方兄体素清 ,证见身热足冷,喉红肿痛,脉息沉细无力。诊毕谓予曰∶贱恙似属风热
,烦
君为我散之。不卜喉痛可吹冰硼散否。予曰∶不然。君病乃少阴伤寒,少阴之脉,循喉咙,
良由肾元下虚,寒邪客之,雷龙不安其宅,是以上热下寒,其喉为痹。治当温补下元,引火
归根。若泛视为风热而清散之,殆矣。方仿镇阴煎。一服喉痹愈,再服寒热退。是日有何生
者,从本里吴谵泉先生游,证候相类,向与喉科某善,因便道托诊。某与清散药一剂,服后
彻夜烦躁不安,比晓,吴公迓予,至已逝矣。归告闵君,骇为吐舌。后数年,渠又患香港脚肿
痛,予初为祛风渗湿,因其下元素亏,兼益肝肾,诊视数次,病犹未减,更医消散过剂,血
气耗伤,腿膝枯瘪,致成痿废,足不任地,阅十余年,始能出户。
汪心涤兄夫人,体孱多病,怀孕三月,腹痛见血,势欲小产,延余至时,胎已下矣。血
来如
崩,昏晕汗淋,面白如纸,身冷脉伏。予曰∶事急矣,非参附汤莫挽。佥谓用参恐阻恶露,
予曰∶人将死矣,何远虑为。亟煎参附汤灌之。少苏,旋复晕去,随晕随灌,终夕渐定,续
用参术 草归地枸杞大剂浓煎,与粥饮肉汁间服,旬日始安。再投归脾汤数十剂乃愈。后张
效伊芳翁夫人,证同,亦照此法治验。乾隆甲寅秋,予室人叶孕三月,胎堕血晕,日进参 十
数两乃定。后仍半产数次,势皆危险,均赖补剂挽回。倘惑于浮议,并殆矣。
Brother Fang’s constitution was inherently slender. His symptoms included fever in the body but coldness in the feet, redness, swelling, and pain in the throat, with a pulse that was deep (Chen), fine (Xi), and weak. After the examination, he said to me, "My ailment seems to belong to Wind-Heat (Feng Re). I trouble you to disperse it for me. May I ask if Bingpeng San (Ice and Borax Powder) can be blown into the throat for the pain?" I replied, "Incorrect. Your disease is Shaoyin Cold Damage (Shao Yin Shang Han). The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian (Zu Shao Yin Shen Jing) runs along the throat. This is indeed due to deficiency of the Kidney Yuan Qi (Kidney Primordial Qi) in the lower part, allowing Cold Evil (Han Xie) to lodge within. Consequently, the Fire of Lei Long (Ming Men Fire/Life Gate Fire) cannot remain in its residence, resulting in Heat above and Cold below, which causes Bi Syndrome (obstruction) in the throat. Treatment should focus on warming and tonifying the Lower Yuan (Lower Primordial Qi) and guiding the Fire back to its source. If one generally views this as Wind-Heat and treats it with clearing and dispersing methods, it would be perilous." Therefore, I imitated the principle of Zhenyin Decoction (Stabilizing the Yin Decoction). After one dose, the throat Bi resolved; after a second dose, the alternating chills and fever subsided.
On that day, a man named He Sheng, who was traveling with Mr. Wu Zhanquan from his hometown, presented similar symptoms. He had previously been on good terms with a certain physician specializing in throat diseases, so he entrusted his case to him en route. That physician prescribed a single dose of herbs for clearing heat and dispersing wind. After ingestion, the patient suffered from restlessness throughout the night. By dawn, when Mr. Wu came to escort me to examine him, the patient had already passed away. Upon returning, I informed Jun Min, who was so shocked that he protruded his tongue.
Several years later, Brother Fang again suffered from Hong Kong Jiao (a term historically referring to lower limb swelling and pain, often associated with gout or beriberi-like symptoms), presenting with swelling and pain. Initially, I treated him by dispelling Wind and leaching out Dampness (Qu Feng Shen Shi). Recognizing his underlying deficiency of Lower Yuan Qi, I simultaneously supplemented the Liver and Kidneys. After several consultations, the condition had not improved. Subsequently, other physicians administered excessive doses of resolving and dissipating agents, leading to depletion of Blood and Qi. His legs and knees became emaciated and atrophic, resulting in Wei Syndrome (flaccidity syndrome/paralysis), rendering his feet unable to bear weight. It took more than ten years before he could finally step outside his door.
Madam, wife of Brother Wang Xindi, had a frail constitution and suffered from frequent illnesses. At three months of pregnancy, she experienced abdominal pain and bleeding, indicating an imminent miscarision (Xiao Chan). When I arrived, the fetus had already been expelled. Bleeding was profuse like a uterine hemorrhage (Beng Lou); she was unconscious, sweating profusely, her face pale as paper, her body cold, and her pulse concealed (Fu). I stated, "The situation is critical; only Shenfu Decoction (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) can save her." Everyone argued that using Ginseng might obstruct the discharge of lochia. I replied, "The person is near death; why worry about distant concerns?" We urgently decocted Shenfu Decoction and administered it. She briefly regained consciousness but soon fainted again. We administered the decoction repeatedly with each fainting episode. Only after a whole night did she gradually stabilize. Subsequently, we continued to administer large doses of concentrated decoctions containing Renshen (Ginseng Root), Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Gancao (Licorice Root), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), and Gouqi (Goji Berry), alternating with rice gruel and meat broth. She stabilized after ten days. Later, she took dozens of doses of Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) until she fully recovered.
Later, Madam, wife of Elder Zhang Xiaoyi, presented identical symptoms and was also successfully treated using this method. In the autumn of the Jiayin year of the Qianlong reign, my wife, Ye, at three months of pregnancy, suffered from fetal expulsion and blood syncope. She required daily intake of over ten taels of Renshen (Ginseng Root) to stabilize. She subsequently experienced several miscarriages, all in dangerous conditions, yet were all salvaged through tonic prescriptions. Had we been misled by superficial opinions, we too would have perished.