缪仲淳治高存之次子,童时,夏月身热十昼夜,止饮白虎汤。诸医汗之不解,以麻仁丸下之热如故。缪诊
曰∶此伤暑也,白虎汤是其本方。因误汗下虚甚,加人参三钱,一剂微汗,瞑眩,少顷热解。更疏一方,防其
疟痢,乃用人参二钱,兼健脾清暑导滞之剂。未几疟作,如方饮之,疟止,痢又作。存之不得已于生脉散中加
益元散饮之,儿 羸甚,痢少减。数日后,仲淳复至,语之故。曰∶生脉益元散得之矣。不诊而谛视儿,问靡
甘否?曰∶甘。缪曰∶病去矣。存之问故?曰∶视儿目光炯炯,且饮食味甘,是精神已王,胃气转矣。寻果脱
然起。
臧玉涵子岁半,盛夏咳嗽。七日,因浴受惊,又伤食,大热倦顿,三日不敢与药,目翳唇焦舌干。仲淳
曰∶此暑病也。当与白虎汤。曰∶腹泻,石膏无害乎?曰∶先以天水散探之。服二钱,少顷,药夹痰而吐,微
汗身凉。黄昏复热,又以天水散二钱,不效。仲淳曰∶其为暑症无疑,当以白虎汤加人参。因儿患肺热,且止。
再诊之,曰∶暑邪客于皮肤分肉,有热无寒,是为瘅疟,断当用白虎汤。连服二剂,不效,鼻露眼开,口不纳
气,势甚急危。曰∶此症气不足胜邪也。刺疟论云∶凡疟,先时一食顷,乃可治,过时则失之也。又云∶无刺
之热,无刺浑浑之脉,无刺漉漉之汗。意者,服药不得时耶。将前药并剂煎,露一宿,鸡鸣温服之,病顿
失。不须调补,精神渐复,以此知察病望气及服药之贵及时也。
蒋千宫第五子,一岁,伤暑发热,服此药(惊风之帖。)十余日,惊搐危殆。又进腊丸等,死去矣。予察其误中
于药,以补脾汤加减治之,立愈。(《慈幼篇》。)
Miao Zhongchun treated the second son of Gao Cunzhi. When the child was young, he suffered from fever for ten days and nights during summer, having only consumed Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). Other physicians attempted diaphoresis (sweating method) without success, and then used Maren Wan (Hemp Seed Pill) to purge, yet the heat remained unchanged. Miao diagnosed: "This is injury by summerheat. Baihu Tang is its primary formula. Due to erroneous sweating and purging, the deficiency is severe. Add three qian of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), administer one dose; slight sweating will occur, followed by a Mingxuan reaction (a transient adverse reaction after taking medicine), and shortly thereafter the heat will resolve. Then prescribe another formula to prevent malaria and dysentery, using two qian of Renshen combined with herbs that invigorate the spleen, clear summerheat, and guide out stagnation. Soon, malaria appeared; upon drinking according to the prescription, the malaria ceased, but dysentery arose. Out of desperation, Cunzhi administered Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder) mixed with Yiyuan San (Benefit Origin Powder) to the child. The child became extremely emaciated, and the dysentery slightly decreased. Several days later, Miao returned and explained the situation. He said: "I have understood the application of Shengmai San and Yiyuan San." Without palpating the pulse, he carefully observed the child and asked, "Does food taste sweet?" The answer was, "Sweet." Miao said: "The disease has gone." Cunzhi asked for the reason. Miao replied: "Observing the child's bright eyes and his perception of sweetness in food indicates that the spirit is vigorous and the stomach qi has recovered." Indeed, the child soon recovered completely.
Zang Yuhan's son was half a year old, suffering from coughing in midsummer. After seven days, due to bathing and being startled, as well as food retention, he developed high fever and exhaustion. For three days, no medicine was given, resulting in corneal opacity, cracked lips, and dry tongue. Miao said: "This is a summerheat disease. One should administer Baihu Tang." The family asked: "There is diarrhea; would Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) be harmful?" Miao said: "First, probe with Tianshui San (Heavenly Water Powder)." After administering two qian, shortly afterward, the medicine was vomited out mixed with phlegm, accompanied by slight sweating and cooling of the body. At dusk, the fever recurred; another two qian of Tianshui San were given, but it was ineffective. Miao said: "It is undoubtedly a summerheat syndrome. One should use Baihu Tang plus Renshen. However, since the child suffers from lung heat, we pause for now." Upon re-examination, Miao said: "Summerheat pathogen resides in the skin and muscles, presenting heat without chills; this is Dan Nue (Cachectic Malaria). It must be treated with Baihu Tang." Two doses were taken consecutively without effect; the condition worsened to open nostrils, staring eyes, and inability to accept breath into the mouth, indicating critical danger. Miao said: "In this syndrome, qi deficiency prevents overcoming the pathogen." The *Ling Shu·Ci Nue Lun* states: "For all malarial fevers, treatment should begin about the time of one meal before the onset; if missed, the opportunity is lost." It also states: "Do not needle those with intense heat, do not needle those with chaotic pulses, do not needle those with profuse sweating." I suspect the timing of medication was incorrect. Therefore, combine the previous prescriptions into one decoction, leave it exposed overnight, and administer warm at cockcrow. The illness instantly vanished. No further tonification was needed; the spirit gradually recovered. This demonstrates the importance of observing the disease's qi and the timeliness of medication.
Jiang Qianguan's fifth son was one year old, suffering from summerheat-induced fever. After taking this medicine (Jingfeng Tie - Convulsion Patch) for over ten days, he experienced convulsions and危殆 (critical danger). Subsequently, La Wan (Wax Pill) and other medicines were administered, leading to death. I investigated and found the error lay in poisoning from the medicine. Treating him with modified Bupi Tang (Spleen-Invigorating Decoction), he recovered immediately. (From *Ci You Pian*.)