宅翁令政,质亏恙久,是岁季春病剧,延诊,投以大补之剂,诸证渐减,六月初旬,病
人夜
卧受凉,微觉怯寒体痛,其时宅翁往淮,公郎辉远兄,遣仆相招。予至视毕,谓曰此新感阴
暑,但病躯不胜表散,暂进参附汤,得以邪从汗解,仍服本药,比用人参二钱,附子钱半,
各煎和就,正待与服,恰病患睡去。少顷辉兄出,告曰∶家母方才睡醒,身已有汗,体痛亦
松,不甚怯寒,日内天暑,附子过温,或可不用,即服本药何如。予曰∶质虚偶感,邪原无
多,标证既除,自应治本。仍将旧方加减配药,其所和之参附汤,留贮盏内置方几上。时值
正午,辉兄留餐,甫将举箸,忽仆人之妇,张皇奔入,泣云∶根据夫病在重危,叩求拯救。予
曰∶尔夫早间迓我,随同归来,并未见有病状。妇云∶陡然晕倒,不知所由。辉兄本家莆田
翁偕往,果见神昏汗冷,肢厥脉伏,初为踌躇,继而猛省,笑顾莆翁曰∶证固危殆,然有一
大奇事,可望生机。翁惊问故。予曰∶此证乃卒中阴寒,阳欲暴脱,而救脱必须人参,伊芳等
焉能得此。况安危呼吸,急不可待,顷辉兄乃堂所煎之参附汤未服,人参虽贵重之物,但和
有附子在内,他人无此病,断难服此药,不意盛纪突遘斯疾,适与此药吻合,岂非天造地设
乎。令妇跟至辉兄宅中,予道其详,众咸称异。当将几上参附药盏付之持去,谕其稍温与服
,再看动静。下午其妇来云∶服药超时,汗敛肢温,人事渐苏。复诊脉出神清,惟倦怠耳。
方疏参 建中汤,仍加附子,嘱向伊芳主人处乞高丽参四钱,分两剂服,更见起色。续增枸杞
、山萸、当归、杜仲,服之而瘳。观此可见,人之死生有数,而一饮一啄,莫非前定矣。
安波按∶证似中暑,以参附回阳,非大识见不可。
The principal wife of the old gentleman of the Bao residence had a deficient constitution and had been ill for a long time. At the end of spring that year, her condition worsened significantly. Upon consultation, I prescribed strong tonic agents, after which various symptoms gradually subsided. In early June, while sleeping at night, she was exposed to cold, feeling slightly chills and body aches. At that time, the old gentleman had gone to Huai'an, and his son, Brother Huiyuan, sent a servant to summon me. Upon arrival and examination, I told him, "This is a recent onset of Yin-Shu (Cold-Heat syndrome due to summer heat with cold pathogen). However, the patient's body is too weak to tolerate strong diaphoretic dispersal. Temporarily administer Shenfu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) to allow the pathogen to resolve through sweating, then continue with the original medication." I used two qian of Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) and one and a half qian of Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata), decocted them separately, mixed them, and prepared to administer. Just as we were about to give it, the patient fell asleep. Shortly after, Brother Huiyuan came out and said, "My mother just woke up; she has already sweated, her body aches have relaxed, and she feels less chilly. Given the hot weather these days, Fu Zi might be too warming and perhaps unnecessary. How about continuing with the original prescription?" I replied, "With a deficient constitution and occasional external contraction, the pathogen was originally minimal. Since the manifest symptoms are resolved, we should naturally treat the root cause." Thus, I adjusted the original prescription. The mixed Shenfu Tang remained in the tea cup on the square table. It was noon, and Brother Huiyuan invited me to lunch. As I was about to raise my chopsticks, the servant's wife rushed in panic, weeping, "My husband is critically ill; I beg you to save him." I said, "Your husband greeted me this morning and returned with me; he showed no signs of illness." The woman replied, "He suddenly fainted; I do not know why." Brother Huiyuan's relative, Old Man Putian, went along and indeed found the patient unconscious, with cold sweat and cold limbs, and a hidden pulse. Initially hesitant, I then suddenly realized and smiled at Old Man Putian, saying, "Although this condition is critical, there is a great miracle here that offers hope for survival." Old Man Putian asked in surprise. I said, "This is sudden invasion of Yin-Cold with impending Yang collapse. Rescuing collapse requires Ren Shen. How could they possibly obtain it? Life and death hang by a thread, and urgency cannot wait. The Shenfu Tang decocted earlier at Brother Huiyuan's house has not yet been taken. Although Ren Shen is precious, mixed with Fu Zi, others without this specific condition would certainly not take it. Unexpectedly, Sheng Ji suffered this disease at this moment, perfectly matching this prescription. Is this not heaven-sent?" I instructed the woman to follow me to Brother Huiyuan's residence, explained the details, and everyone marveled. I immediately gave her the cup of Shenfu medicine from the table, advising her to warm it slightly before administration and observe the effects. In the afternoon, the woman reported, "After taking the medicine for some time, the sweating stopped, limbs became warm, and consciousness gradually returned." On re-examination, the pulse emerged, and consciousness was clear, only fatigue remained. I prescribed Jianzhong Tang (Middle-Building Decoction), still adding Fu Zi, and instructed her to request four qian of Korean Ginseng (Gaoli Shen) from her master, divided into two doses. The condition improved further. Subsequently, Gou Qi (Fructus Lycii), Shan Yu (Fructus Corni), Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), and Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae) were added, leading to recovery. From this, we can see that life and death have their destiny; every sip and bite seems predestined." An Bo's comment: The condition resembles Summerheat, but using Shenfu to restore Yang requires profound insight.