余素不解医，读刀圭书辄不能终卷，非忽之也，以其为道精深密微，非浅人所可意窥，
非躁心所可尝试。又自度聪明才力皆有所不暇给，计惟节之于起居食饮之常，谨之于四时
六气之辨，于以闲嗜欲、颐情志、顺性命，以托赋于天。至谈医则不敢知，诚重之也，诚难之也。
忆曩在都中，吴航陈修园先生以名孝廉宰畿辅，医名震日下。尝奉檄勘灾恒山，时水
之后，疾疫大作，先生采时方百余首，刊示医者，如法延医，全活无数。仁心仁术，其施溥
矣！后三十余载，余返自都门，与修《全闽通志》，广搜着述家言。时先生已捐馆数载，得所
撰方书已刊行者十余种。条其目着于编，其遗书存于家者，哲嗣灵石先后梓而传之，令孙徽
庵世其学，精其业，复取所遗《医学从众录》八卷雠校付剞劂。重以林戟门先生属序于余，
余既叹知医之难，而何敢言医之易乎？虽然先生自序言之矣，先为医士治膏肓之疾。又云
此录简便易知，颇切时用，所谓医医者，正治不若从治之为得也。盖必治医者不谬其方，而
后受治者不戕其性，此即先生作宰时刊方示医之仁术也。虽其言之峻而其心良苦矣。录以《从
众》名，非徇众也，导以可从，乃所以防其不可从者也。得此说而通之，庶易言医者，或深悟
其难而得所从者，转因难而见易乎！愿受是书而竟读之。
道光二十有五年岁在乙巳秋九月东洋和斋魏敬中序
我向来不懂医学，读到医书往往无法读完，并非轻视它，而是因为医道精深微妙，不是浅薄之人可以随意窥探的，也不是浮躁之心可以尝试掌握的。我又自认为聪明才智和精力都有限，无法兼顾，只打算在起居饮食的日常中加以节制，在四季六气的辨别上保持谨慎，以此来抑制嗜欲、调养情志、顺应性命，从而将生命托付给上天。至于谈论医学，我不敢妄言，实在是因为重视它，也因为它太难了。
回忆从前我在京城时，吴航人陈修园先生以著名孝廉的身份担任畿辅地区的县令，他的医术名声震动京城。曾经奉命前往恒山勘察灾情，当时大水之后，瘟疫大规模爆发，先生采集了一百多首当时的验方，刊印并展示给医生们，让大家依法聘请医生救治，保全救活了无数人。仁心仁术，他的施恩真是广博啊！
三十多年后，我从京城返回，参与编修《全闽通志》，广泛搜集各家著作。当时先生已经去世几年了，得到他所撰写的已刊行的方书有十多种。我将书目列出来编入书中，他家中保存的遗著，他的儿子灵石先后刻印并流传开来，他的孙子徽庵继承了他的学问，精通他的学业，又取出遗留的《医学从众录》八卷进行校对，交付刻印出版。再加上林戟门先生嘱托我为此书作序，我已经感叹懂得医学很难，又怎敢轻易谈论医学容易呢？
虽然如此，先生自己在序言中已经说过了：“先为医者治疗膏肓之疾。”又说：“这部记录简便易懂，很切合实际应用，所谓‘医医者’（医治医生的错误），正确的治理不如顺从的治理更为得当。”这一定是要求治病的医生不弄错药方，然后接受治疗的病人不伤害本性，这就是先生做县令时刊印药方示人的仁术啊。虽然书中的言辞严厉，但用心良苦。这本书以“从众”命名，并非迎合大众，而是引导人们走向可以遵循的正道，这正是为了防止那些不可遵循的错误做法。如果能理解这一说法并贯通它，那些喜欢谈论医学的人，或许能深刻领悟其难处而找到正确的方向，反而因难而见易吧！希望读者能接受这本书并读完它。
I have never understood medicine; whenever I read medical texts, I often cannot finish a volume. This is not out of disregard, but because the Way of Medicine is profound, subtle, and intricate, beyond the grasp of superficial individuals to fathom by intuition, nor can it be attempted by an impetuous mind. Furthermore, I assess my own intelligence and capacity as insufficient to handle such matters. My only plan is to exercise restraint in daily routines and diet, to be cautious in distinguishing the Six Qi (Six Climate Factors) of the four seasons, thereby curbing desires, nurturing emotions, and following nature and destiny, entrusting my life to Heaven. As for discussing medicine, I dare not speak, truly respecting its difficulty and acknowledging its complexity.
Recalling my time in the capital, Mr. Chen Xiuyuan from Wuhang, a distinguished *Xiaolian* (Filial and Incorrupt Candidate), served as a magistrate in the Jifu region, where his medical reputation shook the capital. He once received orders to inspect disaster relief at Hengshan. Following severe flooding, epidemics broke out on a large scale. Mr. Chen collected over one hundred contemporary effective prescriptions, had them printed, and distributed them to physicians, instructing them to hire doctors according to these methods. Countless lives were saved through this benevolent heart and skillful practice; his beneficence was indeed extensive!
More than thirty years later, upon returning from the capital to participate in compiling the *Complete Gazetteer of Fujian*, I extensively collected writings from various authors. By then, Mr. Chen had passed away for several years. I obtained more than ten types of his published medical formula books. I listed their titles in the compilation. The unpublished manuscripts remaining in his family were successively printed and disseminated by his son, Linshi. His grandson, Hui'an, inherited his learning and mastered his profession. He took the remaining eight volumes of *Yixue Congzhong Lu* (Record of Medicine Following the Masses), proofread them, and submitted them for printing. Additionally, Mr. Lin Jimen requested me to write a preface. Having already lamented the difficulty of mastering medicine, how could I dare claim that practicing medicine is easy?
Nevertheless, as Mr. Chen stated in his own preface: "First, treat the incurable diseases of the physician himself." He also wrote: "This record is simple, convenient, and easy to understand, closely fitting practical needs. It is said that 'treating the healer' (correcting medical errors), proper governance is less effective than compliant governance." This implies that treating physicians must not use incorrect formulas, so that patients undergoing treatment do not harm their constitutions. This is precisely the benevolent practice of distributing prescriptions to guide physicians during his tenure as a magistrate. Although his words are stern, his intentions are sincere and arduous. The book is named *Congzhong* (Following the Masses/Popular Practice), not to pandering to the crowd, but to guide people toward what is appropriate, thereby preventing what is inappropriate. If one comprehends this principle, those who casually discuss medicine might deeply realize its difficulties and find the correct path, potentially seeing ease through difficulty. I wish readers will accept this book and read it thoroughly.
Preface by Wei Jingzhong of Dongyang Hezhai, in the ninth month of autumn, in the year Yisi (1845).