典藏书目

Zhang, suffering from fever, was diagnosed by a physician as not caused by cold pathogen. After taking several doses of clearing and resolving herbs, he experienced severe pain in his legs, and his body and face gradually turned yellow. Mengying examined him, finding the pulse slippery and excess, abdominal distension, and dry mouth. He prescribed Yinchin Dahuang Tang (Yinchen and Rhubarb Decoction) for two doses. After bowel movement, all ailments vanished instantly.

In mid-autumn, after prolonged rain, Wu Fenbo fell ill following the provincial examination. He stated that he had sat in a damp examination cell with water soaking up to his knees. Others believed it was a disease of cold-dampness. Mengying palpated the pulse, which was very rapid; urination was red, tongue coating yellow, mouth dry with choking sensations. He told Wu's father, Yunxiang: "The illness stems from summerheat-dampness, but the constitution is extremely Yin-deficient, and the pathogen has transformed into heat. One must not use warm-drying herbs just because there is slight diarrhea." Initially, light and clear herbs were used to purify and resolve, followed by sweet-cool herbs to withdraw heat. Gradually, he could eat and rest. Half a month later, the heat completely subsided, but night sweats and insomnia appeared. Large doses of nourishing, filling, and anchoring prescriptions were administered, along with swallowing Wuzi Wan (Schisandra Pill) and Cizhu Wan (Magnetite and Schisandra Pill) for dozens of doses, leading to recovery.

This condition would deteriorate if misdiagnosed; even minor errors would cause damage. Without daily trust, how could sincerity be achieved at this moment? Hearing of his uncontrollable night sweats and sleeplessness, bystanders murmured. Mengying feared this would shake their resolve and ruin all efforts, so he advised inviting Gu Tingquan and Xu Zhixing to verify the diagnosis. Both Gu and Xu agreed with Mengying. Thus, the family's determination strengthened, and the major illness was cured. Alas! How difficult it is.

Zhu Xiangcha's nephew Xinquan's wife, while pregnant, suffered from dysentery. Physicians administered warm-drying and astringent herbs, resulting in severe abdominal pain, generalized jaundice, and loss of appetite. Mengying diagnosed it as summerheat-dampness. He prescribed Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Maogen (Imperatae Rhizoma), Sangye (Mori Folium), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Lianshi (Meliae Fructus), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Yinchin (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), and Dongguapi (Benincasae Exocarpium). She recovered.

Li, a young woman from Chishanbu, had always been frail. In spring, her menstruation ceased. Qi accumulated in the hypochondrium and abdomen like a mass (Jia), food intake decreased, and muscles wasted away. Repeated use of warm-unblocking herbs led to mild chills and high fever in early autumn. Physicians still treated it as amenorrhea, bringing her to the brink of death. Her mother entrusted her cousin, Lin Yutang, with funeral arrangements. Yutang specifically requested Mengying to diagnose and decide. When Mengying palpated the pulse, the high heat scorched his fingers, and sweat poured like rain; sweat drops on the pulse pillow showed a faint pink hue. He said: "Deficiency consumption is the root. Now summerheat is blazing; we must first treat the exogenous pathogen to have hope." He prescribed Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) modified with Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Hegan (Nelumbinis Petiolus), and Sangye (Mori Folium). When another doctor arrived, helpless, and heard Mengying advocated Baihu Tang, he told Li's mother: "In such danger, can one still take Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum)? The Materia Medica warns under Shigao: Contraindicated in blood deficiency and weak stomach. Does he not know this?" Yutang firmly replied: "I take responsibility. Rather than waiting passively for death, why not follow Mengying's path to survive?" Two doses were taken, and indeed the heat receded, and sweat stopped. Sweet-cool herbs were used to clear residual heat, and she improved daily. Subsequently, qi-regulating and ying-yin-nourishing herbs were given, and the Jia mass diminished. By mid-winter, menstruation returned, and she recovered. The following year, she married Sun Kuibo's younger brother.

Wang Shigan's wife, prone to depression and anger, had qi accumulating in the abdomen, attacking upward causing epigastric pain, which resolved quickly. Beyond sixty, the illness worsened. Treatment made it worse. Li Xiyuan recommended Mengying. He said: "This cannot be treated by earthly medicines." He declined to prescribe. Her husband and son-in-law begged for help. Mengying said: "Since you insist, I will try to prolong life. However, qi accumulation forming a Jia mass, attacking with pain and vomiting, originally belongs to Liver pathology. But the disease has lasted thirty years; past treatments likely relied on warming and tonifying. Recent use of Xiaoyao San (Free Wanderer Powder) most depletes Liver Yin; Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) severely damages Stomach fluids. Named as treatment, actually aiding the villain. People only know vomiting as cold, failing to recognize internal stirring of wind-yang, causing water to boil. Adding fuel to the furnace, fluids gradually dry up. Yet doctors say 'water no longer vomits, illness seems lighter.' This fails to see that fluids are exhausted, only hiccups and empty retching remain, hence inability to accept food. Constipation, wiry pulse lacking stomach Qi, flaccid tongue hard to extend, intense heat, how to intervene? It can be said 'women also suffer from solitary Yang disease.'" He reluctantly prescribed Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Rongzhrong (Cistanches Herba), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Yuzhu (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), Sheng Baishao (Raw Paeoniae Radix Alba), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Zhuru (Bambusae Sap), Baizishuang (Platycladi Semen), and Zhiwushi (Fluoritum). Pork broth was used to decoct herbs, mixed with green sugarcane juice and human milk. After taking, vomiting and hiccups stopped, seen as a turning point. Mengying said: "Like long-dried plants, sudden irrigation makes branches look green. But roots are dead, vital energy gone, what good is it?" Porridge gradually increased, craving meat, family rejoiced, seeing hope. Mengying said: "Wait until stool passes." Days later, stool passed smoothly, seemingly stable. Urgently summoned for re-examination. Mengying said: "Vain effort! Pulse not soft, tongue not moist, although food enters and stool passes, the source of generating fluids is cut off. Can medicine create something from nothing?" After Summer Solstice, she died.