苏内翰曰∶惟有子为不朽。人之有子也,讵可忽乎哉!境不论贫富,家不论贵贱,其爱之、惜之、保
护之则一也。独是婴儿之生,犹草木之有萌 也。萌 甫出,遇严寒酷热,则或枯;经骤雨狂风,则不达。
生机方露,调护为难。若婴儿亦人之萌 耳,近来由萌 而夭折者不可胜数。其中,或饥饱之不均,或寒燠之
不节,或调养之无法,或禁忌之不知。恻然心伤,计无可施。因念古人于所爱惜、于所保护者,如何阅历,
如何经验,而后垂一法以施之,立一说以遵之。余乃簇书之奥旨,采先哲之格言,颜曰∶鬻婴提要说。即
系于《厘正按摩要术》之后。夫《按摩要术》治已疾也,《鬻婴要说》治未疾也。《诗》曰∶恩
斯勤斯,鬻子之闵斯!其即此义也。夫家有一人病,则一家不安,家有婴儿病,且疾痛不能言,啼泣不能止,
汤药不肯服。亦时闻父母之言曰∶天与我病,勿与我儿也。其一家之不安何如乎!是书防患于未然,所期家
置一编,仿而行之,以为保婴之宝筏也可。
光绪十有五年春三月宝应惕厉子张振 原名醴泉筱衫甫叙于安宜梁氏草堂
乳母形色所宜,其候甚多,不可求备。但取不狐臭、瘿痿、气咳、疮疥、痴癃、
白秃、 疡、藩唇、耳聋、 鼻、癫痫,无此等疾者,便可乳儿也。(《千金方》)
乳母当择无病妇人,肌肉丰肥,性情和平者为之。如病寒者乳寒,病疮者乳毒,
贪口腹则味不纯,喜淫欲则气不清。(万密斋)
为乳母者,夏不去热乳,令儿呕逆;冬不去寒乳,令儿咳
利。母新房以乳儿,令儿羸瘦,交胫不能行。母有热以乳儿,令变黄不能食。母怒以乳儿,
令善惊,发气疝;又令上气癫狂。母新吐下以乳儿,令虚羸。母醉以乳儿,令身热腹满。(《千金方》)
乳儿之母,当淡滋味,一切酒面肥甘热物,瓜果生冷寒物,皆当禁之。又须慎七情,调六气,以养太和。
盖母强则子强,母病则子病,母寒则子寒,母热则子热。故保婴者,必先保身。(《保婴易知录》)
乳母淫佚情乱,令儿吐泻身热,啼叫如鸦者不治。(《宝鉴》)
乳母饮食下咽,乳汁便通,情欲中动,乳脉必应,病气到乳,汁必凝滞。儿得此乳,
疾病立至,不吐则泻,不疮则热,或为口糜,或为惊搐,或为夜啼,或为腹痛。病之初来,其溺必
少,便须询问,随证治母,母安亦安,可消患于未形也。(朱丹溪)
凡乳儿不可过饱,饱则溢而成呕吐。大饱以空乳吮之即消。若乳来多猛,先捏去宿热乳,然后乳之。
乳母与儿卧,令乳与儿头平,母欲睡时即夺其乳,恐其不知饱足,致成呕吐。且恐睡熟
闷儿口鼻致死。父母交合之间,儿卧于侧,或惊起,不可乳儿。
盖气乱未定,必能杀儿也。(《千金方》)
夜间乳儿,母起身坐抱儿喂之,勿侧卧乳儿。乳后抱儿使其身直,恐软弱颠倒,致乳溢出也。
不尔,皆令儿病。(《颅囟经》)
凡乳母生喜,则乳为喜乳,令儿上气颠狂,亦令儿生痰喘急,或生惊。(孙兆)
凡乳母动气,则为气乳,令小儿面黄且白,乳哺减少,夜啼 乳。(《宝鉴》)
凡乳母有病时为病乳,令儿黄瘦骨蒸盗汗, HT 夜哭,及生诸疾。(《宝鉴》)
凡乳母有娠孕者为 乳,令儿脏冷腹急而泻,胸背皆热,夜啼肌瘦,一如积块。(《宝鉴》)
乳母饮酒而醉者为醉乳,令儿热,腹急痛。扁鹊云∶醉淫随乱,儿恍惚多惊。(《千金翼方》)
凡乳母当风乳儿,风冷入肺,则令咳嗽。(仓公)
凡乳母有怒,则乳为怒乳,令儿生疝气病。扁鹊云∶女子则腹胀。(《千金翼方》)
凡乳母于夜露下饮儿,冷气入咽不散,多成呕逆。(《心鉴》)
乳母于大劳大饥之后,不俟气息稍和,即以伤乳与儿,令儿成疳。(《真诀》)
凡儿因乳母致病者,事起于隐微,人多玩忽,医所不知。故乳母禀受之浓薄,性情之缓急,
骨肉之坚脆,德行之善恶,令儿相肖,大有关系,不可不慎也。(朱丹溪)
儿啼未定,其气尚逆,遽以乳饮之,则乳停胸膈,令儿生咳逆呕吐诸病。(《巢氏病源》)
每清晨睡醒欲饮乳,皆须捏去宿乳。乳汁弗投地,虫蚁食之,令乳无汁,可沃东壁上佳。(《颅囟经》)
乳之性见酒则凝。试将牛乳一碗,加陈酒一小杯,搅和蒸一沸,乳凝如腐,物性然也。饮乳之儿,父
母爱之,戏以酒滴儿口中,往往渐成乳癖、惊痫、疳积等证,可不慎哉!(《兰闺口议》)
月内小儿,不可闻啼即抱,一啼便乳。须令啼哭,则胎中所受热毒从此而散,胎中惊风从此而解,则期月
之间,无重舌、木舌、口噤、胎热之疾。(《大生要旨》)
小儿初生宜多睡,勿强与乳,自然长而少病。(《保生要法》)
夏中热盛,乳母浴后,或值儿啼,均不可与乳,使儿损于胃,秋成赤白痢。浴后必须定息良久,捏去
热乳,然后乳之。(《聂氏》)
热乳令儿面黄不食呕吐。张氏云∶热乳伤损肺气,令儿成龟背。(《千金翼方》)
凡乳儿,乳气寒虚冷,故令儿便青而啼。《千金翼方》云∶令儿咳嗽。(《史记·华佗论》)
壅乳令儿生痰涎,涎壅生惊。(《灵秘》)
壅乳成乳癖,又吐逆生痰。(《宝鉴》)
调摄小儿之法,病家能知之者,千不得一。盖小儿纯阳之体,最宜清冷,今人非太暖即太饱,而其
尤害者,则在于有病之后而数与之乳。乳之为物得热则坚韧如棉絮,况儿有病则食乳甚稀,乳久不食则愈充
满,吮则迅疾涌出,较平日之下咽更多,前乳未清,新乳复充,填积胃口,化为顽痰,顽痰相结,诸脉皆闭
而死矣。譬如常人平日食饭几何,当病危之时,其食与平时不减,安有不死者哉!然嘱病家云,乳不可食。则
群相诟曰,乳犹水也,食之何害?况儿虚如此,全赖乳养,若复禁乳则饿死矣。不惟不肯信,反将医家诟骂。
其余之不当食而食,与当食而反不与之食,种种失宜,不可枚举,此小儿之所以难治也。(《医学源流》)
儿病即宜少与乳食。若似惊风,即宜断乳。如欲食,与米饮一勺。必欲食乳,须先将乳挤空,然后以空
乳令吮,否则乳下喉中即成顽痰,虽神丹无效,俟少安渐与乳可也。(《兰台轨范》)
小儿无伤乳法,即乳满而溢亦无大害,惟与食并,则乳裹食不化,遂成痰癖,是伤食非伤乳也。故小儿
以食乳为主,三岁后方可食糕粥,五岁后方可食荤腥,则一生永无脾胃之疾矣。(《慈幼外编》)
乳者奶也,哺者食也。乳后不得与食,哺后不得与乳,乳食相并,难以克化,大则成癖,小则成积,疳
气自此始矣。(《保生碎事》)
凡儿吮乳,初则乳汁渐行,其来尚缓而少,久则如泉涌急而多,则以二指捺住乳头两边,来自缓矣。
惟恐儿气弱吞咽不及,有伤胃气也。(《育婴家秘》)
凡治病必藉胃气以为行药之主,胃气强者,攻之则疾去而易愈,以其药力易行也。胃气虚者,攻病而
病不去,非药力不达,以胃气本弱,攻之则益弱,而药愈不行,胃气伤,病亦愈甚矣。(陈飞霞)
生儿缺乳,不得不喂以谷食,母细嚼以手喂之,不可以口对
口喂之,致生疳疾腹胀。(《保婴易知录》)
小儿无病,切忌服药,否则遇疾无效。(《疾呼录》)
凡小儿有停滞,于卧后用手顺摩其腹,自胸至脐下,轻轻摩至百数,能顺气消食。(《慈幼论》)
小儿有疾,口不能言,脉无可诊,名曰哑科,医者不可不究其病源,而病家亦须详审而明言之。愚者
拱默而令医师切脉,以试其知病否,是以儿命为鹄也。孙真人云∶未诊先问,最为有准。苏东坡云∶只图愈
疾,不欲困医。徐氏曰∶小儿致疾之由,有婢媪明知而不敢言者,当委曲善询之,若加以声色,是缄其口
也。旨哉斯言!(《活动刍言》)
幼科有拿掐法,乃按摩之变也。小儿未周岁,难以药饵,治诚宜之。(《保婴撮要》)
急惊之证,搐搦反张,头摇目窜,唇动牙咬,壮热痰潮,神昏便秘是也。当其搦搐反张之时,切忌把其手
足,攀其身躯,若强力持之,致风气流入筋络,以致俯仰拘牵,虽生已成残废。当其动作之际,置一竹簟
铺之平地,使儿卧其上,任其搐搦,风力行遍经络,势极自止也。醒后易于频发,宜慎防之。(吴氏)
小儿足胫冷,腹虚胀,粪色青,吐乳食,睛珠青,面青白,少神,声音弱,脉沉微者,内已虚寒,忌投
凉药。若足胫热,两腮红,大便闭,小便黄赤,口渴痰稠,气粗声壮,脉紧数者,乃为热证,忌投温热药。(《金鉴》)
乳母须每日三时摸儿项后风池,若壮热者即须熨之,使微汗而愈。谚云∶戒养小儿,谨护风池。风池
在颈项筋中两辕之边。(张涣)
凡小儿痘疡惊风等证,皆由胎毒蕴结。初生三日内,自风门至尾闾,用鸡子清按节细摩,周而复始,有毛
出如发者。尾闾须多摩,愈摩愈出,将黑毛拔尽,终身即不出痘,即出亦惟数粒耳。如产至六九日再摩,尤
妙。(山左张洙源封翁家传)
凡产儿艰难,或于天寒日生,无哭声,或至已死者,急用棉衣包裹,再将香油纸捻,将脐带缓缓烧断,
俾暖气入腹而生矣。倘剪断脐带则死。(《集验良方》)
急慢惊风危极者,孩儿肚皮以手巾盖之,以真乌骨鸡一只,令人捧立肚皮上,少刻,其鸡自能扑翅,蹲
在肚上,半日鸡自走落,孩儿即愈。将鸡快灌香油,否则鸡必死。(《集验良方》)
断乳奇法,择伏断日,用山栀一枚,辰砂、麝香、雄黄、雌
黄各二分,轻粉一分,研末,待儿熟睡时,麻油调搽两眉,名画眉膏,断乳之奇法也。(《集验良方》)
小儿无知,自将豆粒塞入鼻孔,用手指自挖,愈挖愈入,经
涕浸大,肿胀痛甚,百方不能取出,法用二人,以一人将两手掩紧小儿两耳窍,令小儿眼目闭紧,一人用手
掩住无物鼻窍,以口对小儿之口,用力一吹,实时落下。妙极!(《集验良方》)
蔡葛山先生曰∶吾校《四库书》,坐伪字夺俸者数矣,唯一事深得校书力。吾一幼孙偶吞铁钉,医以朴硝
等药攻之不下,日渐羸弱,后校《苏沈良方》,见有小儿吞铁物方云∶剥新炭皮,研末,调粥三碗食之,其
铁物自下。根据方试之,果以炭屑裹钉而下。(《纪文达公槐西杂志》)
小儿痘后余热结毒,缠绵不愈者,用三豆散。赤豆、黑豆、绿豆等分,将三豆浸水中一日,捣烂涂
患上,干即更换敷上,用油纸包好,立愈。(程韫山)
小儿初生大小便闭,令妇人以温水嗽口,吸小儿前后心,手足心并脐下共七处,以红色为度,
即通。(《集验良方》)
凡小儿有汤火伤者,急以草纸湿尿贴患处,痛立止,迟则起泡。(《集验良方》)
暑惊,用生半夏、皂荚等分,研末调匀,吹鼻中得嚏即愈。老少并用。(《集验良方》)
小儿为异物所侵,夜睡惊悸,啼哭不止,面色或黑或紫,宜用杂色纸,作一异物形状,令受惊吓者之
儿视之,即对儿以火焚化,儿疑释则病愈矣。(夏禹铸)
小儿盈月剃头,须就温暖避风处,剃后以杏仁三枚,去皮尖,研碎,入薄荷三叶同研,入生麻油三四滴,
腻粉拌和,擦新剃头上,以避风伤,免生疮疥热毒。(《按摩经》)
嘉禾有陈姓业医者,于小儿啼哭不止,命煎甘草水为儿洗浴,浴毕,病若失,谢千金。问何术之神,陈曰∶
木香棚下,晒有儿衣,木香多刺毛虫,衣晒其下,刺毛虫或遗溺,或落刺毛于
衣,故痛。医者须到处留心。(《世说新语》)
小儿螺哽喉间,用百只活鸭,医以手指入鸭嘴,于瓷杯口逐
一刮之,积至半杯,即用匙灌入,顷刻啼止,病立愈。(《世说新语》)
小儿脐带中多有虫,急剔拨去,否则入脐成疾。《养子真诀》云∶吃热莫吃冷,吃软莫吃硬,吃少莫吃
多,自然无恙。故粘腻、干硬、酸碱、辛辣,一切鱼肉、水果、湿面、烧炙、煨
炒、煎 难化之物,皆宜禁绝。小儿无知,岂能知节,知节者父母也。(《保婴易知录》)
小儿初生,用淡豆豉煎浓汁,与儿三五口,其毒自开。缪仲淳《广笔记》,以甘草三钱,淡豆豉三钱,
入沸汤一碗,隔水煮干,至一二小杯,以棉为乳,蘸药汁,令儿吮之,以尽为度,腹内有声,去胎粪数次,
方饮乳,月内永无惊风诸病。(《医宗金鉴》)
古法拭口多用黄连者,不知黄连大苦大寒,小儿以胃气为主,安得初生即可以苦劣之气相犯。
致损胃气,则他日变呕变泻由此而起,大非所宜。(张景岳)
小儿出胎,气生收敛,则口内上 齿根喉舌皆净。若气血不敛,胎毒上攻,无不先见于口内者。或有泡生
于上 悬雍之前,初起白色,继则赤色,最为恶候,急以指爪摘去其头,或以针刺之,溃去恶血,速以
帛拭净,毋令下咽,此为第一要着。次看齿根上有白泡,如半粒米状,急以银针挑去。再看齿根上有黄
筋两条,以苇刀轻轻割断,以泻恶血。或舌上白屑堆聚,以手指缠乱发拭净。若舌根有膜裹舌,如芦箨盛水
Su Neihan said: "Only having children can achieve immortality. When people have children, how can they be neglected! Whether the circumstances are rich or poor, whether the family is noble or humble, their love, cherishing, and protection of their children are the same. However, the birth of an infant is like a plant sprouting. Just as a sprout, when it first emerges, may wither if exposed to severe cold or heat, or fail to grow through sudden rain and fierce wind, so too is the vitality of an infant just revealing itself, making care and nurturing difficult. If infants are indeed the 'sprouts' of humans, then the number of those who perish from infancy in recent times is countless. Among them, some die due to uneven feeding, some due to lack of moderation in warmth and cold, some due to improper nursing methods, and some due to ignorance of taboos. Feeling deeply distressed with no effective strategy, I reflected on how the ancients experienced and learned from their cherished and protected ones, leaving behind methods to follow and theories to adhere to. Therefore, I gathered the profound meanings from various books and collected the maxims of past sages, titling this work *Yuying Tishuo* (Brief Explanation on Infant Care). It is appended after *Lizheng Momo Yaoshu* (Essential Techniques for Corrected Massage). While *Momo Yaoshu* treats diseases that have already occurred, *Yuying Tishuo* prevents diseases before they arise. The *Book of Songs* states: 'Grace and diligence, the compassion for raising children!' This embodies the very meaning. If one person in a family falls ill, the whole family is unsettled; if an infant falls ill, unable to speak of pain, crying incessantly, and refusing medicine, parents often say, 'Heaven gives me illness, not my child.' How unsettling must the entire family be! This book aims to prevent disaster before it happens, hoping every household will keep a copy, imitate its practices, and use it as a precious raft for protecting infants.
Written by Zhang Zhen (formerly Li Quan, courtesy name Xiaoshan), titled 'Tili Zi from Baoying,' in the third month of spring in the 15th year of Guangxu (1889), at the Liang Family Thatched Cottage in Anyi.
There are many conditions regarding the physical appearance and health of wet nurses that should be considered, but perfection cannot be demanded. One need only select women free from bromhidrosis (fox odor), goiter, flaccidity, chronic cough, skin sores, scabies, intellectual disability/urinary retention, white tinea capitis, ulcers, cleft lip, deafness, nasal disorders, epilepsy, and convulsions; such women are suitable for breastfeeding infants. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Wet nurses should be chosen from healthy women who are well-fleshed and have a peaceful temperament. If the mother suffers from cold diseases, her milk will be cold; if she has sores, her milk will be toxic; if she indulges in rich foods, her milk will lack purity; if she is prone to lust, her qi will be impure. (Wan Mizhai)
A wet nurse who does not discard hot milk in summer may cause the infant to vomit and regurgitate; one who does not discard cold milk in winter may cause the infant to cough and suffer diarrhea. Breastfeeding immediately after sexual intercourse may cause the infant to become emaciated and unable to walk with crossed legs. Breastfeeding while the mother has a fever may cause jaundice and loss of appetite. Breastfeeding while angry may cause the infant to startle easily, develop qi hernia, or suffer from upward rushing qi and mania. Breastfeeding immediately after vomiting or purging may cause extreme weakness. Breastfeeding while intoxicated may cause the infant fever and abdominal distension. (*Qianjin Fang*)
The nursing mother should maintain a bland diet, avoiding all alcohol, wheat products, fatty and sweet foods, hot-natured items, raw fruits, and cold-natured foods. She must also guard against the seven emotions and harmonize the six qi to cultivate supreme harmony. Generally, if the mother is strong, the child is strong; if the mother is sick, the child is sick; if the mother is cold, the child is cold; if the mother is hot, the child is hot. Therefore, those who protect infants must first protect themselves. (*Baoying Yizhi Lu*)
If a wet nurse engages in licentious behavior, it may cause the infant to vomit, have diarrhea, fever, and cry like a crow; this condition is incurable. (*Baojian*)
When a wet nurse eats, the milk flows freely; when she experiences sexual arousal, the breast meridians respond. If pathogenic factors reach the breasts, the milk becomes stagnant. If the infant drinks this milk, disease will arise immediately: either vomiting or diarrhea, sores or fever, aphthous stomatitis, convulsions, night crying, or abdominal pain. At the onset of illness, the infant's urine output will likely be low. One must inquire about symptoms and treat the mother according to the pattern. If the mother recovers, the infant recovers, preventing illness before it manifests. (Zhu Danxi)
Infants should never be overfed, as fullness leads to spitting up and vomiting. If an infant is overly full, sucking from an empty breast can help digest the milk. If the milk flow is too forceful, the mother should first express and discard some old, hot milk before feeding. When sleeping with the infant, the mother’s breast should be level with the infant’s head. The mother should remove the nipple when she feels sleepy, lest the infant overfeed and vomit. Moreover, there is a risk of suffocating the infant by covering their nose and mouth during sleep. During parental intercourse, if the infant is nearby or wakes up startled, do not breastfeed. The chaotic qi may harm the infant. (*Qianjin Fang*)
At night, the mother should sit up and hold the infant to feed, rather than lying on her side. After feeding, hold the infant upright to prevent regurgitation due to weakness or awkward positioning. Otherwise, these practices may cause illness. (*Lunxin Jing*)
If a wet nurse is joyful, her milk becomes 'joy milk,' which may cause the infant upward rushing qi, mania, phlegm-asthma, or fright. (Sun Zhao)
If a wet nurse is angry, her milk becomes 'anger milk,' causing the infant to appear pale and yellow, reduce feeding, and cry at night. (*Baojian*)
If a wet nurse is ill, her milk becomes 'illness milk,' causing the infant to become yellow and thin, suffer from steaming bone disorder and night sweats, cry at night, and develop various diseases. (*Baojian*)
If a wet nurse is pregnant, her milk becomes 'pregnancy milk,' causing the infant to have cold internal organs, urgent abdomen and diarrhea, heat in chest and back, night crying, muscle wasting, resembling accumulation masses. (*Baojian*)
If a wet nurse is drunk, her milk becomes 'drunk milk,' causing infant fever and urgent abdominal pain. Bian Que said: Drunkenness and licentiousness lead to confusion and frequent fright in infants. (*Qianjin Yifang*)
If a wet nurse exposes herself to wind while breastfeeding, wind-cold enters the lungs, causing cough. (Cang Gong)
If a wet nurse is angry, her milk becomes 'anger milk,' causing infant hernia. Bian Que said: In females, it causes abdominal distension. (*Qianjin Yifang*)
If a wet nurse feeds the infant under night dew, cold qi enters the throat and fails to dissipate, often leading to vomiting and regurgitation. (*Xinjian*)
After severe labor or hunger, if a wet nurse feeds the infant before her breath stabilizes, using damaged milk, the infant may develop infantile malnutrition (gan syndrome). (*Zhenjue*)
Illnesses in infants caused by wet nurses often originate from subtle causes, which people neglect and doctors overlook. The constitution, temperament, bone structure, and moral character of the wet nurse significantly influence the infant and must be carefully considered. (Zhu Danxi)
If an infant is crying and unsettled, their qi is still rebellious. Feeding immediately causes milk to stagnate in the chest and diaphragm, leading to cough, regurgitation, and vomiting. (*Chaoshi Bingyuan*)
Every morning upon waking, the mother should express and discard old milk. Do not spill milk on the ground, as insects eating it may cause the mother to lose milk supply; pouring it on the east wall is best. (*Lunxin Jing*)
Milk coagulates when mixed with wine. For example, adding aged wine to cow's milk and steaming it causes coagulation like curds, demonstrating the nature of substances. Parents who playfully drip wine into an infant's mouth may gradually cause breast lumps, fright epilepsy, or gan accumulation. How careful one must be! (*Langui Kouyi*)
For infants within the first month, do not pick them up or breastfeed immediately upon crying. Allowing them to cry helps dissipate heat-toxins from the fetus and resolve fetal wind, preventing conditions like double tongue, wooden tongue, trismus, and fetal heat within the month. (*Dasheng Yaozhi*)
Newborns should sleep more and not be forced to feed; they will naturally grow up healthier. (*Baosheng Yaofa*)
In midsummer heat, after a wet nurse bathes, or if the infant cries, do not breastfeed immediately, as this damages the stomach and may lead to dysentery in autumn. After bathing, wait for the breath to settle, express hot milk, and then feed. (*Nie Shi*)
Hot milk causes jaundice, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Zhang Shi said: Hot milk damages lung qi, leading to rickets (turtle back deformity). (*Qianjin Yifang*)
Cold and deficient milk causes green stools and crying. *Qianjin Yifang* says it causes cough. (*Shiji - Hua Tuo Lun*)
Stagnant milk generates phlegm-drool, which can cause fright. (*Lingmi*)
Stagnant milk forms breast lumps and causes vomiting and phlegm. (*Baojian*)
Few families know proper infant care. Infants are pure yang bodies, best suited for coolness. Modern practices of over-warming or overfeeding are harmful. The greatest harm is frequent feeding after illness begins. Milk becomes tough like cotton when heated. Sick infants eat little, so milk accumulates. When sucked, it rushes out faster than usual. Un-digested old milk mixes with new milk, filling the stomach, transforming into stubborn phlegm, blocking meridians, and causing death. Just as an adult would die if eating normally during critical illness, infants are similarly affected. Families often refuse to stop breastfeeding, arguing milk is like water and essential for survival, even cursing doctors who advise otherwise. Such inappropriate feeding practices make infant illnesses difficult to treat. (*Yixue Yuanliu*)
When an infant is ill, reduce milk intake. If symptoms resemble fright wind, stop breastfeeding entirely. If hungry, give a spoonful of rice water. If breastfeeding is necessary, express the breast completely first, then let the infant suck from the empty breast. Otherwise, milk turns into stubborn phlegm in the throat, rendering even miraculous medicines ineffective. Wait until the infant stabilizes before gradually resuming feeding. (*Lantai Guifan*)
Infants do not suffer from 'milk injury' alone; even overflow is harmless. Harm occurs only when milk and food are consumed together, causing indigestion and phlegm-accumulation, which is food injury, not milk injury. Infants should focus on milk and food. Solid foods like cakes and porridge should only be introduced after age three, and meat/fish after age five, ensuring lifelong gastrointestinal health. (*Ciyou Waibian*)
'Milk' refers to breast milk, 'food' refers to solid nourishment. Do not give food after milk, nor milk after food. Mixing them makes digestion difficult, leading to masses or accumulations, initiating gan qi. (*Baosheng Suishi*)
When an infant sucks milk, the flow starts slow and light, then becomes rapid and abundant like a spring. To regulate this, press both sides of the nipple with two fingers to slow the flow, fearing that weak infants may swallow too much and damage stomach qi. (*Yuying Jiami*)
Treating disease relies on stomach qi as the driver of medicinal action. Strong stomach qi allows pathogens to be expelled easily. Weak stomach qi fails to move medicine, worsening the condition. Damaged stomach qi exacerbates illness. (Chen Feixia)
If a newborn lacks milk, grain food may be fed. The mother should chew it thoroughly and feed it by hand, not mouth-to-mouth, to avoid gan disease and abdominal distension. (*Baoying Yizhi Lu*)
Healthy infants should strictly avoid medication; otherwise, they will be unresponsive when truly ill. (*Jihu Lu*)
For infant digestive stagnation, gently massage the abdomen from the chest to below the navel after sleep, hundreds of times, to promote qi flow and digest food. (*Ciyou Lun*)
Infants cannot speak, and pulse diagnosis is difficult, known as the 'mute department.' Doctors must investigate the root cause, and families must describe symptoms clearly. Foolish families remain silent to test the doctor's skill, risking the child's life. Sun Simiao said: Asking before diagnosing is most accurate. Su Dongpo said: Seek cure, do not burden the doctor. Xu Shi said: Regarding causes of infant illness, servants may know but fear to speak. Question them tactfully; harsh tones silence them. Wise words! (*Huodong Chuyan*)
Pediatrics uses pinching and grasping techniques, variations of massage. For infants under one year, herbal medicine is difficult; treatment with massage is appropriate. (*Baoying Cuoyao*)
Acute fright wind presents with spasms, opisthotonos, head shaking, darting eyes, lip movement, teeth grinding, high fever, phlegm surging, coma, and constipation. During spasms, do not forcibly restrain limbs or body, as this drives wind into sinews, causing permanent deformity. Place a bamboo mat on the floor for the infant to lie on, allowing spasms to run their course and cease naturally. Recurrence is common after waking; take precautions. (Wu Shi)
If infant calves are cold, abdomen distended, stool green, vomiting milk/food, pupils blue, face pale-blue, spirit low, voice weak, and pulse deep/faint, internal deficiency-cold exists; avoid cooling herbs. If calves are hot, cheeks red, constipation, dark yellow urine, thirst, thick phlegm, rough voice, strong sound, and pulse tight/rapid, it is a heat pattern; avoid warming herbs. (*Jinjian*)
Wet nurses should massage the Fengchi point behind the infant's neck three times daily. If high fever occurs, apply heat compresses to induce slight sweating and recovery. Proverb: Guarding infants requires protecting Fengchi. Fengchi is located beside the tendons of the neck. (Zhang Huan)
Smallpox, sores, and fright wind in infants stem from fetal toxins. Within three days of birth, massage from Fengmen to Weilu with egg white, repeating cycles. Hair-like filaments may emerge. Massage Weilu extensively; pluck all black hairs. This prevents smallpox or limits it to a few spots. Massaging again on the 69th day is especially effective. (Family secret of Zhang Zhuyuan, Shanzuo)
For difficult births, cold-born infants without cries, or apparent deaths, wrap immediately in cotton clothes. Use sesame oil-soaked paper twists to slowly burn the umbilical cord, allowing warm qi to enter the abdomen and revive life. Cutting the cord abruptly causes death. (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
For critical acute or chronic fright wind, cover the infant's belly with a cloth. Hold a real black-bone chicken above the belly. The chicken will flap wings, squat on the belly, and leave after half a day; the infant recovers. Quickly feed the chicken sesame oil, or it will die. (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
A unique weaning method: On a specific day, mix one gardenia, 2 fen each of cinnabar, musk, realgar, and orpiment, and 1 fen of calomel into powder. Apply with sesame oil to the eyebrows while the infant sleeps, called 'Eyebrow Painting Paste.' (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
If an infant inserts a bean into the nose and digging worsens it, causing swelling and pain, use two people. One covers the infant's ears tightly and closes their eyes. The other blocks the clear nostril and blows forcefully into the open mouth. The object falls out instantly. Excellent! (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
Mr. Cai Geshan said: While editing the *Siku Quanshu*, I was fined several times for errors. One incident highlighted the value of scholarly research. My grandson swallowed an iron nail; laxatives failed, and he grew weak. Later, editing *Su Shen Liangfang*, I found a formula for swallowing iron: peel new charcoal, grind to powder, mix with three bowls of porridge, and feed. The nail passed down. Testing this worked; the charcoal dust wrapped the nail. (*Ji Wen Da Gong Huai Xi Za Zhi*)
For lingering residual heat and toxins after smallpox, use San Dou San (Three Bean Powder). Equal parts adzuki beans, black beans, and mung beans. Soak in water for one day, mash, and apply to lesions. Replace when dry, cover with oiled paper, and recover quickly. (Cheng Yunshan)
For newborns with urinary and fecal retention, have a woman rinse her mouth with warm water, then suction the infant's front/back heart, palms, soles, and below the navel (seven points total) until redness appears, promoting passage. (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
For scalds and burns, immediately apply urine-moistened straw paper to the wound. Pain stops instantly; delay causes blisters. (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
For summer fright, equal parts raw Pinellia and Gleditsia sinensis, ground to powder, insufflated into the nose. Sneezing brings recovery. Suitable for all ages. (*Jiyan Liangfang*)
If an infant is frightened by strange objects, sleeping restlessly, crying incessantly, with dark or purple complexion, make a shape from colored paper representing the object. Show it to the infant, then burn it. Dissolving the doubt cures the illness. (Xia Yuzhu)
For shaving an infant's head at one month, choose a warm, wind-sheltered place. After shaving, crush three almonds (skin and tip removed) with three mint leaves, add 3-4 drops of cold-pressed sesame oil and bismuth subcarbonate, and rub onto the scalp to prevent wind invasion and sores/toxins. (*Momo Jing*)
In Jiahe, a physician named Chen treated incessant infant crying by bathing the child in licorice water. The illness vanished, and the family thanked him. Asked for his secret, Chen said: Children's clothes were drying under a Schisandra chinensis trellis. Schisandra attracts hairy caterpillars; their urine or hairs may fall on the clothes, causing pain. Physicians must observe carefully everywhere. (*Shishuo Xinyu*)
For a snail stuck in the throat, use 100 live ducks. Insert a finger into the duck's mouth, scrape the inside against a porcelain cup rim until half a cup of slime accumulates. Spoon-feed this to the infant. Crying stops, and illness resolves instantly. (*Shishuo Xinyu*)
Umbilical cords often contain worms; remove them promptly to prevent infection entering the navel. *Yangzi Zhenjue* says: Eat warm, not cold; soft, not hard; little, not much. Naturally, health is preserved. Thus, sticky, hard, acidic, spicy, fish, meat, fruit, wet dough, roasted, stewed, fried, and hard-to-digest foods should be avoided. Infants lack self-control; parents must enforce moderation. (*Baoying Yizhi Lu*)
For newborns, boil strong decoction of fermented soybeans, give 3-5 mouthfuls to detoxify. Miu Zhongchun's *Guang Biji*: Mix 3 qian licorice and 3 qian fermented soybeans in one bowl of boiling water, steam until dry, yielding 1-2 small cups. Dip cotton in the liquid and let the infant suck until finished. Audible sounds in the abdomen and passage of meconium indicate success. Then begin breastfeeding; no fright wind will occur in the first month. (*Yizhong Jinjian*)
Ancient methods used Coptis chinensis (Huanglian) to wipe the mouth, unaware of its extreme bitterness and coldness. Infants rely on stomach qi; exposing them to bitter/cold qualities at birth damages stomach qi, leading to future vomiting and diarrhea, which is highly inappropriate. (Zhang Jingyue)
Upon birth, qi converges, cleansing the upper gums, throat, and tongue. If qi and blood do not converge, fetal toxins attack upward, manifesting first in the mouth. Bubbles may form before the uvula, initially white then red—a dire sign. Immediately remove the head with fingernails or prick with a needle to drain bad blood, wipe clean with silk, and ensure no swallowing. This is crucial. Next, check for white bubbles like half-rice grains on the gums; prick with silver needle. Check for two yellow veins on the gums; cut gently with reed knife to drain bad blood. If white debris piles on the tongue, wipe with hair-wrapped finger. If the tongue base is wrapped in membrane like a bamboo husk holding water...