蒋仲芳治一小儿,二三岁,身热惊悸。易医六七,俱无寸效。一日忽作鸦声,少顷,其音已哑,鱼口开张。
视之,欲哭状,惟眉头稍皱,终无音出,因以指探其口中,唇干舌燥。曰∶心热欲言而不能,果有之乎?即以
黄连、黄芩、石膏、麦冬、五味、山栀、元参、花粉、知母、甘草、薄荷、灯心、竹叶等,锉一大剂,煎成薄
膏,频频与之。一昼夜,而鸦声复出,又一日而音始全。自后用此法,活人无数。大便三四日不行者,加元明
粉二三钱,尤验。惊悸者,加金子同煎。嗟乎,世遇哑惊风,俱弃之而不治。孰知唇干舌燥,终属阳症,此法
甚善,故记之。
喻嘉言治袁仲卿子,因捉彭蜞,仆水中,家人救出,少顷,大热呻吟。或与镇惊清热丸散,二日,遂昏迷
不醒,胸高三寸,颈软头倾,气垂绝无生理矣。诊其脉,止存蛛丝,过指全无。以汤二匙入口,微有吞意。曰∶
外症之重不足惧,但脉已无根,不可救也。一医云∶鼻如烟煤,肺气已绝,纵有神丹,亦将奈何。因思此儿受
症,何至此极?请主人及客稍远,待某一人独坐静筹其故。(病危之家,亲朋满座,议论纷纭,徒乱人意,不
可不知。)良久曰∶得之矣,凡惊风一症,乃前人凿空妄谈,后之小儿受其害者,不知凡几。昔与幼科争论,
殊无证据。后见方中行《伤寒条辨》后附《痉书》一册,颛言其事,始知昔贤先得我心。如此症,因惊而得,其
实跌仆水中,感冷湿之气,为外感发热之病,其食物在胃中者,因而不化,当比夹食伤寒例,用五积散治之。
医者不明,以金石冷药镇坠,外邪深入脏腑,神识因而不清。其食停胃中者,得寒凉而不运。所进之药,皆在
胃口之上,不能透入,(何以上云镇坠深入脏腑?)转积转多,以致胸高而突。宜以理中汤,运转前药,倘得
症减脉出,再从伤寒门用药,尚有生理。或谓鼻如烟煤,肺气已绝,而用理中,得无重其绝乎?曰∶所以独
坐沉思者,正为此耳。盖烟煤不过大肠燥结之征,若果肺绝,当汗出大喘,何得身热无汗?又何得胸高而气不
逼,且鼻准有微润耶?此所以望其生也。遂以理中汤一盏,灌入口中,大爆一口,前药一齐俱出,胸突顿平,
颈亦稍硬。但脉仍不出,人亦不苏,此食尚未动,关窍阻塞之故。再灌前汤些少,热渐退,症渐减,乃从伤
寒下例,以元明粉一味,化水连灌三次。是夜,下黑矢甚多。次早,忽然一声云∶我要酒吃。此后尚不知人
事,以生津药频灌,一日而苏。(雄按∶此用理中,必加枳实,所云镇坠之药,性皆重降,药虽停于胃口,邪
则不能外解而深入矣。)
龚子才治一小儿,八岁,患伤寒,头痛身疼,发热口干,面赤无汗。或以伤寒治之不效。已旬日,与龙脑
安神丸,一服其汗如雨,即安。
一小儿沉默昏倦,肢冷惊悸,其纹如弓之向里,此属胃气虚而外感寒邪也。先用惺惺散以解外邪,诸症悉
愈。但手足逆冷,又用六君子调补元气而安。
一小儿伤寒,呕吐发热,服消导清热之剂,饮食已消。热未退,用六君、升麻、柴胡,四剂而痊。
高鼓峰治吴维师子,甫十岁,发热口渴,胸腹闷痛。曰∶少阳阳明症也,用加味小柴胡汤。是夜,发晕逾
一二时,吴惊甚。曰∶无伤也。但此病不传疟必传痢。逾三日热退,果少腹痛,先解黑矢无数,随后更脓血而
痢矣。连用当归解毒丸五六剂而痢除。继以六君子汤调理而安。(得小柴胡汤晕甚,热动发厥也。小柴胡既不
足以和之,则其形气必发而后愈。发于少阳则为疟,发于阳明则为痢也。)
马元仪治张伯卿子,年十二,患伤寒,谵语发热,不知人事,已五六日,幼科屡治不应,渐至目直神昏。
诊之,两脉弦急拒指。因惊后,饮食与痰留结不解,壅遏为病,胃气生热,津液内亡而谵语。阳明之脉络于目,
经盛则络亦盛,故目直视也。实热在胃,惟用承气调之,使壅滞之气,悉反冲和,则津液得存,而二病自去矣。
加服抱龙丸以豁痰治惊。服后,便行二三次,热势大减,明日全愈。
蒋仲芳治陈寿田伯弟,年十一岁,伤寒病起,几至二百日,粒米不入,食即胀满,诸药不愈,惟日以人参
三钱煎饮而已。视之,骨瘦如柴,六脉沉细,似宜参、术,然按其心胸小腹,硬块已满,着手即痛。曰∶凭脉
则难用下药,不下亦无生理。遂用当归、元明粉各三钱,洒蒸大黄二钱,杏仁、麻仁、苏子、桃仁,俱炒为末,
各一钱,白芍、川芎、桔梗各七分,水煎服。服后即去黑块二三十,中脘硬处下有寸许。然已虚极,明日去大
黄、元明粉,加人参二钱,服一剂。后日,复用首方,又去黑块一二十,两方间服,半月黑块始尽而愈。
Jiang Zhongfang treated a child of two or three years old who presented with fever and palpitations (fright and palpitations). After consulting six or seven other physicians without any effect, the child suddenly began to make sounds like a crow. Shortly after, his voice became hoarse, and his mouth opened like a fish's gills.
Upon examination, the child appeared to want to cry, with slightly furrowed brows, but no sound came out. Jiang inserted his finger into the child's mouth and found dry lips and a parched tongue. He said, "This is heart heat desiring to speak but unable to do so; is this indeed the case?" He then prescribed a large dose composed of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Huafen (Puerariae Radix), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Dengxincao (Junci Medullia), and Zhuye (Bambusae Folium). These were coarsely chopped, decocted into a thin paste, and administered frequently. Within one day and night, the crow-like sounds reappeared, and after another day, the voice fully recovered. This method was subsequently used to save countless people. For cases where bowel movements did not occur for three to four days, Yuanmingfen (Mirabilite) two to three qian was added, which proved particularly effective. For severe palpitations, Jinbo (Gold Leaf) was added to the decoction. Alas! In cases of aphonia and fright wind encountered in the world, treatment is often abandoned. Who would have known that dry lips and a parched tongue ultimately indicate a Yang syndrome? This method is excellent, and thus it is recorded.
Yu Jiayan treated the son of Yuan Zhongqing, who had fallen into water while catching Pengqi (a type of aquatic creature). After being rescued by his family, the child soon developed high fever and groaning. Others administered pills and powders for calming fright and clearing heat. Two days later, the child fell into a coma, with the chest protruding three cun high, the neck soft and head tilted, and breath nearly absent, showing no signs of life. The pulse was felt only as fine as a spider's thread, completely imperceptible under the fingers. When two spoonfuls of decoction were entered into the mouth, there was only a faint swallowing reflex. Yu said, "The severity of the external symptoms is not to be feared, but since the pulse has lost its root, it is incurable." One physician remarked, "The nose looks like smoke-stained coal, indicating the lung qi is exhausted; even if divine medicine were available, what could be done?" Yu pondered why the illness had reached such an extreme state. He asked the host and guests to step back so he could sit alone and contemplate the cause. (In families with critically ill patients, having relatives and friends crowded around discussing matters only confuses the mind; this should be known.) After a long time, he said, "I understand. The condition of 'fright wind' is a baseless fabrication by predecessors, causing harm to countless children in later generations. I once argued with pediatricians without evidence. Later, I saw Fang Zhongxing's *Shanghan Tiaobian* (*Differentiation of Cold Damage Diseases*) with an attached booklet *Jingshu* (*Book on Spasm*), which specifically addressed this matter. I realized that ancient sages had anticipated my thoughts. This case, though triggered by fright, actually resulted from falling into water and contracting cold-dampness, constituting an external contraction fever disease. Food in the stomach failed to digest due to this. It should be treated according to the pattern of cold damage with retained food, using Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder). The physicians, lacking understanding, used heavy, cold minerals to suppress and descend, allowing the external pathogen to penetrate deeply into the zang-fu organs, thereby clouding the spirit. The food stagnating in the stomach, encountering cold medicines, failed to transform. The administered drugs remained above the stomach gate, unable to penetrate inward, accumulating more and more, leading to the protrusion of the chest. Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) should be used to mobilize the previous medications. If symptoms subside and the pulse returns, treatment can proceed according to the cold damage protocols, and there may still be hope." Someone asked, "If the nose resembling smoke-stained coal indicates exhausted lung qi, does using Li Zhong Tang not worsen this exhaustion?" Yu replied, "The reason I sat alone in deep thought was precisely for this. Smoke-stained coal is merely a sign of intestinal dryness and constipation. If lung qi were truly exhausted, there would be profuse sweating and severe panting. How could there be fever without sweat? How could the chest be high and protruding without oppressive breathing, and how could the tip of the nose remain slightly moist? These are why I hoped for recovery." He then poured a cup of Li Zhong Tang into the child's mouth. The child let out a loud belch, expelling all the previously ingested medicines. The chest protrusion flattened instantly, and the neck became slightly firmer. However, the pulse remained undetectable, and the child did not regain consciousness, because the food had not yet moved, blocking the orifices. A small amount of the same decoction was administered again. The fever gradually subsided, and symptoms improved. Following the protocol for purging in cold damage, Yuanmingfen (Mirabilite) alone was dissolved in water and administered continuously three times. That night, a large amount of black stool was passed. The next morning, the child suddenly said, "I want to drink wine." Although he remained unconscious, frequent administration of fluids-generating medicines led to recovery within a day. (Xu Lingtai's note: Using Li Zhong Tang here must include Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus). The so-called suppressing and descending medicines are heavy and downward in nature. Although the drugs stayed at the stomach gate, the pathogen could not resolve outwardly and instead penetrated deeply.)
Gong Zicai treated an eight-year-old child suffering from cold damage, presenting with headache, body pain, fever, dry mouth, red face, and absence of sweating. Treatment for cold damage was ineffective. After ten days, Long'an Anshen Wan (Dragon Brain Calming Spirit Pill) was given. After one dose, the child sweated profusely like rain and recovered immediately.
Another child was silent, drowsy, with cold limbs and palpitations. The fingerprint curved inward like a bow, indicating deficiency of stomach qi and external contraction of cold pathogens. Xingxing San (Wonderful Awakening Powder) was first used to release the exterior pathogens, resolving all symptoms. However, since the hands and feet remained cold, Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) was used to tonify primordial qi, leading to stability.
A third child with cold damage presented with vomiting and fever. After taking digestive and heat-clearing agents, the food digestion resumed, but the fever persisted. Liu Junzi Tang combined with Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) was administered for four doses, resulting in recovery.
Gao Gufeng treated the son of Wu Weishi, aged ten, who had fever, thirst, and distending pain in the chest and abdomen. Gao diagnosed this as Shaoyang-Yangming syndrome and prescribed Jiawei Xiao Chaihu Tang (Modified Minor Bupleurum Decoction). That night, the child experienced severe dizziness for over an hour, causing great alarm to the Wu family. Gao said, "There is no harm. However, this disease will either transmit to malaria or dysentery." Three days later, when the fever subsided, the child indeed complained of lower abdominal pain, passing numerous black stools first, followed by pus and blood, developing into dysentery. Danggui Jiedu Wan (Angelica Detoxification Pill) was used for five or six doses to eliminate the dysentery. Subsequently, Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) was used for regulation, leading to stability. (Xu Lingtai's note: Severe dizziness after taking Xiao Chaihu Tang indicates heat stirring causing jue (collapse). Since Xiao Chaihu Tang was insufficient to harmonize, the form and qi must manifest before recovery. Manifestation in Shaoyang leads to malaria; manifestation in Yangming leads to dysentery.)
Ma Yuanyi treated the son of Zhang Boqing, aged twelve, who suffered from cold damage, delirious speech, fever, and loss of consciousness for five to six days. Pediatric treatments had failed, and the condition progressed to fixed gaze and coma. The pulse was wiry and rapid, resisting pressure. Due to fright, food and phlegm had accumulated and bound together, obstructing the flow and causing disease. Stomach qi generated heat, internal fluids were depleted, leading to delirium. The meridians of Yangming connect to the eyes; when meridian qi is excessive, collateral qi is also excessive, causing fixed gaze. With excess heat in the stomach, Chengqi Tang (Downward Directing Decoction) should be used to regulate, allowing obstructed qi to return to harmony, preserving fluids, and eliminating both diseases. Bao Long Wan (Embracing Dragon Pill) was additionally taken to resolve phlegm and treat fright. After administration, bowel movements occurred two or three times, heat significantly decreased, and full recovery was achieved the next day.
Jiang Zhongfang treated the cousin-brother of Chen Shoutian, aged eleven. Having suffered from cold damage for nearly two hundred days, he could not eat a single grain of rice; eating caused immediate distension. Various medicines failed. Only daily decoction of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) three qian was consumed. The child was emaciated, with deep and fine pulses in all six positions. While Ginseng and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) seemed appropriate, palpation of the chest, abdomen, and lower abdomen revealed hard masses filling the area, painful to touch. Jiang said, "Based on the pulse, purgatives are difficult to use, but without them, there is no hope." He prescribed Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Yuanmingfen (Mirabilite) each three qian, Jiudahuang (Wine-processed Rheum Palmatum Radix et Rhizoma) two qian, and Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Haren (Cannabis Fructus), Suzi (Perillae Fructus), and Taoren (Persicae Semen) each one qian, all stir-fried and powdered. Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) were each 0.7 fen. The mixture was decocted in water and taken. Immediately after ingestion, twenty to thirty black clumps were expelled, and the hardness below the Zhongwan point reduced by about one cun. However, the patient was extremely deficient. The next day, Dahuang and Yuanmingfen were removed, and Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) two qian was added, taken for one dose. On the following day, the original formula was used again, expelling another ten to twenty black clumps. Alternating these two formulas over half a month, the black clumps were completely eliminated, and the patient recovered.