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Wei Yuheng treated Wu Xingquan, who suddenly developed symptoms resembling Leprosy (Lifeng), with eyebrows falling out and skin peeling from the cheeks and forehead. After the skin peeled off, the flesh color resembled Vitiligo (Bai Dian Feng). Numerous small boils appeared around the ears, above and below the eyes, as well as beside the breasts and on the legs, discharging much pus and blood. Previously, he had suffered from chronic asthma, which I cured using liver-nourishing formulas. Since then, his toe webs and sides often itched, exuding thick fluid. When the facial sores erupted, the foot ailment healed instantly. Some attributed this to Wind pathogen, others to Dampness, while some diagnosed it as Psoriasis or Leprosy. Fortunately, he rarely took medicine lightly; after persisting for several months without improvement, he sought my consultation. I said: "The previous diagnoses were all incorrect. This is actually a transformed manifestation of his prior asthma. It stems primarily from excessive Liver Fire. When fire reaches its extreme, it mimics Wind, invading the Lung upwards, as fire naturally tends towards dryness. Previously, when the pathogen was in the meridians, it manifested as asthma; now that it is in the skin and hair, it manifests as sores. Xue Lizhai termed this 'Li'. Treating Li-sore syndromes requires fifty doses to recover." I prescribed Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Lycii Fructus (Qizi), Trichosanthis Semen (Louren), Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishao), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Lonicerae Flos (Jinyinhua), and Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Shouwu), adjusting the formula as needed. Indeed, he recovered after fifty doses. The Liver Wood corresponds to the Dragon; just as the dragon's transformations are unpredictable, so too are diseases. A wise practitioner dealing with internal injury syndromes seeks the root cause; once found, the branch symptoms can be investigated accordingly. This is a secret unrevealed by heaven, earth, antiquity, or modernity. The *Neijing* vaguely mentions one sentence: "The Liver is the thief of ten thousand diseases." It stops at these six characters, as if the sage did not wish to exhaust the explanation. Perhaps because the power of life and death should not be wielded by ordinary people. I have practiced clinical medicine for decades before obtaining this insight, truly one gain from a thousand reflections. Gentlemen of the world, do not neglect this. (Xu Dachun's note: Regarding this case by Yuheng, I believe external contractions enter via the Lung, while internal injuries originate from the Liver. Mr. Wei excels in treating internal injuries, and this statement aligns with my own views. However, if all attached cases in various categories used this method, would it not imply that his life's greatest achievement lies here, aiming to establish a unique school?)

Xue Lizhai treated a man suffering from an abscess that had not yet suppurated. He experienced pain, restlessness, constipation, and a full pulse. Two doses of Neishu Huanglian Tang (Internal Purging Coptis Decoction) caused all symptoms to recede. Subsequently, Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) added with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) for four doses resolved the condition.

He treated another man whose ulcer had ulcerated, presenting with dysuria, a floating pulse, and a choppy pulse upon deep pressure. Treatment with Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) added with Carthami Flos (Honghua), Persicae Semen (Taoren), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren) resulted in recovery.

He treated a frail man with an ulcer. After ulceration, he suffered constipation and a choppy pulse. Treatment with Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) added with Carthami Flos (Honghua), Persicae Semen (Taoren), and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) led to recovery.

Xue Lizhai treated a man with an ulcer. After ulceration, he presented with constipation and a floating pulse. Treatment with Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) resulted in recovery. (Xu Dachun's note: This syndrome requires nourishing blood.)

He treated an elderly man with an ulcer. After ulceration, he suffered severe constipation and dark, scanty urine. Examination revealed a floating, rapid, and choppy pulse. Treatment with Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) added with Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) resulted in recovery. Later, his urine became frequent and dark again, accompanied by constipation, dry mouth, and blurred vision. Treatment with Jiajian Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill) and Zishen Wan (Kidney-Nourishing Pill) led to recovery. This syndrome involved deficiency of Yin-blood and excess of Yang-fire, hence the efficacy of the aforementioned medicines. If bitter-cold agents had been administered, it would certainly have caused harm.

He treated a man with an ulcer. After ulceration, he suffered dysuria and pruritus of the skin. He reasoned that Qi and Blood deficiency failed to nourish the Couli (interstices), and thus prescribed tonifying agents. The patient did not believe this and instead took Wind-dispelling drugs, leading to his death. Generally speaking, for newly onset sores with constipation, rapid pulse, and choppy pulse, the primary treatment should be descending fire and cooling blood. For post-ulceration cases with constipation and choppy pulse, the primary treatment should be replenishing Qi and Blood. Administering Wind-dispelling drugs brings disaster within the flip of a hand.

Ku Jinshi suffered from an abscess nearing cure but presented with severe constipation. After taking Rhubarb (Dahuang) and other purgatives, he lost his appetite. Consequently, Qi- and Blood-tonifying agents were used, added with Persicae Semen (Taoren) and Cannabis Fructus (Maren), but without effect. Pig bile juice was then inserted deeply into the rectum, followed by continued nourishment of Qi and Blood, resulting in recovery. The *Yuanbing Shi* states: "All conditions of obstruction, dryness, and depletion belong to Dryness." Dryness is the pathological qi of Fire. Post-illness blood decline causes constipation and difficulty in defecation; thus, acrid-sweet moistening methods should be employed. Using bitter-cold agents depletes Stomach Qi. In cases of difficult defecation due to old age, weakness, or postpartum status, the cause is always Qi and Blood deficiency; pig bile is most effective.