【作者简介】赵炳南(1899～)，回族，祖籍山东德州，生于河北宛平，现年八十三岁。西家境贫寒，只念过六年私塾，十四岁学徒，行医六十五载。他的专题论文很多，医学杂志多有刊载，着《赵炳南临床经验集》一书，获全国科学大会奖。历任北京中医医院副院长、北京市中医研究所所长，北京第二医学院中医系教授等职。被选为中华全国中医学会到理事长，北京中医学会理事长，会国第四、五届人大代表，北京市第七届人大常委。
我是个普通的回族老中医，今年八十三岁，经历过清王朝、北洋军阀、国民党反动统治时期，行医生涯一甲子。可以说，人间的喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊七情备历；人生道路的酸、辣、苦、甜、咸五味俱尝。但是我新的生命却是从解放后开始的。我不能忘本，没有党、没有社会主义新中国，就没有我赵炳南的今天。
老妈妈大全
我学名德明，改称炳南是以后的枣了。听老人讲，祖父是饭馆掌灶的，很早故去。父亲很小便独立谋生。我家有兄弟姐妹五人，全凭父亲给人帮工做糕点，母亲零碎做点外活勉为生计。
我自幼身体赢弱，经常生病。记得五岁那年，我出天花，高烧昏迷，好几天睁不开跟。疹予出全，可谓漫无行蚁，体无完肤。那时，家里根本无钱就医，只听别人说：「别瞧这么厉害，要是出得顺，七浆、八落，九回头。」在万般无奈之时，只好请一墙之隔的老邻居王二大妈诊视。提起王二大妈，本村无人不知，无人不硗。她老人家虽不识文墨，但粗晓医理，多知多会，大家尊称她「老妈妈大全」。我的病经王二大妈指点，慈母上街买些化毒丹之类的小药，服后很快好转，落下一身小疤，出街门，乡亲看见，都叫我「麻孩」。
六岁那年，我闹一场红自痢疾，每天拉肚子，一病就是一年。家里穷得连手纸也买不起，只好把破旧衣服撕成片当手纸，使脏了，用小灰水洗完晾干，以后再用。还是老大妈出了个偏方，用无花果加蜜蒸熟，每天服数枚，才把我的病治好。
七岁那年，我患了场疟疾，一闹也是接近一年，家乡泊岸边有块长条石，发烧时，我就躺到条石上冰身子，发冷了，就去晒太阳。不少人出偏方没治好。家母央求王二大妈说：「您别瞧着孩子受罪了，干脆死马当活马治吧。」王大妈说；「有个单方试试看，好了就好，不好就了。」她找了块绿豆太小的信石，布包砸碎，开白水送服。服药后，我觉得全身发热，如同登云驾雾，恍惚之中，彷佛有个天梯，爬呀爬呀，一不留神，撒手摔下来，吓得出身冷汗，病也就逐渐好了。
三年的大病，使我失去了启蒙就读的大好时光，但也培养了我对中医中药的浓厚兴趣。记得以后念私塾，老师常讲；「人生一世，不为良相，即为良医。」我想：凭我家的条件，哪还希望当什么良相、良医呢?要是能像王二大妈那样，骑个毛驴，拎个包袱，能给人瞧病，也就知足了。放了学，别的孩子走东串西，我就喜欢到王二大妈那儿去玩。看她熬膏药、配方子，给她打下手，听她谈天说地讲故事。有时，老人家外出采药，遇到爬坡上坎的地方，我就爬上去帮助采集。
在和王大妈接触中，耳濡目染，我也学到了一点极为简单的验方小药，如马舌子焙干压面能治「羊角风」，鱼骨盆外敷能止血等。记得八、九岁时，正遇少数民族办红白事，杀鸡宰鸭，热闹非凡。本家外甥金荣奔走相告，不留神，摔倒在石头角上，头上撞个大口子，流血不止。旁人用点细灰尘土用手堵住，我听王二大妈讲，鱼骨盆止血好，我找点药给他敷上，很快好了。
回想起我多病的童年生活，毋庸置疑，王二大妈以她高尚的医德，精湛的医术，潜移默化的言传身教，在我幼小的心灵里埋下了渴望学医的强烈愿望。后来，我学徒期满，业已行医，治好了一位盲人患者，他出于感激，问了我的生辰八字。只见他掐了掐手指头，叹息地说：「好刚强的八字啊，就是五行缺火，改个名子还可以补救。」常言道：「南方丙丁火」。赵炳南的名子就这样叫开了。其实，我幼年多病，哪里是什么五行缺火，是旧中国给我们穷苦人带来的贫困和饥饿啊。
皮球的风波
要是讲学历，不怕您见笑，我既非书香门弟，也无家学真传，只间断地念过六年私塾。八岁那年，我才开始上学，因为不是官办的学堂，经费、校址和师资都没有保障，就读之处不是庙宇，就是清真寺，老师常因经费不足辞去不干，或另被富豪家聘教专馆。六年之中，我就辗转投师六处，饱尝了辍学之苦。
我懂得单凭家庭接济，根本无力供我完学。所以每在放学之余，常帮人捎带买东西，挣上一、二个铜板，零星添置点笔墨纸砚。有一次，好容易攒足了十三个铜板，看见别人家的孩子有皮球，心里很羡慕，就一个人到城里洋货店买个小皮球拍着玩。第二天，家母看见皮球，问我是哪来的，没等我说清了原委，．家母急切地说：「咱们家哪能玩这个，你也不瞧瞧，鞋袜还都破着呢l」回到家，母亲把皮球刷洗干净，用净纸包好，带我进城。到了洋货店，家母向掌柜先生连连道歉，说我不懂事，错买了皮球，恳请退换。掌柜先生拿起皮球，看看完整无损，勉强同意换了双鞋面，由母亲给我做双新鞋。这段往事常常勾起我童年生活的辛酸回忆，每念及此，不禁潸然泪下。看看现在的学生，一个个生龙活虎，无忧无虑，他们生活上甜如蜜，学习上有人教，课外活动丰富多彩，简直是手捧金饭碗，生活在天堂l而我那时过得是什么日子啊。
小沙弥子
十四岁那年，我经人介绍到伯贤氏药房学徒。一次偶然机会，德善医室的老师丁庆三出诊到药房歇脚，顺便谈起正在他那儿学徒的陈某，想到其舅父伯贤氏开办的药房学徒。于是二人商议互换徒弟，我就换到德善医室，投师丁庆三，开始了新的学徒生活。
提起德善医室，上岁数的「老北京」可能有些印象。我的老师丁庆三，起初开羊肉铺。遇有病家买肉，常常施舍肉铺自制的膏药。膏药很灵，患疮疡疖肿者，一贴就好。常言道：「此地无朱砂，红土为贵」。一传十，十传百，病人越来越多，以后干脆弃商从医，又收了几个徒弟，开设医室，给人治病。
我学徒那会儿，中医外科的水平低，人数少，只占中医人数的百分之一、=。谈不上用麻药、止痛药，更没有抗菌素。有了病，吃点中药，贴点膏药，再就是上白降丹。痛厉害了，让病人到大烟馆抽上一、二口大烟。当时有：「外科不用读书，只要心狠就成」和「会打白降红升(丹)，吃遍南北二京」之说。
在这种环境下学徒，哪有老师耐心地手把手教呢?记得有一次我看《濒湖脉学》上讲：「浮脉，举之有余，按之不足，如微风吹乌背上毛，厌厌聂聂。」对「厌厌聂聂」四个字，我百思不解其惑。请教师兄，也只是说「可意会而不可言传。」
学徒生活照例十分艰苦。每天早晨四点多起床，下门板、生火、收拾铺盖、倒便器、买东西、做饭、熬膏药、打丹、帮下手……不仅伺侍老师，还要照顾师兄。无冬历夏，一年到头，每天都要干二十个小时，一天只睡三、四个小时党。有一次，我摊膏药，一面用棍子搅，一面打瞌睡。突然，一只手插进了滚烫的膏药锅里，顿时，手上的皮被烫掉一层，疼得我钻心，又不敢让人知道，只好偷偷拿些冰片撇在上面。由于我年龄小，手脚麻俐又勤快，师兄都叫我「小沙弥子」，即小和尚。
艰苦的生活，繁重的体力劳动，并没有磨灭我强烈的求知欲望。每当夜深人静，大家熟睡之时，我就挑灯夜读，疲乏了，用冰片蘸水点一下眼角，醒醒神，又接着念。学习所用的文具纸张，家里根本无钱购买。医室对面纸店家有个小徒弟和我相熟，常取出店内残缺不能售出的纸、笔二人分用。
在这种饥寒困苦的环境下，我自学完《医宗金鉴·外科心法》、《外科名隐集》、《外科准绳》、《疡医大全》、《濒湖脉学》、《本草纲目》等医籍，有的还能背诵，至今不忘。对于一些中医皮外科基本功，如熬膏药、摊膏药、搓药捻，上药面打丹等，也都掌握得很娴熟。这些，对我以后的行医生涯颇有受益。
设馆行医
一九=0年，北洋政府举办中医考试，我虽然考取了，但所发的是「医士」执照，只能在四郊行医，不准进城。过了几年，又经过一次考试，二百多人参加，只取十三名，我是其中之一，才准许在德善医室门口挂了个行医的牌子。旧社会，作为一个中医，不管你有多高技术，多大名气，也只能是个医士。就连蜚声遐迩的四大名医也绝无例外。直到现在，我还深存着这张用汉满两族文字书写，加盖官印的老执照，作为旧社会歧视中医的一个铁证。
就在我学徒的第四个年头，老师不幸病故，我又和诸师侄支撑门面，并继续苦读了三年。经过几年的钻研，我总算偷学了一些医疗技术，也为德善医室效尽了徒弟之劳。一次，河南省伪省长的女儿患鼠疮(淋巴结核)，我出诊一周。师侄满以为这趟美差一定可捞到一大笔出诊费。谁知这个伪省长一毛不拔，回来两手空空。师侄怀疑我独吞了出诊费，不问青红皂白，第二天派人送了封信，硬是把我辞退，由他们独家经营。当时我没有一点积蓄，生活无着，只好到处奔波，求亲告赁，这家赊药，那家借房，东挪西借，总算在西交民巷办起了二间房子的小小医馆，有了落脚之处。三年后，医馆业务逐年兴盛，我再礼道谢了亲友，还清了债务，又租赁了一所有「天蓬、鱼缸、石榴树」的大四台院，如此又干了三年，有点积蓄，才正式开没了西交民巷医馆。
穷汉子吃药富汉子还钱
旧社会，皮外科患者多为勤劳辛苦的穷人，一旦得了「腰痈、搭背、砍头疮」，往往「腿息工，牙挂对」。非但失去了养家餬口的能力，还要花费一笔钱治病。我来自底层人民，深知穷苦人看病不易。对那些无力就医者，我秉承「穷汉子吃药，富汉子还钱」的师训，免费看病吃药，分文不取。
一次，几个农民从西直门外抬来一位对心发(背部蜂窝组织炎)的患者。我见病人就诊不便，主动提出义务出诊，每次带上四、五磅药，隔五、六天去一趟。用药后，坏死组织很快脱落，新鲜疮面大小如盘，其深洞见筋骨。经我细心诊疗，亲自上药，二个月后，疮面长平痊愈。左邻右舍闻讯凑钱给我进了块木制的义匾，一路上百八十人敲锣打鼓，扭着秧歌，一直抬到医馆。在我行医生涯中，送来的木匾、玻璃匾、铜匾、银盾、银瓶不下百、八十件，惟独这块义匾给我留下了深刻的印象。
当然，请我看病的，也有达官富商之类的阔人。从中也取得了一笔可观的收入。我除了把这些收入用来维持医馆业务外，还为社会公共事业略尽绵薄。当时的北平中医公会缺乏经费，我解囊相济；华北国医学院需要资金，我慷慨捐款；建立妇产医院，我竭力资助。到头来，只乐得两袖清风，俭朴度日。
御医与换帖
多年行医后，随着治好一些病人，我在中医外科界总算有了一点小小的名气。听说，善书上写了我一笔，就连北京的洋车夫遇有皮外科病家乘坐，也主动介绍到我医馆诊疗。但那些有钱人根本看不起我们，他们管中医外科病叫「疙瘩」，管我就叫「瞧疙瘩的」。
作为一个医生，我接触了社会的各个阶层，看过各种人物的面孔。富人的傲慢与跋扈，穷人的哀苦与悲戚，就像一面无形的罗网，使我难于挣脱。有人要求我一夜之闻为之除却沉疴怪疾，有人希望拉我入伙，为之效力。于是，我固守着一条信念：「岂能尽随人愿，但求无愧我心」。这既是我做人的哲学，也是我对待旧社会挑战的回答。
记得民国年间，清末皇帝溥仪退居天津旭街静园后，曾由他的老师陈宝琛、朱益藩二人介绍我前往看病。溥仪患的是右鼻「白刃疔」(鼻疖)，唇颊部红、肿、高大，疼痛难忍，忐忑不安。那时虽说溥仪退位隐居，却还是关起门来做皇帝，神气十足。在询问病情中，我了解到他有破相之忧，希望免除手术，采用中医药治疗。我就用中医提疔的办法，外用药捻加盖黑布化毒膏，内眼清热解毒托里透脓的中草药。三天后，检出瞅尽；一周后，基本痊愈，没留疤痕。
康德年间，我又绐溥仪的荣皇后看过一次病。二次接触，溥仪对我有些印象，提出让我做他的御医。我说：「家有八十岁老母无人侍奉左右，我这个年龄，只能尽孝，不能尽忠。」拒绝了皇宫的招聘。
民国年间，我曾给吴佩孚看过病，认识了他的儿子吴某。这个人喜欢玩狗，不惜重金。有一次，他的爱犬尾巴叫人剁了，蜷在墙角，疼得直打哆嚷。吴某知道我专瞧外科，便让我到他家给狗看病。当时我想，狗虽是个畜牲，但毕竟也是生灵，也就不大介意。我察看完伤势，撒点用上等冰片调制的药面，纱布包好，很快痛止，伤面愈合。吴很高兴，提出要和我换帖拜把兄弟。我说：「我信仰伊斯兰教，祖辈传下的规矩，不和外教结亲。」就这样，换帖之事，始终来成。
社会人情冷暖，世态炎凉，使我信守一句话：「万事不求人」。我曾气愤地说：旧社会我没有一个朋友。
挂钟和拐棍
北平沦陷前，我怕挂那么多匾招惹是非，悄悄托人拍照后，卸下收藏。谁知这样也难免飞来的横祸。
【作者简介】赵炳南（1899～），回族，祖籍山东德州，生于河北宛平，现年八十三岁。家境贫寒，只念过六年私塾，十四岁学徒，行医六十五载。他的专题论文很多，医学杂志多有刊载，著有《赵炳南临床经验集》一书，获全国科学大会奖。历任北京中医医院副院长、北京市中医研究所所长，北京第二医学院中医系教授等职。被选为中华全国中医学会副理事长，北京中医学会理事长，全国第四、五届人大代表，北京市第七届人大常委。
我是个普通的回族老中医，今年八十三岁，经历过清王朝、北洋军阀、国民党反动统治时期，行医生涯一甲子。可以说，人间的喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊七情备历；人生道路的酸、辣、苦、甜、咸五味俱尝。但是我新的生命却是从解放后开始的。我不能忘本，没有党、没有社会主义新中国，就没有我赵炳南的今天。
老妈妈大全
我学名德明，改称炳南是后来的事了。听老人讲，祖父是饭馆掌灶的，很早故去。父亲很小便独立谋生。我家有兄弟姐妹五人，全凭父亲给人帮工做糕点，母亲零碎做点外活勉为生计。
我自幼身体赢弱，经常生病。记得五岁那年，我出天花，高烧昏迷，好几天睁不开眼。疹子出全，可谓漫无行蚁，体无完肤。那时，家里根本无钱就医，只听别人说：「别瞧这么厉害，要是出得顺，七浆、八落，九回头。」在万般无奈之时，只好请一墙之隔的老邻居王二大妈诊视。提起王二大妈，本村无人不知，无人不晓。她老人家虽不识文墨，但粗晓医理，多知多会，大家尊称她「老妈妈大全」。我的病经王二大妈指点，慈母上街买些化毒丹之类的小药，服后很快好转，落下一身小疤，出街门，乡亲看见，都叫我「麻孩」。
六岁那年，我闹一场红白痢疾，每天拉肚子，一病就是一年。家里穷得连手纸也买不起，只好把破旧衣服撕成片当手纸，使脏了，用小灰水洗完晾干，以后再用。还是老大妈出了个偏方，用无花果加蜜蒸熟，每天服数枚，才把我的病治好。
七岁那年，我患了场疟疾，一闹也是接近一年，家乡泊岸边有块长条石，发烧时，我就躺到条石上冰身子，发冷了，就去晒太阳。不少人出偏方没治好。家母央求王二大妈说：「您别瞧着孩子受罪了，干脆死马当活马治吧。」王大妈说：「有个单方试试看，好了就好，不好就了。」她找了块绿豆大小的信石，布包砸碎，开白水送服。服药后，我觉得全身发热，如同登云驾雾，恍惚之中，彷佛有个天梯，爬呀爬呀，一不留神，撒手摔下来，吓得出身冷汗，病也就逐渐好了。
三年的大病，使我失去了启蒙就读的大好时光，但也培养了我对中医中药的浓厚兴趣。记得以后念私塾，老师常讲：「人生一世，不为良相，即为良医。」我想：凭我家的条件，哪还希望当什么良相、良医呢?要是能像王二大妈那样，骑个毛驴，拎个包袱，能给人瞧病，也就知足了。放了学，别的孩子走东串西，我就喜欢到王二大妈那儿去玩。看她熬膏药、配方子，给她打下手，听她谈天说地讲故事。有时，老人家外出采药，遇到爬坡上坎的地方，我就爬上去帮助采集。
在和王大妈接触中，耳濡目染，我也学到了一点极为简单的验方小药，如马舌子焙干压面能治「羊角风」，鱼骨盆外敷能止血等。记得八、九岁时，正遇少数民族办红白事，杀鸡宰鸭，热闹非凡。本家外甥金荣奔走相告，不留神，摔倒在石头角上，头上撞个大口子，流血不止。旁人用点细灰尘土用手堵住，我听王二大妈讲，鱼骨盆止血好，我找点药给他敷上，很快好了。
回想起我多病的童年生活，毋庸置疑，王二大妈以她高尚的医德，精湛的医术，潜移默化的言传身教，在我幼小的心灵里埋下了渴望学医的强烈愿望。后来，我学徒期满，业已行医，治好了一位盲人患者，他出于感激，问了我的生辰八字。只见他掐了掐手指头，叹息地说：「好刚强的八字啊，就是五行缺火，改个名子还可以补救。」常言道：「南方丙丁火」。赵炳南的名子就这样叫开了。其实，我幼年多病，哪里是什么五行缺火，是旧中国给我们穷苦人带来的贫困和饥饿啊。
皮球的风波
要是讲学历，不怕您见笑，我既非书香门弟，也无家学真传，只间断地念过六年私塾。八岁那年，我才开始上学，因为不是官办的学堂，经费、校址和师资都没有保障，就读之处不是庙宇，就是清真寺，老师常因经费不足辞去不干，或另被富豪家聘教专馆。六年之中，我就辗转投师六处，饱尝了辍学之苦。
我懂得单凭家庭接济，根本无力供我完学。所以每在放学之余，常帮人捎带买东西，挣上一、二个铜板，零星添置点笔墨纸砚。有一次，好容易攒足了十三个铜板，看见别人家的孩子有皮球，心里很羡慕，就一个人到城里洋货店买个小皮球拍着玩。第二天，家母看见皮球，问我是哪来的，没等我说清了原委，家母急切地说：「咱们家哪能玩这个，你也不瞧瞧，鞋袜还都破着呢!」回到家，母亲把皮球刷洗干净，用净纸包好，带我进城。到了洋货店，家母向掌柜先生连连道歉，说我不懂事，错买了皮球，恳请退换。掌柜先生拿起皮球，看看完整无损，勉强同意换了双鞋面，由母亲给我做双新鞋。这段往事常常勾起我童年生活的辛酸回忆，每念及此，不禁潸然泪下。看看现在的学生，一个个生龙活虎，无忧无虑，他们生活上甜如蜜，学习上有人教，课外活动丰富多彩，简直是手捧金饭碗，生活在天堂!而我那时过得是什么日子啊。
小沙弥子
十四岁那年，我经人介绍到伯贤氏药房学徒。一次偶然机会，德善医室的老师丁庆三出诊到药房歇脚，顺便谈起正在他那儿学徒的陈某，想到其舅父伯贤氏开办的药房学徒。于是二人商议互换徒弟，我就换到德善医室，投师丁庆三，开始了新的学徒生活。
提起德善医室，上岁数的「老北京」可能有些印象。我的老师丁庆三，起初开羊肉铺。遇有病家买肉，常常施舍肉铺自制的膏药。膏药很灵，患疮疡疖肿者，一贴就好。常言道：「此地无朱砂，红土为贵」。一传十，十传百，病人越来越多，以后干脆弃商从医，又收了几个徒弟，开设医室，给人治病。
我学徒那会儿，中医外科的水平低，人数少，只占中医人数的百分之一、二。谈不上用麻药、止痛药，更没有抗菌素。有了病，吃点中药，贴点膏药，再就是上白降丹。痛厉害了，让病人到大烟馆抽上一、二口大烟。当时有：「外科不用读书，只要心狠就成」和「会打白降红升(丹)，吃遍南北二京」之说。
在这种环境下学徒，哪有老师耐心地手把手教呢?记得有一次我看《濒湖脉学》上讲：「浮脉，举之有余，按之不足，如微风吹乌背上毛，厌厌聂聂。」对「厌厌聂聂」四个字，我百思不解其惑。请教师兄，也只是说「可意会而不可言传。」
学徒生活照例十分艰苦。每天早晨四点多起床，下门板、生火、收拾铺盖、倒便器、买东西、做饭、熬膏药、打丹、帮下手……不仅伺侍老师，还要照顾师兄。无冬历夏，一年到头，每天都要干二十个小时，一天只睡三、四个小时。有一次，我摊膏药，一面用棍子搅，一面打瞌睡。突然，一只手插进了滚烫的膏药锅里，顿时，手上的皮被烫掉一层，疼得我钻心，又不敢让人知道，只好偷偷拿些冰片撇在上面。由于我年龄小，手脚麻俐又勤快，师兄都叫我「小沙弥子」，即小和尚。
艰苦的生活，繁重的体力劳动，并没有磨灭我强烈的求知欲望。每当夜深人静，大家熟睡之时，我就挑灯夜读，疲乏了，用冰片蘸水点一下眼角，醒醒神，又接着念。学习所用的文具纸张，家里根本无钱购买。医室对面纸店家有个小徒弟和我相熟，常取出店内残缺不能售出的纸、笔二人分用。
在这种饥寒困苦的环境下，我自学完《医宗金鉴·外科心法》、《外科名隐集》、《外科准绳》、《疡医大全》、《濒湖脉学》、《本草纲目》等医籍，有的还能背诵，至今不忘。对于一些中医皮外科基本功，如熬膏药、摊膏药、搓药捻，上药面打丹等，也都掌握得很娴熟。这些，对我以后的行医生涯颇有受益。
设馆行医
一九二〇年，北洋政府举办中医考试，我虽然考取了，但所发的是「医士」执照，只能在四郊行医，不准进城。过了几年，又经过一次考试，二百多人参加，只取十三名，我是其中之一，才准许在德善医室门口挂了个行医的牌子。旧社会，作为一个中医，不管你有多高技术，多大名气，也只能是个医士。就连蜚声遐迩的四大名医也绝无例外。直到现在，我还深存着这张用汉满两族文字书写，加盖官印的老执照，作为旧社会歧视中医的一个铁证。
就在我学徒的第四个年头，老师不幸病故，我又和诸师侄支撑门面，并继续苦读了三年。经过几年的钻研，我总算偷学了一些医疗技术，也为德善医室效尽了徒弟之劳。一次，河南省伪省长的女儿患鼠疮(淋巴结核)，我出诊一周。师侄满以为这趟美差一定可捞到一大笔出诊费。谁知这个伪省长一毛不拔，回来两手空空。师侄怀疑我独吞了出诊费，不问青红皂白，第二天派人送了封信，硬是把我辞退，由他们独家经营。当时我没有一点积蓄，生活无着，只好到处奔波，求亲告贷，这家赊药，那家借房，东挪西借，总算在西交民巷办起了二间房子的小小医馆，有了落脚之处。三年后，医馆业务逐年兴盛，我再礼道谢了亲友，还清了债务，又租赁了一所有「天蓬、鱼缸、石榴树」的大四台院，如此又干了三年，有点积蓄，才正式开没了西交民巷医馆。
穷汉子吃药富汉子还钱
旧社会，皮外科患者多为勤劳辛苦的穷人，一旦得了「腰痈、搭背、砍头疮」，往往「腿息工，牙挂对」。非但失去了养家餬口的能力，还要花费一笔钱治病。我来自底层人民，深知穷苦人看病不易。对那些无力就医者，我秉承「穷汉子吃药，富汉子还钱」的师训，免费看病吃药，分文不取。
一次，几个农民从西直门外抬来一位对心发(背部蜂窝组织炎)的患者。我见病人就诊不便，主动提出义务出诊，每次带上四、五磅药，隔五、六天去一趟。用药后，坏死组织很快脱落，新鲜疮面大小如盘，其深洞见筋骨。经我细心诊疗，亲自上药，二个月后，疮面长平痊愈。左邻右舍闻讯凑钱给我进了块木制的义匾，一路上百八十人敲锣打鼓，扭着秧歌，一直抬到医馆。在我行医生涯中，送来的木匾、玻璃匾、铜匾、银盾、银瓶不下百、八十件，惟独这块义匾给我留下了深刻的印象。
当然，请我看病的，也有达官富商之类的阔人。从中也取得了一笔可观的收入。我除了把这些收入用来维持医馆业务外，还为社会公共事业略尽绵薄。当时的北平中医公会缺乏经费，我解囊相济；华北国医学院需要资金，我慷慨捐款；建立妇产医院，我竭力资助。到头来，只乐得两袖清风，俭朴度日。
御医与换帖
多年行医后，随着治好一些病人，我在中医外科界总算有了一点小小的名气。听说，善书上写了我一笔，就连北京的洋车夫遇有皮外科病家乘坐，也主动介绍到我医馆诊疗。但那些有钱人根本看不起我们，他们管中医外科病叫「疙瘩」，管我就叫「瞧疙瘩的」。
作为一个医生，我接触了社会的各个阶层，看过各种人物的面孔。富人的傲慢与跋扈，穷人的哀苦与悲戚，就像一面无形的罗网，使我难于挣脱。有人要求我一夜之闻为之除却沉疴怪疾，有人希望拉我入伙，为之效力。于是，我固守着一条信念：「岂能尽随人愿，但求无愧我心」。这既是我做人的哲学，也是我对待旧社会挑战的回答。
记得民国年间，清末皇帝溥仪退居天津旭街静园后，曾由他的老师陈宝琛、朱益藩二人介绍我前往看病。溥仪患的是右鼻「白刃疔」(鼻疖)，唇颊部红、肿、高大，疼痛难忍，忐忑不安。那时虽说溥仪退位隐居，却还是关起门来做皇帝，神气十足。在询问病情中，我了解到他有破相之忧，希望免除手术，采用中医药治疗。我就用中医提疔的办法，外用药捻加盖黑布化毒膏，内服清热解毒托里透脓的中草药。三天后，脓出尽；一周后，基本痊愈，没留疤痕。
康德年间，我又给溥仪的荣皇后看过一次病。二次接触，溥仪对我有些印象，提出让我做他的御医。我说：「家有八十岁老母无人侍奉左右，我这个年龄，只能尽孝，不能尽忠。」拒绝了皇宫的招聘。
民国年间，我曾给吴佩孚看过病，认识了他的儿子吴某。这个人喜欢玩狗，不惜重金。有一次，他的爱犬尾巴叫人剁了，蜷在墙角，疼得直打哆嗦。吴某知道我专瞧外科，便让我到他家给狗看病。当时我想，狗虽是个畜牲，但毕竟也是生灵，也就不大介意。我察看完伤势，撒点用上等冰片调制的药面，纱布包好，很快痛止，伤面愈合。吴很高兴，提出要和我换帖拜把兄弟。我说：「我信仰伊斯兰教，祖辈传下的规矩，不和外教结亲。」就这样，换帖之事，始终未成。
社会人情冷暖，世态炎凉，使我信守一句话：「万事不求人」。我曾气愤地说：旧社会我没有一个朋友。
挂钟和拐棍
北平沦陷前，我怕挂那么多匾招惹是非，悄悄托人拍照后，卸下收藏。谁知这样也难免飞来的横祸。
[Author Introduction] Zhao Bingnan (1899–), Hui ethnicity, ancestral home in Dezhou, Shandong Province, born in Wanping, Hebei Province. At the age of eighty-three, he came from a poor family background, attended private school for only six years, began his apprenticeship at fourteen, and has been practicing medicine for sixty-five years. He has authored many specialized papers published in medical journals and wrote the book *Zhao Bingnan's Clinical Experience Collection*, which won an award at the National Science Conference. He served as Vice President of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Director of the Beijing Institute of TCM, and Professor of the Department of TCM at Beijing Second Medical College. He was elected as Vice Chairman of the All-China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chairman of the Beijing Association of TCM, Deputy to the Fourth and Fifth National People's Congresses, and Standing Committee Member of the Seventh Beijing Municipal People's Congress.
I am an ordinary old TCM practitioner of the Hui ethnicity, eighty-three years old this year. I have experienced the Qing Dynasty, the Beiyang Warlord era, and the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang, with a medical career spanning sixty years. One can say that I have experienced all seven emotions—joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and shock—and tasted all five flavors—sour, spicy, bitter, sweet, and salty—in life. However, my new life truly began after liberation. I cannot forget my roots; without the Party and the new socialist China, there would be no Zhao Bingnan today.
The "Old Mother Encyclopedia"
My formal name was Deming; calling myself Bingnan happened later. According to elders, my grandfather was a head cook in a restaurant and passed away early. My father had to make a living independently from a young age. There were five siblings in my family, relying entirely on my father working as a helper making pastries and my mother doing odd jobs to make ends meet.
I was physically frail since childhood and often ill. I remember when I was five, I contracted smallpox. I had a high fever and fell into a coma, unable to open my eyes for several days. When the rash fully erupted, it covered my body completely, leaving no intact skin. At that time, our family had absolutely no money for medical treatment. People said, "Don't look at how severe it is; if it erupts smoothly, by the seventh day it forms pustules, by the eighth it scabs over, and by the ninth it recovers." In desperation, we asked Wang Er Dama, an elderly neighbor living next door, to examine me. Everyone in the village knew her. Although she was uneducated, she understood basic medical principles and knew many remedies, so everyone respectfully called her the "Old Mother Encyclopedia." Following her advice, my loving mother bought some minor medicines like Huadu Dan (Detoxification Pill) from the street. After taking them, my condition improved rapidly, leaving only small scars. When I went out, neighbors saw me and called me "Ma Hai" (Smallpox Child).
At six, I suffered from bacillary dysentery, having diarrhea every day for a whole year. Our family was so poor we couldn't even buy toilet paper, so we tore old clothes into strips to use, washed them with wood ash water when dirty, dried them, and reused them. It was Old Mother who provided a folk remedy: steaming figs with honey and eating several daily, which finally cured my illness.
At seven, I contracted malaria, which lasted nearly a year. By the lake shore near our hometown, there was a long stone slab. When I had a fever, I lay on the cold stone to cool down; when I felt cold, I went out to sunbathe. Many folk remedies failed to cure me. My mother begged Wang Er Dama, saying, "Please don't just watch the child suffer; try treating him as a last resort." Wang Dama said, "There is a single-herb prescription to try. If it works, good; if not, so be it." She found a piece of realgar (Xinshi) the size of a mung bean, wrapped it in cloth, crushed it, and gave it to me with plain water. After taking the medicine, I felt my whole body heating up, as if floating on clouds. In a trance, I felt like I was climbing a heavenly ladder. Suddenly, I lost my grip and fell, waking up in a cold sweat, and my illness gradually subsided.
These three years of serious illness deprived me of my prime time for education but also cultivated a strong interest in TCM and herbs. I remember that during my private schooling, teachers often said, "In this life, one should either be a capable statesman or a skilled physician." I thought, given my family's conditions, what hope did I have of becoming a statesman or physician? I was content if I could be like Wang Er Dama, riding a donkey with a bag, able to treat patients. After school, while other children played around, I liked to visit Wang Er Dama. I watched her prepare plasters and prescribe formulas, helped her, and listened to her stories. Sometimes, when she went out to gather herbs, I climbed slopes and hills to help her collect them.
Through contact with Aunt Wang, I learned some very simple effective prescriptions and remedies through osmosis, such as drying and powdering horse tongue to treat epilepsy ("Sheep Horn Wind"), and applying fish pelvic bones externally to stop bleeding. I remember when I was eight or nine, during a festive occasion where minorities were slaughtering chickens and ducks, my cousin Jinrong ran to tell someone, slipped, and fell against a stone corner, sustaining a large cut on his head that bled profusely. Others tried blocking it with dust, but remembering Wang Er Dama saying fish pelvic bones stop bleeding well, I applied some medicine to him, and he healed quickly.
Looking back at my sickly childhood, undoubtedly, Wang Er Dama, with her noble medical ethics and exquisite skills, planted a strong desire to study medicine in my young heart through her silent influence and teaching. Later, after completing my apprenticeship and starting practice, I cured a blind patient. Out of gratitude, he asked for my birth date and time. Pinching his fingers, he sighed, "What a strong destiny! But your Five Elements lack Fire. Changing your name could remedy this." As the saying goes, "South corresponds to Bing and Ding Fire." Thus, the name Zhao Bingnan became known. Actually, my frequent illnesses in childhood were not due to lacking Fire in the Five Elements, but rather the poverty and hunger brought upon poor people by old China.
The Ball Incident
If speaking of education, please forgive my ignorance; I was neither from a scholarly family nor did I have authentic family teachings, having only attended private school intermittently for six years. I started school at eight. Because it was not an official school, funding, location, and teachers were not guaranteed. Schools were held in temples or mosques. Teachers often resigned due to lack of funds or were hired by wealthy families as private tutors. Within six years, I studied under six different teachers, experiencing the bitterness of dropping out.
I realized that relying on family support was insufficient to complete my education. So, after school, I often helped people run errands to earn one or two copper coins to buy ink, brushes, and paper. Once, after saving thirteen copper coins, I envied another child's ball and went to a foreign goods store in the city to buy a small ball to play with. The next day, my mother saw the ball and asked where it came from. Before I could explain, she urgently said, "How can our family afford this? Look, your shoes and socks are all broken!" Upon returning home, my mother cleaned the ball, wrapped it in clean paper, and took me to the city. At the store, my mother apologized repeatedly to the manager, explaining that I was ignorant and mistakenly bought the ball, begging for an exchange. The manager inspected the undamaged ball and reluctantly agreed to exchange it for shoe uppers, which my mother used to make me new shoes. This memory often evokes the bitterness of my childhood, bringing tears to my eyes. Looking at students today, vigorous and carefree, living sweetly, taught well, and enjoying rich extracurricular activities, holding golden rice bowls and living in paradise! What kind of life did I lead then?
The Little Novice Monk
At fourteen, I was introduced to Bo Xianshi Pharmacy as an apprentice. On an偶然 opportunity, Teacher Ding Qingsan from Deshan Medical Clinic stopped by the pharmacy during a house call. He mentioned a student named Chen apprenticing with him and suggested exchanging apprentices with Chen's uncle, who ran the pharmacy. They agreed, and I transferred to Deshan Medical Clinic to apprentice under Ding Qingsan, beginning a new phase of apprenticeship.
Those older "Beijing natives" may recall Deshan Medical Clinic. My teacher, Ding Qingsan, initially ran a mutton shop. When customers bought meat, he often gave away self-made plasters. These plasters were very effective; those suffering from sores and boils healed after one application. As the saying goes, "Where there is no cinnabar, red earth is precious." Word spread from ten to a hundred, and more and more patients came. Eventually, he abandoned commerce for medicine, took several apprentices, opened a clinic, and treated patients.
During my apprenticeship, the level of TCM surgery was low, and practitioners were few, accounting for only 1-2% of TCM doctors. There was no talk of using anesthetics or analgesics, let alone antibiotics. For illnesses, patients took Chinese herbal medicine, applied plasters, or received Baijiang Dan (White Reduction Cinnabar). If pain was severe, patients were sent to opium dens to smoke a puff or two. There were sayings at the time: "Surgery doesn't require reading books, just being ruthless," and "Knowing how to process Baijiang and Hongsheng (Cinnabar) allows you to eat across both Northern and Southern capitals."
Apprenticing in such an environment, how could teachers patiently teach hand-in-hand? I remember reading in *Binhu Maixue* (Pulse Studies of Binhu): "Floating pulse: abundant when lifted, deficient when pressed, like a gentle breeze blowing the hairs on a crow's back, soft and fluttering." I puzzled over the four characters "soft and fluttering" (Yanyan NieNie). Asking senior apprentices, they only said, "It can be perceived intuitively but not conveyed in words."
Apprenticeship life was notoriously hard. Waking up before 4 AM, removing doorboards, lighting fires, packing bedding, emptying chamber pots, buying groceries, cooking, boiling plasters, processing cinnabar, and assisting... I not only served the teacher but also cared for senior apprentices. Through winter and summer, working twenty hours a day and sleeping only three or four hours. Once, while spreading plaster, I stirred with a stick and dozed off. Suddenly, a hand plunged into the boiling plaster pot, burning off a layer of skin. The pain was excruciating, but afraid to let anyone know, I secretly sprinkled borneol (Bingpian) on it. Due to my young age, agility, and diligence, senior apprentices called me "Little Novice Monk" (Xiao Shami Zi).
Hardship and heavy physical labor did not extinguish my strong desire for knowledge. When night fell and everyone slept, I read by lamplight. When tired, I dipped borneol in water and touched it to my eyelids to stay awake. My family had no money for stationery. A young apprentice at the paper shop opposite the clinic was friendly with me and often shared unusable damaged paper and pens between us.
In this environment of hunger and cold, I self-studied and completed *Yizong Jinjian·Waike Xinfa* (Golden Mirror of Medicine·Surgical Methods), *Waike Mingyinji* (Collection of Famous Hidden Surgical Secrets), *Waike Zhunsheng* (Standard Guidelines for Surgery), *Yangyi Daquan* (Complete Collection of Surgeon's Medicine), *Binhu Maixue* (Pulse Studies of Binhu), and *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica). Some I could recite and still remember today. I also mastered basic TCM surgical skills such as boiling plasters, spreading plasters, rolling medicinal rolls, and processing powdered cinnabar. These benefited my future medical career greatly.
Establishing a Clinic
In 1920, the Beiyang Government held a TCM examination. Although I passed, I received a "Medical Practitioner" license, allowing me to practice only in the suburbs, not in the city. Years later, another exam was held with over 200 participants, and only 13 were selected, including me. Only then was I allowed to hang a sign at the entrance of Deshan Medical Clinic. In the old society, regardless of skill or fame, a TCM doctor could only be a "Medical Practitioner." Even the famous Four Great Doctors were no exception. To this day, I keep the old license written in Han and Manchu scripts with official seals as irrefutable proof of the discrimination against TCM in the old society.
In the fourth year of my apprenticeship, my teacher unfortunately passed away. I supported the clinic with junior nephews and continued studying hard for three more years. Through years of research, I secretly learned some medical techniques and fulfilled my duties as an apprentice. Once, the daughter of a puppet provincial governor in Henan Province suffered from scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis). I visited her for a week. My junior nephew assumed this lucrative assignment would yield a large fee. However, the governor refused to pay, and I returned empty-handed. Suspecting I had embezzled the fee, he fired me without explanation the next day, letting them operate exclusively. With no savings and no livelihood, I wandered around, borrowing from relatives and friends, getting credit for medicine, and borrowing rooms. Finally, I set up a small clinic with two rooms in Xijiaominxiang. Three years later, business prospered. I thanked relatives and friends, paid off debts, rented a large courtyard with a "sky canopy, fish tank, and pomegranate tree," and worked for another three years until I had savings to officially establish the Xijiaominxiang clinic.
"Poor Men Take Medicine, Rich Men Pay Back"
In the old society, surgical and dermatological patients were mostly hardworking poor people. Once they contracted "waist carbuncles," "back boils," or "head ulcers," they often lost their ability to work and incur medical costs. Coming from the lower class, I knew how difficult it was for poor people to seek medical care. For those unable to afford treatment, I followed the master's instruction: "Poor men take medicine, rich men pay back," providing free consultations and medicine.
Once, farmers carried a patient with a "duixin fa" (back cellulitis) from outside Xizhimen Gate. Seeing the difficulty in bringing the patient to the clinic, I volunteered to make house calls, carrying four or five pounds of medicine every five or six days. After medication, necrotic tissue shed quickly, leaving a fresh wound the size of a plate, deep enough to see bone and tendon. Through careful diagnosis and direct dressing changes, the wound healed flat in two months. Neighbors pooled money to present me with a wooden plaque. Over a hundred people beat drums and gongs and danced yangge, carrying the plaque to my clinic. Throughout my career, I received hundreds of wooden, glass, bronze, silver shields, and bottles, but this wooden plaque left the deepest impression.
Of course, some patients were officials and wealthy merchants, generating considerable income. Besides maintaining the clinic, I contributed to public welfare. I donated to the Beijing TCM Guild when it lacked funds; generously donated to North China Academy of TCM; and supported the establishment of a maternity hospital. Ultimately, I lived simply with empty pockets.
Imperial Physician and Sworn Brotherhood
After years of practice, curing many patients earned me a modest reputation in TCM surgery. My name appeared in merit books. Even rickshaw drivers in Beijing would recommend me to passengers with surgical issues. However, the wealthy looked down on us, referring to surgical diseases as "lumps" and calling me "the lump doctor."
As a doctor, I encountered all social strata. The arrogance of the rich and the sorrow of the poor were like an invisible net. Some demanded instant cures for chronic diseases; others tried to recruit me for their service. I adhered to the belief: "Cannot satisfy everyone's wishes, but must have a clear conscience." This was my philosophy of life and my answer to the challenges of the old society.
During the Republic of China era, after Emperor Puyi retired to Jingyuan in Tianjin, he was introduced to me by his teachers Chen Baochen and Zhu Yifan. Puyi suffered from a "white blade boil" (nasal furuncle) in his right nostril, with red, swollen, and painful lips and cheeks, causing anxiety. Although abdicated, he still acted like an emperor. Learning he feared disfigurement and wanted to avoid surgery, I used TCM methods to extract the toxin, applying medicinal threads and black cloth detoxifying plasters externally, and internal herbs to clear heat, detoxify, and promote pus discharge. Pus drained completely in three days; he basically recovered in a week without scarring.
During the Kangde era, I treated Empress Rong, Puyi's wife. After this second encounter, Puyi remembered me and offered me the position of Imperial Physician. I replied, "With an eighty-year-old mother needing care, at my age, I can only fulfill filial piety, not loyalty." I declined the palace recruitment.
During the Republic of China era, I treated Wu Peifu and met his son, Mr. Wu. He loved dogs and spent heavily. Once, his dog's tail was chopped off, curling in a corner in pain. Knowing I specialized in surgery, he asked me to treat the dog. Thinking that although a beast, it was a living creature, I didn't mind. After examining the injury, I applied powder mixed with premium borneol, wrapped it in gauze, and the pain stopped and the wound healed quickly. Mr. Wu was delighted and proposed becoming sworn brothers. I said, "I believe in Islam, and our ancestral rules forbid marrying outsiders." Thus, the proposal never materialized.
The warmth and coldness of human relations made me adhere to one phrase: "Seek nothing from others." I once angrily said, "In the old society, I had no friends."
Clocks and Canes
Before the fall of Beiping, fearing that hanging so many plaques would attract trouble, I quietly had them photographed and stored them. Who knew this would not prevent disaster.