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Chang Gong, a hereditary Qi Du Wei (Knight Commander), was the maternal cousin of Guan Gong (name Dai), a Lang Zhong (Director) in the Ministry of Revenue. In the fifth month of the Gui Chou year, he contracted an epidemic disease. Guan Gong had long been proficient in medical arts and treated him for half a month. Although the macules and rashes receded, all symptoms worsened, and preparations for his funeral were made. His younger brother, seeing that there was still a breath left, invited me to treat him again. Upon palpation, the pulse was faint and indistinct; upon observation, his eyes were closed, he was silent, his four limbs were cold and reversed, and loose watery stool flowed from the side. I declined, stating it was untreatable. The entire family kowtowed and begged, asking only for a prescription, vowing no resentment even if he died. Seeing his lips slightly swollen, purple and black, I knew there was latent toxic heat within, which was not incurable. Heat invading the Heart and Lung caused coma and silence; invading the Liver caused closed eyes; invading the Spleen caused cold limbs; invading the Large Intestine caused watery diarrhea. Reviewing previous prescriptions, they were agents for clearing heat and resolving macules. Guan Gong is cautious by nature; although the herbs were correct, they only addressed the symptoms ("flames") without removing the root cause. Given the critical situation, after further examination, I predicted death within 21-27 days. Following the original formula's principle, I used Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn) 8 qian, Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) 6 qian, added Hua Shi (Talcum) 1 liang, Mu Tong (Akebia Caulis) 3 qian, Zhu Ling (Poria) and Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome) 2 qian each, Sang Bai Pi (Morus Root Bark) 3 qian, Gua Lou Shuang (Trichosanthes Fruit Frost) 3 qian. Additionally, Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 1 jin and Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium) 1 liang were decocted in water to boil the medicine. After three doses, the next day the pulse became fine and rapid, hands and feet warmed, diarrhea decreased, urination resumed, and eyes opened with voice returning. The original formula was continued, removing Hua Shi, Mu Tong, Zhu Ling, Ze Xie, Sang Bai Pi, and Gua Lou. After another dose, the dosage was gradually reduced daily until recovery in seven days. Guan Gong visited to thank me, saying: "My cousin's condition was fatal every time, hundred times or thousand times. You brought him back to life; how could I not be sincerely convinced!"

Cai Gong (name Zhu), a Yuan Wai (Vice Director) in the Ministry of Works, invited me to treat his relative, Gao Mou, from the Imperial Household Department, who had suffered from an epidemic disease for nine days. The pulse was floating, large, and rapid; body heat was intense like a furnace; eyes were red, face flushed, with成片 (patches) of red macules. Suddenly, he shouted loudly, appearing to see things; he was startled and fearful, speaking of events and people never encountered before. The family was terrified, suspecting demonic possession. Local customs favored exorcism rituals, so heterodox practitioners constantly visited. Entering the room, it was filled with incense smoke, and walls were covered with talismans and spells. I said: "I can remove this 'evil'. Remove all these immediately. Place four large blocks of ice in the four corners." Cai asked why. I replied: "In this hot summer, suffering from such high fever, compounded by bright incense and candles, creating internal and external attacks, madness is inevitable. This is pathogenic heat invading the Liver and Gallbladder, causing mania. Externally applying ice absorbs the steaming heat; internally administering Qing Liang Jie San (Cooling and Resolving Decoction) will cure the disease and stop the mania. Where is any demonic possession?" Thus, a large dose was administered, and he recovered in seven days.