
发狂,热之深结者,硝、黄可解;至昏沉,热之至深者,非犀角、黄连、羚羊角、牛黄,莫能解也。昏沉虽系热
深,更有夹痰气,夹胃结,夹血结之分。胸满、舌白,系夹痰气,当加川贝、栝蒌、半夏、莱菔子于犀、连诸药
中;舌黄及燥黑,腹满硬痛者,当加犀、连于三承气汤中;痛而软者,蓄血,加桃仁、丹皮、赤芍于犀、连药
中。治昏沉之大法备矣。
以上皆实证,更有虚证,亦所当知。屡经汗、下、清利之后,表里无热,胸腹无阻,二便自利,而神情由倦而
渐昏,由昏而渐沉,乃大虚之危证。大剂生脉散加桂、附、 、术、苓、芍,急救其阴阳,亦不逮矣。
When epidemic febrile diseases manifest as mania (violent mental disorder), it is a severe form of delirium (incoherent speech due to disturbed spirit), caused by epidemic heat steaming the Heart. The treatment is the same as for delirium.
When epidemic febrile diseases manifest as forgetfulness (memory loss), it is caused by blood stasis (accumulation of stagnant blood). If blood stasis is in the Upper Jiao, the pulse is Kou (floating, large, and empty in the middle, like pressing a scallion stem); there must be pain in the chest and epigastrium, which is tender upon pressure and feels soft; Xijiao Dihuang Tang (Rhino Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) should be administered. If blood stasis is in the Middle Jiao, the pulse may be Kou, Xian (wiry), or Se (choppy); there must be painful areas in the hypochondrium and above the umbilicus that are tender upon pressure and feel soft; Taoren Chengqi Tang (Peach Kernel and Magnolia Bark Decoction) should be administered. If blood stasis is in the Lower Jiao, the pulse is mostly Chenjie (deep and intermittent); there must be a painful area below the umbilicus that is tender upon pressure and feels soft; Didang Tang (Attack the Aorta Decoction) should be administered.
Although forgetfulness is a primary symptom of blood stasis, one must verify it through the urine and stool. Even if the feces are hard, if defecation is relatively easy and the color is invariably black, and urination is free and unobstructed, this constitutes the definitive evidence of blood stasis. Otherwise, treatment should still refer to methods for managing excessive talkativeness, delirium, and mania.
Coma (lethargy and unconsciousness) in epidemic febrile diseases is an extremely dangerous condition where heat has penetrated deeply. Initially, when heat begins to steam the Heart Meridian, the Heart Spirit becomes unsettled, leading to somniloquy (sleep-talking); upon waking, consciousness is clear. As heat steaming the Heart Meridian deepens, the Heart Spirit becomes increasingly irritable, with excessive talking about daily matters without confusion. When heat reaches the Pericardium, mental clarity occasionally lapses into drowsiness, and while talking excessively, some confused words appear, though clear speech predominates. As heat steaming the Pericardium deepens further, drowsiness predominates, speech involves hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there), including suspicions of ghosts and gods, utterances beyond normal perception, yet some coherent language remains. Finally, when heat directly enters the Heart organ, complete coma occurs, with total loss of consciousness. This sequence illustrates the depth of heat penetration and helps distinguish the severity of symptoms. Therefore, for excessive talkativeness and delirium, indicating superficial heat, Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) can resolve it; for mania, indicating deep-seated heat binding, Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) can resolve it; for coma, indicating extreme depth of heat, only Xi Jiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Ling Yang Jiao (Caprae Hircus Cornu), and Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis) can resolve it. Although coma stems from deep heat, it may also involve concurrent phlegm-qi obstruction, stomach fu-organ accumulation, or blood stasis. Chest fullness and white tongue coating indicate concurrent phlegm-qi; add Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Gua Lou (Trichosanthis Fructus), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), and Lai Fu Zi (Raphani Semen) to Xi Jiao and Huang Lian. Yellow, dry, or black tongue coating with abdominal fullness, hardness, and pain indicates stomach accumulation; add Xi Jiao and Huang Lian to San Chengqi Tang (Three Magnolia Bark Decoctions). Pain with abdominal softness indicates blood stasis; add Tao Ren (Persicae Semen), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), and Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) to Xi Jiao and Huang Lian. The major principles for treating coma are thus established.
The above cases are all excess syndromes; deficiency syndromes must also be known. After repeated treatments with sweating, purging, clearing, and draining, if there is no heat in the exterior or interior, no obstruction in the chest and abdomen, and free urination and defecation, yet the spirit gradually declines from fatigue to lethargy, and from lethargy to deep coma, this is a critical deficiency syndrome. Even administering a large dose of Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder) augmented with Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) to urgently rescue Yin and Yang may prove insufficient.