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In the mid-spring of Jiashen year, Canzhu, the second son of Lian Xiangwu, complained of headache and fever. There was slight pain in the lower abdomen, and loose stools. The pulse at the Cun and Guan positions was floating and rapid, while the pulses at both Chi positions were deep and slow. This indicates Kidney deficiency (Kidney deficiency), requiring warming and tonification methods. Even in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases), there is the saying: "If the Chi pulse is slow, temporary tonification is permissible." Therefore, warming middle-jiao herbs were used, with a small addition of Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), and Paojiang (Baked Ginger). By dusk, the fever intensified, accompanied by panting. The family suspected that the previous prescription was too tonifying and invited me to re-examine. The pulse had become harmonious and moderate, and the Kidney pulse appeared robust. I said: "The previous prescription was intended to consolidate the righteous qi to expel pathogenic factors, warming the Kidney to drive out cold. Now that the cold pathogen has been completely expelled, the righteous qi is resisting the pathogen, which inevitably leads to 'mingxuan' (a reaction where symptoms temporarily worsen after taking medicine). This is not caused by tonifying leading to pathogenic invasion resulting in fever and panting. After three watches of the night, he should recover." The next morning, he was indeed greatly relieved. Had mistaken use of acrid-cool exterior-resolving agents occurred, delaying treatment would have led to complications, and survival would have been impossible. Since then, whenever he suffered from these symptoms, drinking the previous prescription always resulted in recovery. He considered it miraculous. In my opinion, although symptoms manifesting in the Three Yang meridians are generally suitable for sweating therapy, considering the principle that "temporary tonification is permissible if the Chi pulse is slow," it is clear that this is deficiency-cold entering the interior, requiring immediate rescue of the interior. If the interior syndrome is rescued, even without inducing sweating, the exterior pathogen should heal itself. Ignoring the pulse and using exterior-resolving agents would certainly be fatal.

In the winter of Guiwei year, a daughter of an old soldier surnamed Chen in the western suburbs contracted cold while washing clothes during her menstrual period. She presented with fever, panting, thirst, and distending pain in the lower abdomen. Initial treatments included acrid-cool exterior-resolving agents, descending qi and clearing heat formulas, or warming agents due to cold exposure. Her condition deteriorated progressively. The pulse at the Cun and Guan positions was floating and rapid, while the pulses at both Chi positions were deep and knotted. I said: "This is Blood Stasis Syndrome (Blood stasis accumulation)." Treatment is not difficult; it is merely that other physicians failed to identify the source of the disease. Two doses of Taoren Chengqi Tang (Peach Kernel Decoction to Order the Qi) were administered, resulting in the discharge of several bowls of black blood, and she recovered.

In the late autumn of Guiwei year, the second daughter of Lin Linhuan, a student of the Imperial Academy, nearly forty years old, living as a widow and suffering from labor and depression, also contracted cold during her menstrual period. Blood stagnated in the Chong and Ren vessels. She experienced irritability, refusal to eat, severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen that resisted pressure, and obstruction of both urination and defecation. Despite various treatments over ten days, she did not improve. On the second day, I examined her. All six pulses were floating, rapid, and forceless; the Left Guan pulse was deep and choppy. I said: "This is originally a Taoren Chengqi Tang syndrome. However, the pulse contradicts the symptoms. The Liver meridian qi is exhausted, and the Stomach qi is about to perish. How can medicine work?" One physician prescribed Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) plus Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome), Yuanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizome), Niuxi (Achyranthes Root), and Taoren (Peach Seed). Only about one bowl of black blood was discharged after one dose. After adjusting and administering again, the previous symptoms remained unchanged. She died on the seventeenth day. Both cases belonged to Cold Damage Blood Stasis Syndrome. Why did one survive with a potent formula while the other died with a mild formula? I believe: First, the virgin's true qi was uncorrupted, whereas the widow's liver was injured by sorrow and depression—this is the first difference. Second, one had been ill for a short time, while the other's disease process had advanced—this is the second difference. Third, one case had matching pulse and symptoms, while the other had contradictory pulse and symptoms—this is the third difference. Fourth, one's Stomach qi was not exhausted, while the other had eaten nothing for ten days—this is the fourth difference. Fifth, one recovered with a potent formula, while the other survived only ten days with a mild formula—the distinction between deficiency and excess was stark—this is the fifth difference. How can one treat them identically simply because the symptoms appear similar?