医，一也，然有内外科之异者，盖人之疾有内外故也。科既有内外，故古之专门者，各
有方书，以传后世。第今之专于内者，则精其内，而疮科或有所遗者；专于外者，则精其外
，而方脉或有未谙。二者俱，不能以无偏。夫惟仁者，爱人之心深长而周密，必欲兼之而后
已。弘治丙辰岁，王殿下不以臣为蒙昧，命臣于凡大方脉书内，精选其方之经验者，区分类
别，且论辨其下，名曰医方选要，总一十卷以进。内疮科亦一帙焉。今年春，睿意又以为选
要之集，固足以为内疾之疗，然人于日用间，莫不有饮食也，亦莫不有喜怒也。饮食不节，
喜怒不常，则未免致伤荣卫，而疮毒生焉。其生也，种类颇多，兹疮科一帙，乌足以尽疗乎
。以故命臣重集外科方论，务在较量之也审，简拔之也精，究其疾之源，详其药之用，以与
《选要》配，庶不致有所偏废。臣于是尤有以仰知殿下仁爱及人之盛心，所谓深长而周密矣
。顾臣草茅，学不足以明理，医不足以名世，凡庸肤浅，务乎此而遗乎彼者也，曷克以称上
意邪。虽然睿命不敢不遵，驽钝不可不效，是以忘其固陋，集古名医外科诸书，谨择其药与
证对，而随患用巧者，根据选要条例，裒成二卷，名曰外科集验方，上呈睿览。夫疾之愈不愈
，医之良不良，系乎方之验不验也。臣之所集，虽妄以集验名，然亦管窥蠡测，勉强以应命
耳。若夫较量审而简拔精，究其源而详其用，则臣岂敢。
弘治戊午岁秋九月吉日。良医副臣周文采稽首顿首谨序。
医学，本质上是统一的，然而分为内科和外科的不同，是因为人的疾病有内在和外在的区别。既然科室分为内外，所以古代的专门医生，各自都有方书，用来传给后世。只是现在专攻内科的人，则精通内科，而疮疡科或许有所遗漏；专攻外科的人，则精通外科，而脉诊或有不熟悉的地方。两者都具备，就不能没有偏颇。只有仁爱的人，爱护他人的心深远而周密，一定要兼通二者才肯罢休。弘治丙辰年，王殿下不认为我愚昧无知，命令我在所有大方脉（内科）书籍中，精选其中经验有效的方剂，分类编排，并在下面进行论述辨析，命名为《医方选要》，总共十卷进献上去。其中疮疡科也有一册。今年春天，圣意又认为《选要》的集结，固然足以治疗内部疾病，然而人在日常生活中，无不有饮食，也无不有喜怒情绪。饮食不节制，喜怒无常，就难免损伤营卫（运行于体内的气血），从而产生疮毒。其产生的种类很多，这疮疡科一册，怎么足以完全治疗呢？因此命令我再重新集结外科方论，务必在比较衡量时审慎，选拔时精当，探究疾病的源头，详细说明药物的作用，以此与《选要》相配合，大致不至于有所偏废。我于是更加了解殿下仁爱及人的盛情，所谓深远而周密了。只是我出身草野，学识不足以阐明道理，医术不足以闻名于世，凡庸肤浅，致力于此却遗漏彼处，怎么能胜任上面的旨意呢。虽然如此，圣命不敢不遵从，驽钝不可不效力，因此忘记自己的固陋，集结古代名医的外科诸书，谨慎选择药物与证候相对，并根据病患巧妙使用的方法，依据《选要》的条例，汇编成两卷，命名为《外科集验方》，呈上供圣览。疾病的痊愈与否，医生的优劣，取决于方剂的验证与否。我所集结的，虽然狂妄地以“集验”命名，但也如同管中窥豹、蠡测海水，勉强来应付命令罢了。至于比较审慎、选拔精当，探究源头并详细说明作用，那我怎么敢当呢。
弘治戊午年秋季九月吉日。良医副臣周文采叩头顿首恭敬作序。
Medicine is fundamentally one, yet it is divided into internal and external specialties because human diseases manifest internally or externally. Since the disciplines are categorized as internal and external, ancient specialists each possessed their own medical texts to transmit to future generations. However, those who specialize in internal medicine excel in internal treatments but may neglect dermatological and surgical conditions; conversely, those who specialize in external medicine excel in external treatments but may be unfamiliar with pulse diagnosis (Pulse Diagnosis). If one possesses both skills, bias cannot be entirely avoided. Only a benevolent person, whose compassion for others is profound, thorough, and meticulous, will strive to master both before ceasing. In the Bingchen year of the Hongzhi era, His Highness the Prince, not considering me ignorant, ordered me to carefully select effective prescriptions from all comprehensive texts on internal medicine, categorize them, and provide commentary below, naming this collection *Yifang Xuanya* (Essential Selections of Medical Prescriptions), comprising ten volumes in total. Among these, there was also one fascicle dedicated to dermatology and surgery. This spring, His Imperial Mind further reasoned that while the compilation of *Xuanya* was sufficient for treating internal ailments, humans inevitably engage in dietary intake and experience emotions such as joy and anger in daily life. Indulgence in diet and emotional instability inevitably damage Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), thereby generating sores and toxins. Given the numerous varieties of such conditions, how could a single fascicle on dermatology suffice for complete treatment? Consequently, I was ordered to recompile treatises and prescriptions on external medicine, ensuring that comparisons were made with prudence, selections were refined with precision, the origins of diseases were investigated, and the applications of medicines were detailed, so as to complement *Xuanya* and avoid partiality. Through this, I came to appreciate even more deeply the Prince’s benevolent intention to extend kindness to all people, which was indeed profound and meticulous. However, being a commoner, my learning was insufficient to elucidate principles, and my medical skill unworthy of fame; I was mediocre and superficial, focusing on one aspect while neglecting another. How could I possibly meet the imperial expectation? Nevertheless, I dared not disobey the imperial decree, nor could I fail to exert my limited abilities. Thus, setting aside my own limitations, I compiled works on external medicine by renowned ancient physicians, carefully matching herbs to syndromes and selecting methods applied cleverly according to patients' conditions. Following the guidelines of *Xuanya*, I assembled two volumes, titled *Waike Jiyan Fang* (Collected Verified Prescriptions for External Medicine), and presented them for His Majesty's review. The recovery of disease and the excellence of a physician depend on the efficacy of the prescription. Although I presumptuously named my compilation "Collected Verified," it is merely like looking at the sky through a tube or measuring the ocean with a gourd—a reluctant effort to fulfill the mandate. As for making prudent comparisons, precise selections, investigating origins, and detailing applications, how dare I claim such merit?
On an auspicious day in the ninth month of autumn, in the Wuwu year of the Hongzhi era. Zhou Wencai, Vice Physician, bows his head and touches the ground, respectfully writing the preface.