典藏书目

Diseases afflicting human life are numerous in variety; however, if summarized, excluding the "neither internal nor external" causes (etiological factors that are neither exogenous pathogenic factors nor endogenous emotional injuries or trauma), they can be described in one word as either Exogenous (外感) or Endogenous (内伤). There is often a mutual relationship between Exogenous and Endogenous conditions. This holds true for adults, for women, and even more so for children. Therefore, in ancient times, physicians did not strictly divide specialties when treating diseases, because pathology and medical principles are consistent and universal; what applies here applies there, and it was not initially necessary to draw distinct boundaries. Later, as the variety of pathological changes increased over time and treatment methods were added generation by generation, one person's mental capacity and talent were insufficient to exhaust their profundity. Thus, specific specialties were established for treatment. Gynecology was separated due to the unique physiological and pathological differences regarding menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, and childbirth in women; Pediatrics was separated because pediatric patients cannot accurately describe their symptoms and pulse diagnosis is difficult to perform. Once specialties were divided, exploration advanced further, resulting in books on women and children accumulating in great numbers. However, with various theories conflicting and merits and flaws coexisting, the task of organizing them presents myriad complexities.

Six or seven years ago, I accepted an appointment at the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and reluctantly took up the chair of Pediatrics. At that time, I fully intended to collect several TCM pediatric texts, select their purest essence, discard the superfluous and eccentric content, and compile a relatively comprehensive monograph. Unfortunately, my clinical duties and editorial work left me little leisure time. I often drafted manuscripts late into the night to lecture the following day. In just half a year, I hastily completed lecture notes on "Sha and Dou" (referring to acute infectious diseases such as smallpox and measles). Although this allowed me to fulfill my obligations to students, I felt inwardly ashamed of its omissions and superficiality. Subsequently, I accepted appointments from both the Shanghai National College of TCM and the Shanghai China College of TCM, serving as a professor of Pediatrics at both institutions. Over five academic years, I revised and augmented the material dozens of times, until I was somewhat satisfied with the result. This spring, having largely completed my manuscript, colleagues, seniors, and students from medical schools encouraged me to publish it. Friends far away in Guangdong also wrote letters urging early publication. It is generally recognized among peers that this pediatric monograph features a newer compilation structure and more comprehensive coverage. It can serve two purposes: first, for reference by families and society; second, as a textbook for specialized medical schools. Recognizing the significance of this matter, I could not refuse the collective request. Thus, I devoted another three months to reforming and editing the work, dividing it into nine chapters, totaling 100,000 words. For each disease discussed, I detailed its etiology and pathology, paying particular attention to clinical manifestations and treatment methods. I only hope that once printed, this work will offer some benefit to the world and not be rejected by those knowledgeable in the field, thereby fulfilling my personal aspirations. As for organizing academic knowledge, uncovering subtle mysteries, and judging depth and brevity, I am ashamed that I have not achieved perfection, and I sincerely pray that future scholars will provide guidance.

Preface by Wu Keqian during the Long Summer of the 23rd Year of the Republic of China, at Jilu, Shanghai