为医先要去贪嗔,用药但凭真实心;富不过求贫不倦,神明所在俨如临。
人有恒心,践履端谨,始可与言医道矣。凡有请召,不以昼夜寒暑远近亲疏,富贵贫
贱,闻命即赴,视彼之疾,举切吾身,药必用真,财无过望,推诚拯救,勿惮其劳,冥
之中,自有神佑。如临汝张彦明为医,未尝以钱为较,应有求医,期于必效。一日城中
火灾,周回 尽,烟焰中独存其居,后且子孙荣贵。以此见天道有阴扶显助之灵,诚为可敬。
色脉参详贵造微,早凭疾证决安危;时医怕触病家讳,病稍差池便怨咨。
为医固难,及幼尤难。故医者诊视小儿之证,倘色脉精明,则死生可判。若以恐触
病家之讳,犹豫其说,不吐真情,稍有差池,必招其怨。与其受怨于后,孰若告之于先。纵
有危难,夫复何怨。昔扁鹊见桓侯曰∶疾在腠理,不治将深。恒侯不信。复见曰∶疾在
骨髓,虽司命无如之何。后果弗起。学人于此,触类究心,斯有得于扁鹊之妙旨。
积黄青则是惊风,热赤伤寒紫淡红;黑痛白为虚冷嗽,更须随部用神工。
望闻问切,医者先之。凡看病形指文,听声察色,其病图载方册,皮有薄浓,但周时
外婴孩,多在怀抱,手无垢腻,则指白皮嫩,其纹显而易见。至三五岁者,常贪戏耍,手
弄泥水,则指粗皮浓,其纹隐而难辨。参诸面部,是为捷要。有紫黑而纹粗,或叫怒而
容变,则仓卒难定,必须听声。有中风而迷闷,或久患而昏沉,语迟失音,口疮咽痛,尤
非闻而知之所能尽。问证一节,最为的当。然幼幼方脉,谓之哑科,纵稍长成语不足信,有
饱曰讥,痒曰痛,如是类者,屡尝试之。每究心及此.初在父母审其得患之由,而告医
者参详,则易于调治。多有病家不肯自言其致疾之始末,而一听医者之揣摩。由是观之,
问亦难矣,必须诊脉以决诸证。然南北禀赋不同,施治之法亦当随其虚实冷热用药可也。
若夫造妙工夫,初无其他,大学所谓若保赤子,心诚求之。专是业者,倘不尽此心之诚,
何以察不言之疾乎?
To practice medicine, one must first eliminate greed and anger, relying solely on a sincere and authentic heart when prescribing medication; one should not seek profit from the wealthy nor show fatigue towards the poor, treating patients with solemnity as if deities were present.
Only when a person possesses perseverance and conducts themselves with uprightness and caution can they be taught the Way of Medicine. Whenever summoned for consultation, regardless of day or night, cold or heat, distance, closeness, wealth, or poverty, one should respond immediately upon hearing the call. One should regard the patient's illness as one's own, use genuine and pure medicines, have no excessive expectation of financial gain, save patients with sincerity, and not fear labor. In the unseen realm, there will naturally be divine protection. For instance, Zhang Yanming from Ruzhou practiced medicine without ever calculating money. For all who sought medical help, he aimed for certain efficacy. One day, a fire broke out in the city, burning down surrounding houses, yet his residence remained standing amidst the smoke and flames. Later, his descendants became prominent and noble. From this, we can see that the Heavenly Dao has spirits that secretly support and visibly assist, which is truly worthy of reverence.
Analyzing facial color and pulse requires attention to subtle details; early judgment of safety and danger based on disease symptoms is crucial. Quack doctors fear offending their patients' taboos, and when the condition slightly worsens, they complain and blame.
Practicing medicine is indeed difficult, but diagnosing children is even more so. Therefore, when a physician examines pediatric cases, if the facial complexion and pulse are clear and distinct, life and death can be determined. If one hesitates due to fear of offending the family's sensitivities and does not speak the truth, any slight error will inevitably invite resentment. It is better to warn beforehand than to suffer resentment afterwards. Even if difficulties arise, what is there to resent? In the past, Bian Que saw Duke Huan of Cai and said, "The disease is in the skin and muscles; if untreated, it will deepen." The Duke did not believe him. Upon seeing him again, Bian Que said, "The disease is in the bone marrow; even the Lord of Life cannot do anything about it." Eventually, the Duke fell seriously ill and could not recover. Students of medicine should reflect on this case, drawing parallels and studying diligently, thereby grasping the profound principles of Bian Que.
Yellowish or bluish complexion indicates convulsive wind (Jing Feng); redness with heat indicates Cold Damage (Shang Han); purple or pale red also relates to Cold Damage; black indicates pain; white indicates deficiency-cold and cough. One must further apply skilled techniques according to different facial areas.
Inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation are the primary methods for physicians. When examining physical forms and finger veins, listening to sounds, and observing colors, these conditions are recorded in medical texts. Skin thickness varies. Infants under one year old are mostly carried in arms; their hands are free of dirt and grease, making fingers white and tender, with finger veins clearly visible. Children aged three to five often play with mud and water, making fingers rough and thick-skinned, with hidden and hard-to-distinguish veins. Observing the facial complexion is a key shortcut. If the complexion is purple-black with coarse veins, or if the child cries angrily with altered expression, diagnosis is difficult in haste, requiring auditory assessment. Conditions such as stroke-induced coma, chronic lethargy, delayed speech, aphonia, mouth ulcers, and sore throat cannot be fully understood by hearing alone. Inquiry into symptoms is the most accurate method. However, pediatrics is known as the "Mute Department" because even older children's statements may not be reliable; some confuse fullness with other sensations, or itching with pain. Such instances require repeated attempts at questioning. Initially, parents should clarify the cause of illness to inform the doctor for analysis, facilitating treatment. Many families refuse to disclose the onset and course of the disease, leaving it to the doctor's speculation. Thus, inquiry is difficult, and pulse diagnosis is necessary to confirm symptoms. Since constitutions differ between North and South, treatment methods should be adjusted according to deficiency/excess and cold/heat. As for achieving mastery, there is no other secret than what the *Great Learning* states: "As if protecting an infant, seeking it with a sincere heart." Those dedicated to this profession must not lack sincerity in their hearts; otherwise, how can they perceive diseases that cannot be verbally expressed?