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Chunyu Yi treated Wang Meiren of Zizhou, who was pregnant but unable to deliver. She was summoned to Chunyu Yi, who administered a pinch of *Lángdàng* (Datura seed) medicine, taken with wine, after which she delivered immediately. Chunyu Yi then re-examined her pulse and found it restless (Zào). A restless pulse indicates excess pathogenic factors remaining in the body; thus, he administered one dose of *Xiāoshí* (Niter/Saltpeter), resulting in the discharge of blood resembling bean-sized clots, approximately five or six pieces. (Note: "Bu ru" refers to failure to deliver. *Langdang* is a narcotic drug; its root is highly toxic. Examination of the *Bencao* reveals no records of its use for inducing labor. However, being a toxic substance, it may have induced fetal expulsion through its toxic vapors.)

Hua Bo-ren treated a woman suffering from dystocia who had not delivered after seven days and had very poor appetite. Upon examination, Hua Bo-ren provided her with a bowl of cool congee (cool congee was used because she was irritable/restless; furthermore, coolness has a descending nature). He crushed maple leaves (*Fēngyè*), decocted them into a soup, mixed it with the congee, and fed it to her, after which she delivered immediately.

Someone questioned the rationale behind this treatment. Hua Bo-ren replied: "This woman eats very little; there is no case of childbirth without the nourishment of grain qi (Gǔqì). Maple leaves shed their leaves either before or after bearing fruit/flowers; hence, they are used as a decoction." (The *Bencao* states that maple leaves can also induce labor. Nowadays, village women often use them for bathing near term, though it is unknown whether they are suitable for those with insufficient stomach qi.)

Pang An-chang treated a woman whose fetus had not been delivered after seven days of labor, and various treatments had failed. Pang examined her and instructed her family to warm her waist and abdomen with hot water, while he personally performed upper and lower abdominal massage. The pregnant woman felt slight pain in her intestines and stomach, and amidst groaning, she delivered a male infant. Her family was both surprised and delighted but did not understand why. Pang An-chang said: "The child has already exited the amniotic sac, but one hand mistakenly grasped the mother's intestine and could not release. This cannot be resolved by talismans or medicines. I palpated the location of the child's hand through the abdomen and acupunctured his Tiger Gate (Hukou, LI4) point. The pain caused him to retract his hand, leading to immediate delivery. (Such magical techniques are rare and seldom seen; there were no other methods.) Upon examining the infant, needle marks were found on the right Tiger Gate point."

A woman had been unable to deliver for several consecutive days, and labor-inducing drugs were ineffective. Pang An-chang stated: "This must be due to sitting on the birth mat too early, causing fear in the heart, leading to qi stagnation and failure to descend. It is not malposition. The *Suwen* states: 'Fear causes qi to sink.' Generally, fear leads to spiritual timidity; timidity causes closure of the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner); closure leads to qi rebellion; rebellion causes distension in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner), thereby preventing qi movement." After administering one dose of *Zisu Yin* (Perilla Decoction), she delivered successfully. This formula is also used to treat the condition known as "Zixuan" (Fetal Distress/Hanging Fetus). See *Zisu Yin* under the section on prepartum abdominal fullness.

Wu Jiaoshan treated a woman with dystocia who had not delivered after three days. Medications for breaking blood stasis and regulating menstruation were all ineffective. Wu therefore formulated a prescription using *Cheqianzi* (Plantago Seed) as the Sovereign herb (i.e., Plantago, or the herb itself can be used; its nature is most warm and promoting flow, hence it serves as the sovereign), *Dongkuizi* (Malva Seed) as the Minister herb, and *Baizhi* (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) and *Zhike* (Aurantii Fructus) as Assistant and Envoy herbs. Taken at Si hour (9-11 AM), delivery occurred at Wu hour (11 AM-1 PM). The attending physicians were astonished. Wu Jiaoshan said: "The *Bencao* cites these as sovereign herbs for inducing labor, and the *Classic of Poetry* mentions gathering them to prevent difficult childbirth, which confirms this."

Liu Fuzhen encountered the daughter of a Prefectural Judge who was experiencing difficult labor and had already been prepared for burial. Liu Fuzhen took a strong decoction of *Honghua* (Carthamus Flower), supported the young woman onto a stool, and applied cotton cloth soaked in the hot liquid to her abdomen, continuously pouring more liquid over the cloth. Using a vessel to hold warm water, he poured it over her repeatedly until she regained consciousness and subsequently delivered a male infant. This was likely due to cold blood coagulation and stagnation caused by severe winter cold; warmth facilitated delivery. This is considered a miraculous case. (Treatment of frozen/dystocia due to cold: the method is unique yet orthodox, truly exquisite.)

A doctor staying at an inn found that the innkeeper's wife had not delivered after several days, her lower body was cold, and she lacked medication, creating a dire situation. The doctor decocted pepper (*Huajiao*), orange peel (*Chengpi*), and evodia fruit (*Zhuyu*) in water. When the temperature was safe to apply, he washed and rinsed her umbilical area, abdomen, and vulva. The warmth promoted blood circulation, and she delivered successfully.