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The son of Fang Feng'an, Magistrate of Huizhou, was twelve years old. In his infancy, the wet nurse had no milk and enjoyed drinking alcohol. Fearing her master would discover she lacked milk, she privately fed him fruit and rice gruel. After three years of nursing, he developed redness and ulceration of the eyelid margins; this was due to receiving damp-heat from the mother, gradually progressing until the eyes could not open. When I treated him, all six pulses were surging (Hong). I said: This is a disease of insufficient Kidney Water (Shen Shui); one should tonify Water to nourish Liver Wood (Gan Mu), using Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction) added with Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus). After dozens of doses, he recovered. At that time, it was autumn. I further advised taking more of the previous formula to pre-nourish Kidney Water, aiding the rising energy of the coming spring. He was negligent and did not follow through. By spring, as predicted, he fell ill. Other physicians treated him with cooling agents like Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma) to cool the Heart. After five days, his eyes remained closed, accompanied by fever, anorexia, diarrhea, and cough. This resulted from excessive damage by bitter-cold herbs, causing too much contraction and descent, leading to deficiency of Yang Qi and failure of Stomach Qi to ascend. (Generally, excessive use of bitter-cold herbs in persons with Blood Excess causes stagnation and bi-syndrome in the stomach collaterals, presenting as a painful, tight knot and increased internal heat. In persons with Blood Deficiency, stomach blood is displaced, the stomach body becomes cold and stiff, the abdomen feels completely unyielding, with loose stools, bearing-down sensation, and slight pain. If not rescued promptly, leading to a pale tongue without coating, it indicates complete closure of blood collaterals and inability of Stomach Qi to nourish upwards. This case involves damp-heat and alcohol toxins lurking long-term in flesh and blood; treatment should focus on invigorating blood and resolving toxicity, allowing sores to erupt over the body for natural healing. Bitter-cold reversal is strictly contraindicated; sweet-warm spleen tonification is also unsuitable when pathogenic factors are abundant, as it increases damp-heat and aids toxin qi.) Upon re-examination, all six pulses were rapid (8-9 beats per breath), becoming thin and spiritless when pressed to the bone. The Left Heart and Liver pulses were larger than the Right but powerless upon pressure. This indicated severe deficiency of Qi and Blood, and extreme exhaustion of Yuan Qi. Fortunately, the boy's True Yuan had not dispersed, so he was still salvageable, though medication would be needed for half a year before effects appeared. Treatment used Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus). After three months, fever and cough improved slightly, but diarrhea persisted. I instructed him to take Shenling Baizhu Wan (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill) as a tonic, interspersed with the previous prescription. By six months, the pulse slowed by 60-70%, and the eyes opened. However, redness and ulceration with sticky discharge at the upper and lower lids remained, fluctuating between improvement and stickiness. This signified incomplete recovery of Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) and incomplete clearance of Xie Huo (Evil Fire); thus, supporting Yuan Qi was necessary, after which Evil Fire would subside naturally. Stingy about the cost of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), he consulted another physician who prescribed blood-tonifying herbs like Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix). Within one to two months, previous symptoms recurred: eyes became red, ulcerated, and unable to open, accompanied by aversion to cold, fever, diarrhea, and cough. The situation became critical, and he sought my diagnosis again. All six pulses were fine and rapid, worse than before. I promised that if aversion to cold did not diminish after eight doses, recovery would be impossible. He took Baoyuan Tang (Preserve the Origin Decoction) added with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Maidong, and Wuweizi. After four doses, aversion to cold suddenly subsided, leaving only persistent fever. I said: Aversion to cold stems from Yang Qi deficiency. Having dispelled it in four doses, Yang remains strong enough for salvage. Subsequently, Baoyuan Tang and Sijunzi Tang were alternated with additions of Shanyao and Maidong. By winter, eyelid redness and ulceration resolved, and rapid pulses decreased to 5-6 beats per breath, feeling powerless on pressure. Red filaments occasionally entered the eyeballs, caused by deficient Yang floating upward. Buyang Zhongyi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) was used without Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), adding 1-2 fen of Shu Fuzi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix). After 7-8 doses, red filaments receded, rapid pulses normalized, and full recovery was achieved with continued dosage.

Zuo Guanglu Cheng, aged nearly forty, had fleshy growths (Pterygium) filling both eyeballs. Other physicians prescribed wind-dispelling and heat-clearing agents without effect. I stated: The Spleen governs muscles; this is stagnation of Spleen and Stomach muscle tissue. I prescribed Taoren Ni (Peach Kernel Paste) 2 qian, Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) 1.5 qian, Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) 1.5 qian, Yuanming Fen (Mirabilite) 2 fen, Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) 2 fen, and Shanzha Rou (Crataegi Fructus Flesh) 1.5 qian, taken once nightly. After ten doses, he fully recovered. I have used this formula to treat hundreds of such cases with consistent efficacy. However, it is contraindicated for those who have previously taken many bitter-cold herbs, damaging the Spleen and Stomach, resulting in anorexia. Forcible use will ruin the eyes and cause deficiency consumptive diseases. If this condition arises after taking cold-cooling herbs that damaged Middle Qi, quiet rest and preservation are advisable; gradual regression can occur without haste, avoiding blindness. Few physicians recognize this syndrome. The Yangming channel is rich in blood and Qi. As the Classics state: "When Blood is excess, it should be drained." This formula embodies the principle of draining. If the patient has inherent Spleen-Stomach deficiency, it may be taken every other day or every two days; urgent administration damages the eyes and harms the Spleen. (This formula derives from Tao Ren Cheng Qi Tang, with strict warnings against excessive cold usage displacing stomach blood; subsequent bitter-salty-cold purgatives prevent blood from nourishing upwards.)

Qiu Yuzhang suffered from pterygium filling the eyes. Physicians used Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) for purgation and wind-dispelling/heat-clearing agents without success. Using the aforementioned formula for 3-4 doses cured him.

Madam Liu, over fifty years old. She had chronic eye disease. After taking wind-dispelling and heat-clearing agents, she suddenly experienced dry mouth, fever, excessive ocular discharge, inability to open/close eyes, and red vessels with thin membranes covering the eyes. All six pulses were surging and rapid (5-6 beats per breath), powerless at both superficial and deep levels. This indicated excess Qi and insufficient Blood. Treatment involved Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Heibai (Scorzonerae Radix? Note: Text says Heibai, likely referring to specific processed herb or typo for Ku Bai Pi/Huangbai contextually, but literal translation kept) 2 fen. *Correction based on standard TCM*: Likely refers to Ku Bai Pi (Phellodendri Cortex) or similar bitter cold herb, but text says "Heibai". I will translate literally as Heibai. Actually, looking at context "Siwu plus...", it might be a typo for Huangbai or Ku Bai. Given WHO standards, I will use the literal term provided in source if ambiguous, or standard equivalent if clear. "Heibai" is not standard. It might be "Huangbai" (Phellodendri Cortex) or "Ku Bai Pi". Let's assume it's a specific local name or typo. I will translate as "Heibai (likely Phellodendri Cortex)". Wait, looking at the next case, "Liu Furen" is mentioned separately? No, "Liu Furen" is the subject. "Yi ren... si wu jia hei bai...". Let's stick to literal.

Miss Yang, servant girl in the Yang household, eight years old. Her eyes had constant discharge and tears, with red and ulcerated eye sockets. This was Spleen-Stomach damp-heat. Treatment used Weiling Tang (Ping Wei San combined with Wu Ling San) added with Jiuhuang Qin (Wine-fried Scutellariae Radix) and Lianqiao.

Zhu You, over thirty years old, suffered from left eye pathology descending from top to bottom, with redness, stasis, and membrane, commonly called "drooping curtain". The trend descended, resembling a curtain. Treatment used Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) without Baizhu, added with Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and reduced Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba). After ten-plus doses, symptoms reduced significantly; after another ten doses, full recovery. He was then instructed to take Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill).

Tang You, over twenty years old, presented similarly. Used modified Xiao Yao San as above, recovering after 15-16 doses.