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Zi Hezi treated a child who had been crying sorrowfully without cessation for days. The pulses in both hands were wiry and tight. This indicated excessive Heart Fire overacting on the Lung, which could not bear it, thus causing crying; hence, the Lung governs crying. Wang Taipu stated: "When the Heart is scorched, pain becomes severe; when pain is severe, grief increases." He prescribed bathing the child in warm water to induce sweating by soaking the body. Since the Lung governs the skin and hair, once sweat was produced, the heat in the Lung dissipated. Upon stopping the bath, the crying also ceased. He then ordered the administration of Liang Ge San (Cooling the Diaphragm Decoction) with added Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), and Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus). These were decocted together with Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Po Xiao (Natrii Sulfas) to purge the pathogenic heat from the chest.

Wan Muzhai treated the son of County Magistrate Zhang, who was under one year old and cried day and night without stopping. Physicians attributed this to abdominal pain and administered Li Zhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill), but it was ineffective. Others suspected food stagnation and used Xie Huang San (Drain Yellow Powder), which also failed to stop the crying. Wan observed and said, "The young master's cheeks are red. This is crying due to mental restlessness. If it were intestinal pain, the face would be green; if it were food stagnation, the face would be yellow." He prescribed Dao Chi San (Direct Outward Redness Decoction) containing Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Deng Xin Cao (Junci Medulla), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), with added Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) decocted and administered. The next morning, the father reported, "Why did he cry more last night?" Wan replied, "The illness has resolved." The father asked, "If the illness has resolved, why does he still cry?" Wan explained, "The young master cried for three days and nights without nursing. Last night, as the fever subsided and his heart cooled, he desired milk, but the nurse was absent. The crying in previous nights was due to illness; the crying last night was due to hunger." The father laughed and said, "Indeed." When the nurse arrived at the fifth watch, the crying stopped.

Jiang's newborn cried incessantly for three days. Wan observed and said, "This must be due to careless umbilical cord cutting, allowing wind-cold qi to enter the navel, causing abdominal pain and crying." He used Qi Ai (Artemisia argyi) pounded into cotton-like consistency, heated again, and applied to seal the navel. It was replaced when cold. After three changes, the crying stopped.

A two-month-old infant cried incessantly. Wan said, "This is Liver Heat." He used Xie Qing Wan (Drain Green Pill) and Zhu Ye Tang (Bamboo Leaf Decoction) with a little rock sugar mixed in, after which the child became calm. (Formula composition: Huo Ma Ren [not listed in source text explicitly but implied in standard formula? No, source lists: Qiang Huo, Da Huang, Shan Zhi Ren, Dang Gui, Xiong Diao [Chuan Xiong], Dan Cao [Long Dan Cao], Fang Feng. Honey pills sized like Euryale seeds. Administered with Zhu Ye Tang and sugar.] *Correction based on source text*: Formula components listed in parentheses: Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Radix et Rhizoma), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Shan Zhi Ren (Gardeniae Semen), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Long Dan Cao (Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix). Honey pills the size of Euryale ferox seeds, taken dissolved in Zhu Ye Tang (Bambusae Folium Decoction) with sugar.

A child cried incessantly at night, appearing as if possessed by spirits. The lower half of Cicada Slough (Chan Tui, Periostracum Cicadae) was powdered and taken with Bo He Tang (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba Decoction) mixed with a little wine. Someone doubted this and used the upper half powdered in decoction instead; the child immediately resumed crying. The profound wisdom behind ancient prescriptions remains unknown to many. (Cited from Ben Cao Gang Mu [Compendium of Materia Medica] quoting Pu Ji Fang [Universal Relief Formulas]. Li Shizhen noted: My son, over two months old, suffered from wind-heat causing hoarseness, easily startled and crying frequently. I cured him with Zha Chan Tang [Grasshopper Decoction].)

Xu Zhongguang treated a child whose night crying was triggered by offending taboos. He took a piece of matchstick from the family stove, inscribed it with cinnabar writing: "I am the Five Thunder Deity of Heaven above. I appoint you as a divine general to capture the Night Crying Ghost. Bound tightly, never released. Act swiftly according to law." The wood was burnt until charred. The inscription was kept secret. The stick was placed under the bed, leaning against the front leg, on the left side for boys and right for girls.

Yang Huishan, a Jinshi degree holder, had only one son, just one year old. In midsummer, the child cried day and night and refused milk. Yang urgently summoned Wang Qiyun. Wang said, "Follow my instructions and he will live; otherwise, he cannot be saved. However, you must pay me one hundred taels of silver." Yang complied. Wang drew a circle of magnetite (Duan Shi, Magnetitum) in the hall, placed the child inside, and dismissed the nurse. The child cried intensely, then fell asleep after some time. Wang requested Xiang Rui Yin (Moslae Chinensis Herb Drink) and waited for the child to wake, then administered one pill. The child recovered quickly. Cai Ning asked in amazement, "What magic makes you so miraculous?" Wang replied, "The nurse is very fat, and the weather is hot. As the child cries, the nurse holds him tightly and refuses to let go, causing excessive internal heat, leading to crying and refusal to nurse. I allowed the crying to dissipate the heat, and thus he recovered. Drawing the magnetite circle and giving medicine upon waking was merely a pretext to claim the reward. This is what is called 'technique'." Cai Ning applauded. (From Yun Jian Za Ji [Miscellaneous Records from Yunjian].)

Ma Mingju treated Hua Xuzhou's fifth son, who cried excessively. By age one, every fit of crying would cause him to lose consciousness, followed by recovery after about the time it takes to eat a meal. By age three, the condition worsened; the episodes of losing consciousness lasted longer. Initially occurring once a month or half-month, they became frequent, even twice a day. He was treated with Hu Po Wan (Amber Pill), administered with Ren Shen Gui Yuan Tang (Ginseng and Longan Decoction). Several pills were given, and he recovered. (Formula: Hu Po [Electrum], Ren Shen [Panacis Ginseng Radix], Gan Cao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma], Lian Rou [Nelumbinis Semen] each 3 qian; Shan Yao [Dioscoreae Rhizoma] 1 liang; Tian Zhu Huang [Calamina]; Fu Shen [Poria cum Radix Pini]; Dan Xing [Arisaematis Cum Bile] each 2 qian. Honey pills coated with Cinnabar 0.5 qian. Dosage: 1 qian per dose.)

Night crying in infants can be caused by being wrapped too warmly, leading to extreme heat. Chicken droppings should be applied to the infant's navel; use male chicken droppings for boys and female for girls. Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus) and Zhusha (Cinnabaris), each 5 li, ground to an ultra-fine powder, should be applied sparingly to the infant's tongue to stop crying immediately.