天下之妙理寓于迹象之中，实超于迹象之外，彼拘于迹象以索解者，纵于理能窥其妙，实未能穷其
极妙也。如九十六号（绍兴星期报）陈××，因研究剖解之学人于十二经之起止莫能寻其迹象，
遂言《内经》所言十二经无可考据。非无据也，因其理甚玄妙，超于迹象之外，非常识所能索解也。夫《内
经》之灵枢，原名《针经》，故欲究十二经之奥妙，非精针灸者不能得其实际。愚于针灸非敢言精，而尝与友
人卢××（辽阳人最精针灸得之祖传）谈及此事，卢××谓斯可即余针愈疔毒之案以征明之。庚申八月间，族
妹左手少阳经关冲穴生疔，至二日疼甚，为刺耳门二穴立愈。关冲为手少阳经之所起，耳门为手少阳经之所
止也。又辛酉七月中，族中男孙七岁，在右足太阴经隐白穴生疔，三日肿至膝下，疼甚剧，取右三阴交及公孙
二穴刺之，立愈。隐白穴为足太阴经之所起，公孙三阴交为足太阴经之所历也。设若刺其处仍不愈者，刺太阴
经止处之大包穴，亦无不愈矣。又于辛酉八月间，本村田姓妇在手阳明二间穴生疔，肿过手腕，为刺曲池、
迎香二穴，当时疼立止，不日即消。二间虽非阳明经起之处，距经起处之商阳穴不过二寸，曲池则经历之处，
迎香则经止之处也。又于九月中，学生吴××在手太阴经太渊穴生疔，红肿之线已至侠气户，木不知疼，
恶心呕吐，诊其脉象洪紧，右寸尤甚，知系太阴之毒火所发，为
刺本经尺泽、中府及肺俞，患处觉疼，恶心呕吐立止，红线亦立
回，半日全愈。太渊距本经起处之少商穴不过三寸强，中府则本经之所起也，尺泽则本经之所历也，肺俞
则本经之所注也。由是观之，疔生于经之起处，刺经之止处；生于经之止处，刺经之起
处，皆可随手奏效。则经之起处与止处非有一气贯通之妙，何以神效如是哉？
天下间精妙的道理蕴含在表象之中，实际上又超越于表象之外。那些拘泥于表象来寻求解释的人，纵然能窥见其中奥妙，实则未能穷尽其极致的精妙。
比如第九十六号（绍兴星期报）的陈××，因为研究解剖学，在十二经的起止点上找不到具体的迹象，于是说《内经》所说的十二经无法考证。并非没有依据，而是因为其中的道理非常玄妙，超越了表象，不是常识所能解释清楚的。
那《内经》中的《灵枢》，原名《针经》，所以想要探究十二经的奥妙，不精通针灸的人是不能得到其实质的。我不敢说自己精通针灸，但曾与友人卢××（辽阳人，最精通针灸且得自祖传）谈及此事，卢××说可以用我针刺治愈疔毒的案例来证明这一点。
庚申年八月间，族妹左手少阳经的关冲穴生了疔疮，到了第二天疼痛剧烈，我为其刺刺耳门二穴，立刻痊愈。关冲是手少阳经的起始处，耳门是手少阳经的终止处。
又在辛酉年七月，族中男孙七岁，在右足太阴经的隐白穴生了疔疮，三天后肿胀蔓延至膝盖以下，疼痛极其剧烈，我取右侧三阴交及公孙二穴进行针刺，立刻痊愈。隐白穴是足太阴经的起始处，公孙、三阴交是足太阴经所经过的地方。如果刺这些部位仍然不愈，刺足太阴经终止处的大包穴，也没有不愈的道理。
又在辛酉年八月，本村田姓妇女在手阳明经的二间穴生了疔疮，肿胀超过手腕，我为其刺曲池、迎香二穴，当时疼痛立即停止，不久即消退。二间虽然不是阳明经起始的地方，距离经起始处的商阳穴不过两寸，曲池则是经脉经过的地方，迎香则是经脉终止的地方。
又在九月，学生吴××在手太阴经的太渊穴生了疔疮，红肿的线条已经到达侠气户，患处麻木不知疼痛，伴有恶心呕吐，诊察其脉象洪紧，右寸部尤其严重，知道这是太阴经毒火发作所致，我为其刺本经的尺泽、中府及肺俞穴，患处感到疼痛，恶心呕吐立即停止，红线也立即回缩，半天完全痊愈。太渊距离本经起始处的少商穴不过三寸多一点，中府是本经的起始处，尺泽是本经经过的地方，肺俞是本经气血灌注的地方。
由此看来，疔疮生于经脉的起始处，刺经脉的终止处；生于经脉的终止处，刺经脉的起始处，都可以随手奏效。那么经脉的起始处与终止处如果不是有一气贯通的精妙之处，怎么会如此神效呢？
The profound principles of the world are embedded within phenomena, yet essentially transcend them. Those who rigidly rely on phenomena to seek explanations may glimpse the subtlety of the principles but fail to exhaust their ultimate profundity.
For instance, Chen XX, in Issue No. 96 (Shaoxing Weekly), having studied anatomy, could not find physical traces corresponding to the origins and terminations of the Twelve Meridians. Consequently, he claimed that the Twelve Meridians described in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon) cannot be verified. This is not without basis; rather, the principles involved are extremely subtle and transcend mere physical phenomena, making them incomprehensible through common sense alone.
The *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) section of the *Neijing* was originally titled the *Zhenjing* (Classic of Acupuncture). Therefore, to explore the mysteries of the Twelve Meridians, one must be proficient in acupuncture and moxibustion to grasp the reality. I dare not claim proficiency in this field, but I once discussed this matter with my friend Lu XX (a native of Liaoyang, most proficient in acupuncture and moxibustion, inheriting the skill from his ancestors). Lu XX suggested that I could use my case records of curing carbuncles (deep-seated suppurative infections) via needling to demonstrate this.
In August of the Gengshen year, a clan sister developed a carbuncle at Guanchong (TE1, Start of Shaoyang of Hand-Taiyang), an acupoint on the left hand's Shaoyang meridian. By the second day, the pain became severe. I needled Ermen (TE21, End of Shaoyang of Hand-Taiyang), and she recovered immediately. Guanchong is the starting point of the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Ermen is its termination point.
In July of the Xinyou year, a seven-year-old male descendant of the clan developed a carbuncle at Yinbai (SP1, Start of Taiyin of Foot-Taiyin), an acupoint on the right foot's Taiyin meridian. Within three days, swelling extended below the knee, causing excruciating pain. I needled Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Gongsun (SP4) on the right side, resulting in immediate recovery. Yinbai is the starting point of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, while Gongsun and Sanyinjiao are points along its pathway. Had these points failed to cure the condition, needling Dabao (SP21, Termination of Taiyin of Foot-Taiyin) would undoubtedly have succeeded.
In August of the Xinyou year, a woman surnamed Tian from our village developed a carbuncle at Jianjing (LI2, though the text says Erjian/LI2, context implies LI2 or nearby, actually text says "Erjian" which is LI2, but describes it as not the start. Wait, Shangyang is LI1. Erjian is LI2. The text says Erjian is not the start, distance to Shangyang is 2 cun. Quchi is LI11, Yingxiang is LI20. The text says Quchi is experienced/along the path, Yingxiang is the end. Actually, LI ends at Yingxiang. LI starts at Shangyang. The text logic: Carbuncle at Erjian (LI2). Needled Quchi (LI11) and Yingxiang (LI20). Erjian is close to Shangyang (LI1). Quchi is along the path. Yingxiang is the end. ) on the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. The swelling exceeded the wrist. I needled Quchi (LI11) and Yingxiang (LI20). The pain ceased immediately, and the swelling subsided within days. Although Erjian (LI2) is not the starting point of the Yangming meridian, it is only two cun away from Shangyang (LI1), the actual starting point. Quchi represents a point along the meridian's pathway, and Yingxiang represents its termination.
In September of the same year, my student Wu XX developed a carbuncle at Taiyuan (LU9) on the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. The red line of inflammation had reached Xiayue (likely a typo for Xiahou or similar, text says "Xia Qi Hu", possibly referring to a location near the chest/axilla, but standard texts might vary. I will translate literally as written: "Xiaqi Hu"). The area was numb and painless, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. His pulse was surging and tight, particularly at the Right Cun position. I determined this was caused by toxic fire erupting from the Taiyin meridian. I needled Chize (LU5), Zhongfu (LU1) of the same meridian, and Feishu (BL13). The patient felt pain in the affected area, the nausea and vomiting stopped immediately, the red line receded instantly, and he fully recovered within half a day. Taiyuan is slightly more than three cun away from Shaoshang (LU11), the starting point of this meridian. Zhongfu is the starting point, Chize is a point along the pathway, and Feishu is a Back-Shu point where qi infuses into the interior.
From this, we can see that if a carbuncle arises at the starting point of a meridian, needling its termination point works effectively; if it arises at the termination point, needling the starting point also works effectively. Thus, the starting and ending points of the meridians must possess the subtle connection of a continuous flow of Qi (Qi Guan Tong). How else could such miraculous efficacy be achieved?