莫枚士《研经言》一书，余从丹徒杨霁青先生抄得者也。全书四卷，凡一百五十余篇，
多释
经辨误之作，实有发前人所未发者。陆九芝、陆心源二家序中已详言之。余讽诵再四，觉此
公之学养却优，不独其疏证经义，独具卓识，即其评论近世名医，如谓叶天士《临证指南》
，于温热脾胃最精等处，皆极平允之论，以视黄坤载、陈修园辈之一味泥古，抹煞先贤者，
其相去为何如耶。迹其生时，适当洪杨割据，天下大乱之时，故虽经镂版，而所传未广。余
曩读《世补斋医》书，即知有先生此书，而四方寻觅，竟未得见。后承霁青先生赐览，因得
录一副本，私心欲广其传，以公同好。故于医学扶轮报、神州医药学报中，皆择尤刊布。诚
以维持绝学，非广为流布，不以收效。今年春绍兴医药学报社拟刊医学丛书，以存国粹。贻
书相嘱欲，将此书刻入丛书中，因即将所录副本邮寄付刊。夫表彰前哲，刊刻遗书，耗为吾
侪医家之责，不足深论。独是莫氏作此书时，即当洪杨割据，天下大乱之时，而今日贵社刻
此书时，又值天下大乱，祸至无日之候，岂天心不仁，降此鞠凶，即涂炭其民众，复肆虐于
医籍耶。抑劫运有常，洪杨距今已六十年，前造此因，今日应有此果耶。然而风雨如晦，鸡
鸣不已，贵社诸君子之用心，亦良苦矣。
丙辰首夏江都袁焯记于京口
The book *Yan Jing Yan* (Research on Medical Classics) by Mo Meishi was obtained by me through transcription from Mr. Yang Jiqing of Dantu. The complete work consists of four volumes, containing more than one hundred and fifty essays. Most are works that expound upon medical classics and辨析 errors (analyze and correct mistakes), truly containing insights not previously discovered by predecessors. This has been detailed in the prefaces by Lu Jiuzhi and Lu Xinyuan. After reading it repeatedly, I felt that this gentleman's scholarly cultivation was indeed superior. Not only did he possess unique insight in elucidating the meanings of the classics, but his comments on famous physicians of recent times were also extremely fair. For instance, he considered Ye Tianshi’s (Ye Tian-shi, a famous Qing dynasty physician specializing in warm diseases) *Lin Zheng Zhi Nan Yi An* (Clinical Guide to Medical Cases) to be most exquisite in the treatment of warm diseases and spleen-stomach disorders. Compared with figures like Huang Kunzai and Chen Xiuyuan, who rigidly adhered to ancient methods and disregarded the achievements of sages, the difference is significant. Tracing back to his lifetime, it coincided with the period of Taiping Rebellion fragmentation and widespread chaos in the world. Therefore, although the book was woodblock printed, its circulation was not extensive. When I read *Shi Bu Zhai Yi Shu* (Medical Books of Shi Bu Studio) in my youth, I knew of this book by the gentleman, but despite searching everywhere, I failed to see it. Later, receiving the favor of Mr. Jiqing allowing me to view it, I was able to record a copy. Privately desiring to spread its transmission for the benefit of fellow enthusiasts, I selected its finest parts for publication in journals such as *Yixue Fulun Bao* (Medical Wheel Support Gazette) and *Shenzhou Yiyao Xuebao* (China Medicine and Pharmacy Journal). Indeed, to maintain this lost learning, without widespread dissemination, no effect can be achieved. This spring, the Shaoxing Medical Journal Society intended to publish a series of medical books to preserve national essence. They wrote to me requesting that this book be included in the series, so I mailed the recorded copy for printing. Commending former sages and publishing遗书 (posthumous manuscripts/lost books) is our responsibility as physicians; there is no need for deep discussion on this point. However, when Mr. Mo wrote this book, it was during the time of Taiping Rebellion fragmentation and global chaos; and now, when your society prints this book, it is again a time of global chaos with disasters imminent. Is Heaven unkind, sending down calamity to torment the people and wreak havoc on medical texts? Or does the cycle of kalpa (disaster cycles) have its regularity? Sixty years have passed since the Taiping Rebellion; perhaps the cause created then must bear fruit today. Nevertheless, "wind and rain darken the sky, yet the rooster crows unceasingly" (a metaphor for maintaining integrity amidst darkness). The intention of the gentlemen at your society is indeed arduous and sincere.
Recorded by Jiangdu Yuan Zhuo at Jingkou in early summer of the Bingchen year.