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Song Feng said: Rhubarb (Da Huang) should generally not be taken when the plague syndrome is still at the exterior level; it is only suitable for use when the pathogen has entered the interior.

Su Dan was extremely filial. He once told his mother, "Three years from now, a great epidemic will break out in Chenzhou. You should dig wells and plant orange trees. Patients who drink one cup of water infused with orange leaves will heal themselves."

When Huang Dehuan's family was boiling a soft-shelled turtle (Bie), they covered the pot with a bamboo hat (Ruoli). Upon lifting the lid, they saw a turtle holding up the hat with its head, its back steamed raw, yet its head and feet could still extend and retract. The family felt pity for it and secretly released it into the river. Later, this person fell critically ill with a febrile disease and moved to the riverside to recuperate. At night, an object slowly climbed onto him, and he suddenly felt cool. By dawn, he found his chest and abdomen smeared with mud. The turtle was on his body, dragging itself three times and looking back three times before leaving. His illness healed that very day.

Zang Luxi stated: For patients with febrile diseases experiencing irritability and heat in the chest and abdomen, applying mud from the bottom of a well is based on the same principle. This also demonstrates the karmic retribution of releasing life.

Fan Zhongyan's residence dug wells by first placing several jin of Atractylodes Rhizome (Cang Zhu) inside to ward off epidemics.

Zhang Fengkui, the Grand Commandant, authored *The Complete Book on Heatstroke* (*Shangshu Quan Shu*), vigorously refuting Zhang Zhongjing's theory in *Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases* (*Shanghan Lun*) that cold toxins hide in the skin and muscles, transforming into plague diseases in spring and heatstroke diseases in summer. Zhang argued this contradicts the *Inner Canon*'s assertion that warmth originates from cold. He believed this was an ancient theory inconsistent with contemporary climatic conditions. In primordial times, floods submerged mountains, vegetation was dense, heaven and earth were obscure, yin clouds were stagnant, and Yangming qi had not yet expanded, leading to prevalent cold qi and scarce yuan qi. Even in midsummer, there was no dryness-metal affliction. Later, as clothing and culture advanced, the Five Elements distributed orderly, and water and fire qi governed their respective domains. Thus, heatstroke was determined to be fire qi, treated uniformly with cooling agents. Magnificent! Master Kong's insights delve deeply into medical principles and exemplify the ability to read ancient texts wisely.

Zhao Kui enjoyed playing the flute for leisure. During a year of rampant plague, while playing at a teahouse, an old woman told him, "Recently, five people came to drink tea. Seeing you pass with your flute, they avoided you. Since then, the plague ceased." People suspected these five were the Five Plague Messengers. Later, a scholar resembling Bingling Gong entered the teahouse and instructed the old woman, "Zhao Kui has a heart to aid the poor and will surely reap good rewards." He then vanished. When the old woman relayed this to Zhao Kui, he went to the temple to give thanks. He heard a voice from the sky say, "Next year you will top the imperial examinations, and in three years, you shall enter the cabinet as a minister." This indeed came to pass, and he became a Minister of Justice (or high official).

Another account records: In Min region customs, fearing plague, if one person fell ill, the whole family would avoid them, resulting in many deaths. Magistrate Xin Gongyi ordered patients to be carried to the main hall. During summer, corridors were filled with patients. Xin stayed among them day and night, visiting, questioning, and treating them. Once recovered, he summoned their relatives, advised them to take the patients home, and everyone left ashamed and grateful, changing local customs.

Song Feng commented: Xin Gongyi remained uninfected due to his integrity, benevolence, and virtuous mind, receiving heavenly reward. Officials today must understand this.

Previously, a family in Shandong with over five hundred members never suffered from cold damage or plague. Every year during the Sanfu days, they collected a bundle of Lepidium Seeds (Tingli Zi), dried them in the shade, and ground them into powder by Winter Solstice. On New Year's Day at the fifth watch, they mixed the powder with honey, taking one spoonful per person with yellow wine. Dosage started low.

Lu Fu, courtesy name Zhiying, pseudonym Cangzhou, a descendant of Lü Donglai from Hedong, treated a patient with combined disease of the three yang channels. The pulse was long and wiry. Having recently crossed the sea and been frightened, the patient vomited blood (about one sheng), suffered bilateral hypochondriac pain, irritability, thirst, and delirium. Lu prescribed Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), removing Ginseng Root (Renshen) and adding Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Dihuang). After half a dose, waiting for the stomach to become solid, he used Cheng Qi Tang (Order the Qi Decoction) to purge, resulting in bowel movement and recovery. He also treated another patient whose seasonal illness lasted over a month. Although purged, fever persisted, with fullness in the hypochondrium and lower left abdomen, muscle color unchanged. Quack doctors attributed it to wind. After forty days, toxin flowed along the zongjin (converging sinews) into the testicles, causing red swelling like a gourd. A surgeon lanced it, but hypochondriac pain remained. Lu palpated the chi pulse as rapid and slippery. He prepared Yunmu Gao (Mica Ointment) pills, coated with Frankincense Resin (Ruxiang), and administered with a decoction of Mirabilite (Xiaoshi) and Rhubarb (Dahuang). The patient expelled five bowls of pus, and more the next day, leading to recovery.

Song Feng remarked: I often reduce the dosage of Ginseng Root (Renshen) in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Moreover, Ginseng Root (Renshen) is generally unsuitable for plague, and it is expensive. One might as well assume it does not exist in the world.

I saw a person whose plague had just healed, but whose external genitalia suddenly swelled like a gourd. I surmised the plague toxin was incomplete, flowing along the zongjin into the testicles. Urgent administration of heat-clearing and detoxifying agents might have resolved it secretly. Since the patient could still walk, being lanced by a surgeon led to death within days.

Ge Gan Sun, courtesy name Kejiu, from Wu, Pingjiang, treated a seasonal illness where sweating failed to occur. The patient ran madly along the riverbank. Ge controlled him, placed him in the water to restrain him, kept him there for a long time, then removed him, wrapped him in thick blankets, and achieved recovery through sweating.

Liu Nanying stated: This is a method for excess syndromes.

Once, a heavy prisoner died of plague in prison. The jailer reported natural causes. It was dusk, and the corpse was discarded in a ditch. Sudden cold weather froze him naked all night, but he revived, crawled back to his village, and thus escaped punishment.

Sun Fengheng said: This is similar to resolving via water immersion and sweating. Plague is essentially a heat syndrome; excessive fire causes stagnation and collapse, relieved by cold. This prisoner likely possessed hidden virtue.

Liu Congzhou, from Qujiang, Shaozhou, stated that for dysentery, warm hands and feet indicate heat, while cold indicates cold. He also said that summer fever with fluctuations is heatstroke, while persistent fever is cold damage plague.

Song Feng commented: This view on dysentery is inaccurate, but the discussion on summer heat and plague fever is appropriate and unchangeable.

The partridge of Nanling in Hengzhou resolves toxicity from wild gnetum and various fungi in Lingnan and wards off plague miasma. Also known as KT, it often calls facing each other, sounding like "Only South, Not North" or "Gou Ge Zhe".

Song Feng noted: This bird is ubiquitous, named differently by dialects. In Qilu, its call sounds like "Thief Snatches Hoe," as it calls in early summer when hoeing begins. In Yan-Zhao, locals hear "Beat Husband, Curse Mother." Legend says an unfilial daughter-in-law transformed into this bird to cry out her evil deeds as a warning. Others hear "Burn Incense, Worship Buddha." In the south, I heard "Go Up Mountain to Watch Fire" or "Take Off Hard...". These appear in poems by Su Dongpo and Gao Qingqiu.

When Yelü Wenzheng Gong conquered Lingwu, generals looted women and treasures, but he took only books and two camels' load of Rhubarb (Dahuang). Later, a plague struck the army, cured only by Rhubarb (Dahuang), saving nearly ten thousand lives.

In eastern Jinling, a severe plague occurred, and people avoided infected individuals. Xiong Li's wife, Qian Shi, returned to her natal home. Hearing her parents-in-law were ill, she wanted to visit. Her parents refused. She said, "A wife serves her parents-in-law. If I do not return when they are dying, how am I different from beasts?" She traveled alone. Upon arrival, her parents-in-law dreamed spirits saying, "The gods protect the filial wife. We must flee or face severe punishment." They recovered, and the whole family remained uninfected.

Song Feng commented: Evil does not invade righteousness; filial piety moves heaven. This is truly an excellent prescription for dispelling plague.

Liu Yongqing, a scholar from Wu, died of plague and revived, recounting: Two underworld soldiers came with a warrant. He fed them rice, indistinguishable from living humans. After eating, they took him to a public office, making him kneel. Seated above was a figure in imperial robes, with attendants solemn as in Xuanmiao Temple or Dongyue Temple. An underworld clerk read names, stating Liu had no major sins but was sent to the Plague Department for review. He was taken to a bureau where two high officials sat. Reviewing the book, one said, "No major evil, but minor verbal transgressions. Punish with sores for three years." The right seat said, "Too light." The left said, "Forgive him for ancestral merit." They released him. He woke up and indeed suffered sores for three years.

Song Shaobai said: I often see those who create verbal karma die of mouth ulcers. Another who wrote insulting poetry died young of tongue carbuncle. Retribution is exact.

Huang Jiayu, from Wu County, revived from plague, saying: He reached a city bustling like the mortal realm but dark. Officials arrived with grand procession; it was Gu Wenkang Gong, an old acquaintance of his father. Huang called out. Wenkang led him to a magnificent palace. Criminals knelt weeping. An official reviewed registers, assigning some to become animals by covering them with skins. Huang asked an underworld clerk, who confirmed it was retribution for past sins. The official asked why a living person was there. Wenkang checked, noting recent good deeds, and ordered his release. Huang woke up drenched in cold sweat.

After Zhang Xianzhong's rebellion in Sichuan, plague spread. There was "Big Head Plague" with swollen, red heads like a dou. "Horse Eye Plague" featured yellow, bulging eyes. "Horse Hoof Plague" caused blue swelling from knee to shin, resembling a hoof. All three were fatal.

Song Feng commented: Big Head Plague has various treatments in formularies. Horse Eye Plague seems caused by liver-spleen damp-heat. The liver opens to the eyes, and yellow belongs to the spleen, oppressed by damp-heat. Horse Hoof Plague's blue swelling suggests liver-kidney toxin flow. Prescriptions based on this logic may work; please correct any errors.

Zhao Chaofeng from Xiuning died of heatstroke at sea. Companions abandoned him on the coast. Sea breeze revived him. He wandered through thorns to a mountain peak, finding a large temple. He begged monks for shelter. Months later, he asked why monks ate only breakfast. They replied they went to lay patrons' homes. He requested to join them. A monk placed him in his sleeve, and they flew to a house performing rituals for Zhao's deceased father. Zhao wished to send news home. The monk knew this and revealed they were Arhats bringing him due to his virtue. They placed him on the roof. His family found him, surprised. Zhao built a temple modeled after the sea temple, named Jianchu, located in Xiuning town.

Song Feng commented: Sea wind is piercing, acting as a cooling agent for heat diseases. Combined with accumulated virtue, recovery was inevitable.

In Fengxian Bridge, Hangzhou, a man made a living boiling turtles alive in boiling water. The gruesome sight moved onlookers. He cooked them with five flavors, gaining wealth for years. Later, he contracted plague. Initially shrinking neck and limbs, lying on bed, he later crawled like a turtle, biting people. Dying, he crawled to the street, twisting like a turtle. Observers recognized this as retribution for boiling turtles. He died rotting after seven days.

Tang Shunquan's father from Kunshan died thirteen years prior. One night, his soul returned, possessing his third daughter-in-law, saying: "I am now an attendant to the Golden God Ningji Hou. Our family has no major sins, but your mother and children sometimes disposed of waste without washing hands before cooking. The Stove God reported this to Heaven, causing this plague. Fortunately, rituals alleviate guilt. However, your mother bears the sin of defiling the stove and has only two months left." She died exactly on schedule.

Jia Ding, a scholar from Kunshan, distributed porridge during famine, saving many. That summer, plague raged. Jia fell critically ill. In a trance, he sank in waves, hearing storms. Soldiers escorted a dragon-headed deity. Jia pleaded for help. The deity said, "No major sins. Do not fear. I will save you." Water parted. Jia revived and asked about his porridge distribution. The deity showed records submitted to the Emperor, confirming his name. Soldiers guided him to a bridge, telling him to go home. He returned to wailing family, having been clinically dead for a day. He recovered, as did his wife and son.

During a city-wide plague, a white-haired elder taught a wealthy family to prepare medicine for the city. Patients healed, and the family avoided plague. Later, two plague ghosts passed their door, saying, "This person has boundless hidden virtue, protected by auspicious gods. How dare we enter?"

Song Feng commented: Boundless hidden virtue is indeed an excellent prescription for dispelling plague. People should focus on this.

In Taihe County, Jiangxi, during a severe plague, a doctor returning at midnight met a deity riding a horse. The doctor bowed. The deity asked, "Who are you?" "A physician." "What medicine do you use?" "According to cold/heat severity." The deity said, "Incorrect. Use Xiang Su San (Fragrant Perilla Powder)." The doctor tried it with success.

Deity-Given Xiang Su San (Fragrant Perilla Powder):
Cyperi Rhizoma (Chufan, peeled, stir-fried) and Perillae Folium (Zisu) (4 liang each); Citrus Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, raw) (1 liang each).
Grind to powder. Take 3 qian, decoct in one cup of water until 0.7 cup remains. Strain and drink hot. Three times daily. Avoid meat, alcohol, and greasy food. Divine efficacy.

Song Feng commented: Tailoring medication to cold/heat severity is a key principle for physicians, not just for plague. This formula warms the middle and releases the exterior, dispersing wind-cold. It is rarely used for plague, but since given by a deity, it may hold deeper meaning.

Yu Gun, courtesy name Shubao, lived through the severe plague during Xianning era. His two brothers died. His second brother Pi fell ill with plague while it was raging. Parents and siblings fled outside. Yu stayed, refusing to leave despite parental coercion. He cared for Pi day and night, mourning over coffins continuously. After ten xun (months), the plague subsided. Family returned. Pi recovered, and Yu remained uninfected.

Song Feng commented: This is how heaven protects the filial and fraternal.

A person from Linchuan brought a baby ape home. The mother ape followed. The man tied the baby to a tree. The mother ape slapped her face, begging. The man killed the baby. The old ape mourned and threw herself to death. Opening her belly revealed broken intestines. Within half a year, the man's family died entirely of plague.

Zhang Deping, a bowman from Nanpi County, Hebei, was brave and caught criminals but falsely accused innocents. He died of plague. Six months later, a sound came from his grave. His son visited, finding the grave open and his face exposed. Breaking the tomb further, he turned into a white snake. The son asked why. The father said, "Retribution for killing innocents unjustly."

Song Shaobai, before achieving success in Song dynasty, met evil ghosts on New Year's Day. They said they were plague ghosts spreading disease. Song asked if his family was targeted. Ghosts said no. "Why?" "Your family has concealed evil and promoted good for three generations. Your descendants will be noble. We dare not enter." They vanished.

Residents around Taihu Lake engaged in slaughter, except Shen Wenbao's family, who were kind and released captured animals. During plague, witnesses saw plague ghosts marking houses with flags, sparing only Shen's house due to their kindness. The village died except for the Shen family.

Five men crossing northward to south encountered a boatman devout to Guan Di. Guan Di appeared in dream, instructing the boatman not to ferry them, writing three characters on his palm. If forced, show them upon boarding. Evening came, five men boarded. Boatman opened hand; men vanished, leaving a bamboo box containing plague registration lists. In Wu, scribes copied the characters: HT, HT, HT. Those recognizing them knew it was a talisman. Affixing these three characters to doors prevented plague infection.