小儿乳滞，或夹食，或夹风寒。乳为血质，非寻常药力所能攻。古人用 砂、巴豆，其
意深
矣。今人不敢用，吾每重用桃仁、山楂于剂中，取效甚捷；甚者加槟榔、牵牛，无不应手。
乃有不但不敢用槟榔、牵牛，并讥山楂、桃仁之峻，非小儿弱质所能胜者。然则吾以山楂、
桃仁杀人之小儿，不亦多矣乎?有面滞者，加杏仁。且吾家小儿，一遇夹食，即用京都万应
散，此乃钱氏方，内有牵牛、巴豆、轻粉、朱砂，每用辄效，未见有损。呜呼!小儿元气几
何，若不认证真切，峻药急治，而畏怯尝试，迁延日久，元气漓矣，即神丹其能救耶?人谓
小儿脏腑弱，不堪峻药之攻刷，吾亦谓小儿脏腑弱，不堪久病之蹂躏也。只在认证真而已，
认证不真，无论峻药平药，皆能杀人。
钱仲阳《小儿直诀》方中，凉惊丸、五色丸后，有金银薄荷汤下之文。他书引此，每于
金银
下加“花”字。《绛雪园古方选注》真珍圆下，有金银花薄荷汤下。此方出许叔微《本事方
》，原书并无“花”字，是“花”字之为妄增无疑矣。凡此等方，皆治小儿惊痫，与大人痰
厥诸病，金银之气，能镇肝逆，薄荷之气，辛散通络，义本昭然，于“花”何与耶?又《颅
囟经》治惊牛黄丸方下有云∶加金银箔五片。考“箔”“薄”古通用，故败脉之象，有如悬
薄，即谓宽散如帘箔之悬也。况金银箔更因其形体之薄而立名，其通用更不仅音之相近矣。
窃恐钱、许方中，不但“花”字衍文，即“荷”字亦恐后人附会妄增耳!第相沿已久，不敢
定斥为误，姑论而存之。
后阅一年，得读《全幼心鉴》，书中极论金银入药之误，谓薄荷家园叶小者，名金银薄
荷，“银”字误也。此说虽异，而用意正与予同，是读书细心者也。存以参考。
Pediatric milk stagnation may be complicated by food retention or by wind-cold pathogens. Milk is of a blood-like nature, and the medicinal power of ordinary herbs is insufficient to attack it. The ancients used *Sha Ren* (Amomum fruit) and *Ba Dou* (Croton seed), their intention being profound. Modern practitioners dare not use them. I frequently employ heavy doses of *Tao Ren* (Persicae Semen) and *Shan Zha* (Crataegi Fructus) in prescriptions, achieving very rapid effects; in severe cases, adding *Bing Lang* (Areca Seed) and *Qian Niu* (Pharbitis Seed) yields immediate results. Yet some not only dare not use *Bing Lang* and *Qian Niu*, but also ridicule the harshness of *Shan Zha* and *Tao Ren*, claiming they are too strong for the delicate constitution of children. Does this mean that I have killed many children with *Shan Zha* and *Tao Ren*? If there is facial stagnation, add *Xing Ren* (Armeniacae Semen Amarum). Moreover, when my own children suffer from food retention, I immediately administer *Jing Du Wan Ying San* (Kyoto Universal Powder), which is a formula from Qian Yi, containing *Qian Niu*, *Ba Dou*, *Qing Fen* (Calomel), and *Zhu Sha* (Cinnabar). It is effective every time, and I have never seen it cause harm. Alas! How much primordial Qi (*Yuan Qi*) does a child possess? If one fails to distinguish the syndrome accurately, and instead of using harsh medicines for urgent treatment out of fear and hesitation, allows the condition to drag on, the primordial Qi will be depleted. Even divine elixirs would then be unable to save them. People say that children's zang-fu organs are weak and cannot withstand the scouring action of harsh medicines. I also say that children's zang-fu organs are weak and cannot withstand the ravages of prolonged illness. The key lies in accurate syndrome differentiation. If differentiation is inaccurate, whether using harsh or mild medicines, death can result.
In the formulas of Qian Zhongyang's *Xiao Er Zhi Jue* (Direct Instructions for Children), after the formulas for *Liang Jing Wan* (Cooling Aversion Pill) and *Wu Se Wan* (Five-Color Pill), there is text stating "administered with Yin Jin Bo He Tang" (Silver-Gold Mint Decoction). Other books citing this often add the character "Hua" (Flower) after "Yin Jin". In *Jiang Xue Yuan Gu Fang Xuan Zhu* (Selected Annotations of Ancient Formulas from Jiangxue Garden), under *Zhen Zhen Wan* (likely referring to *Zhen Zhu Wan*, Pearl Pill), it states "administered with Yin Jin Hua Bo He Tang". This formula originates from Xu Shuwei's *Ben Shi Fang* (Formulas from the Capable Physician), where the original text contains no "Hua" character. Thus, the addition of "Hua" is undoubtedly erroneous. All such formulas treat pediatric convulsive epilepsy and adult phlegm-syncope. The qi of Yin Jin (Gold and Silver) can suppress rebellious Liver Qi, while the qi of Bo He (Mint) is pungent and dispersing, unblocking collaterals. The principle is clear; what relevance does "Hua" (Flake/Flower) have? Furthermore, in *Lu Xin Jing* (Classic of the Cranium and Fontanelle), under the formula for *Niu Huang Wan* (Cow-bezoar Pill) treating convulsions, it says: "Add five pieces of Yin Jin Bo" (Gold and Silver Foil). Research shows that "Bo" (Foil) and "Bo" (Thin) were interchangeable in ancient times. Hence, a failing pulse resembling a hanging thin sheet implies a wide, scattered quality like suspended foil. Moreover, Yin Jin Bo is named precisely because of its thin form; its interchangeability extends beyond mere phonetic similarity. I suspect that in the formulas of Qian and Xu, not only is "Hua" an extraneous character, but even "He" (Mint) might be a later apocryphal addition. However, since this usage has been passed down for a long time, I dare not definitively reject it as an error, but rather discuss and preserve it here.
A year later, I read *Quan You Xin Jian* (Comprehensive Mirror of Pediatric Heart Insights), which strongly argues against the use of Gold and Silver in medicine. It claims that mint leaves grown small in home gardens are called "Yin Jin Bo He," and that the character "Yin" (Silver) is an error. Although this theory is distinct, its intent aligns with mine, indicating a careful reader. I preserve this for reference.