叶案治疟,不用柴胡,徐评非之。解之者曰∶治伤寒少阳正疟用柴胡,治秋间寒热类疟
不用
柴胡。泉应之曰∶否,不然。《素·疟论》以夏伤于暑为端,而余疟附焉,是秋间寒热之为
正疟,经有明文。《病源》、《千金》皆本经说。《外台》既列《病源》之论,而所集方不
下千首,鲜用柴胡者。可见谓秋间之寒热,不用柴胡则是,而指为类疟则非。仲景于少阳篇
明言往来寒热,形如疟状。“如疟”二字,正类疟之谓。少阳症之为类疟,出于仲景亲口,
今反指为正疟何耶?但诸医犹止误于论症,徐氏则并论治亦误。何以言之?伤寒邪从表入,其
里无根,以柴胡提之则出;夏秋之病,新凉在外,而蕴暑在中,其里有根,若以柴胡提之,
则外邪虽解,而内热即升,横流冲决,不可复制,往往有耳聋、目赤、谵语神昏、汗漏体枯
,延成不治者,不得不以徐说为淫辞之助也。噫!亦究古训而已矣。
五尸、五疰、五疳、五蒸,杂病中之四大症也。仲景《伤寒》始言蒸蒸,《金匮》狐惑
实开
疳症,而走马汤治飞尸,獭肝散治冷疰,已略具大纲矣。至《巢源》、《肘后》、《千金》
、《外台》诸书,始畅厥论,以为内科专家最重之任也。近世书中鲜有之,非近世无此四症
也。医者遇尸疰,诡以肝气目之;遇疳蒸,诡以劳病目之。相沿既久,遂不措意,因不列名
耳!然“尸疰”二字,涉于不祥,“疳蒸”二字,仅见儿科。今若称此以告诸病家,及加诸
年壮,不几骇人听闻乎!古名诚难复也,但须于肝气一门,知有尸、疰二症混其中;于劳病
一门,知有疳、蒸二症混其中。隐其名而存其实,则临症了然矣。至古人治此四症之效方,
亦欲为大医者,所不可不备也。
Ye Tianshi treated malaria without using Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), and Xu Lingtai criticized this approach. Those who defended Ye explained: "Chaihu is used to treat Zheng Malaria (typical malaria) of the Shaoyang syndrome in Shanghan (Cold Damage), but it is not used for autumnal alternating chills and fever that resemble malaria." I responded: No, that is incorrect. The *Suwen: Malu Lun* (Treatise on Malaria in the Basic Questions) begins with summer injury by heat-pathogen, with other types of malaria attached thereto; thus, autumnal alternating chills and fever constitute Zheng Malaria, as explicitly stated in the classics. Both the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* (General Treatise on the Origins and Manifestations of All Diseases) and the *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) base their theories on these classics. The *Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Cabinet), while listing the theories from the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun*, collected no fewer than a thousand prescriptions, rarely using Chaihu. This shows that while it is correct to say that autumnal alternating chills and fever do not use Chaihu, it is incorrect to label them as Lei Malaria (malaria-like conditions). Zhang Zhongjing explicitly stated in the Shaoyang chapter: "alternating chills and fever, appearance resembling malaria." The phrase "resembling malaria" precisely refers to Lei Malaria. That Shaoyang syndromes manifest as Lei Malaria comes directly from Zhang Zhongjing himself; how can one now mistakenly identify them as Zheng Malaria? However, other physicians erred only in syndrome differentiation, whereas Xu Lingtai erred in both syndrome differentiation and treatment. Why is this so? In Shanghan, pathogens enter from the exterior, lacking a root in the interior; lifting with Chaihu allows the pathogen to exit. In diseases of summer and autumn, new coolness resides on the exterior while latent heat accumulates in the interior, possessing an internal root. If lifted with Chaihu, although the exterior pathogen may be resolved, the internal heat will rise, surging uncontrollably, often leading to deafness, red eyes, delirious speech, mental confusion, profuse sweating, and physical emaciation, eventually becoming incurable. Therefore, one must regard Xu's statements as supporting absurd arguments. Alas! This is merely an investigation into ancient teachings.
The Five Shi (Corpse-attacking), Five Zhu (Peripatetic), Five Gan (Emaciation), and Five Zheng (Steaming) are the four major severe conditions among miscellaneous diseases. Zhang Zhongjing’s *Shanghan Lun* first mentioned "Zheng Zheng" (steaming fever); the *Jingui Yaolue*’s discussion of Hu Huo (Fox Confusion) actually initiated the discourse on Gan syndromes; Zou Ma Tang (Running Horse Decoction) treats Fei Shi (Flying Corpse), and Ta Gan San (Badger Liver Powder) treats Leng Zhu (Cold Peripatetic), thereby roughly outlining the framework. It was not until the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun*, *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies), *Qianjin Fang*, and *Waitai Miyao* that these theories were fully expounded, considered the most important responsibility of internal medicine specialists. Such content is rare in recent medical texts, not because these four conditions did not exist in recent times, but because physicians, upon encountering Shi Zhu, deceitfully labeled them as Liver Qi disorders; upon encountering Gan Zheng, deceitfully labeled them as Lao Bing (Consumption/Deficiency Fever). Having persisted for a long time, people ceased to pay attention, and thus they were not listed under specific names! Moreover, the terms "Shi Zhu" involve ominous connotations, and "Gan Zheng" appears only in pediatrics. To call these names to patients' families or apply them to robust adults would surely be shocking and terrifying! Ancient names are indeed difficult to restore, but one must know within the category of Liver Qi disorders that Shi and Zhu syndromes are mixed in; and within the category of Consumption, that Gan and Zheng syndromes are mixed in. By hiding the names but preserving the realities, clinical diagnosis becomes clear. As for the effective prescriptions of the ancients for treating these four conditions, they are indispensable preparations for great physicians.