典藏书目

Grand Secretary Dong Xunyang, aged sixty-seven, suffered from a spleen and stomach disorder. Due to excessive consumption of fruits and melons, he experienced distension and pain in the chest and diaphragm; this occurred during the Chushu (End of Heat) solar term. He invited me for treatment. Upon palpating his pulse, the Cun (inch) and Guan (bar) positions were wiry and tight. Observing his complexion, his Shen (Spirit) was contained, and his Yuan Qi (Original Qi) was solid. Two of his disciples, Jiang Hongqiao and Shen Lexian, were men of many talents whom he trusted and favored. They asked me, "What are the symptoms and pulse like?" I replied, "Although the symptoms involve chest and abdominal distension and pain, it is easy to cure." The two gentlemen said, "My master has never been able to eat a vegetarian diet; if he stops eating meat, he suffers diarrhea. For half a month now, he has abstained from meat. In his leisure, he enjoys playing chess, reading books, and composing poetry and prose. Even in the height of summer, he holds a book without tiring, and long days do not make him drowsy. For over a month, he has not touched pen and ink, and for seven days, he has not combed his hair or bathed. He does nothing else and is extremely fatigued. Renowned physicians such as Shen Zhuting, Shen Chunyu, and Jin Chuqiu have tried various prescriptions with no effect. Why do you say it is easy to cure?" I said, "Those doctors merely used Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) and Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), adding Hawthorn Fruit and Malt as digestive aids. This has little relevance to the actual condition. The master's injury stems from fruits and melons, leading to an excess of Cold-Dampness. The Classic states: 'When Cold is in excess, treat with Pungent-Warm herbs.' However, fruits and melons cannot be digested without Moschus (Musk) and Cinnamon Twig. This is why those doctors could not cure my master." I prescribed Galangal Rhizome and Cyperus Rhizome, each one liang, as the Sovereign herb; Cinnamon Twig, five qian, as the Minister herb; and Moschus, one qian, as the Assistant herb. Each dose was two qian, taken with wine mixed in. After taking the medicine, his chest felt immediately relieved. By the second day, he felt hungry. After three doses, he combed his hair and received guests as if he had never been ill. The master told Shen and Jiang, "Dr. Sun's insight and nurturing methods surpass others so greatly. I once heard he revived Zhang's son who had been clinically dead for two days. Now, seeing him cure my illness, I truly believe this is the legacy of Bian Que, the divine physician of Guo State. I have written a scroll to honor his high medical skill, recording this fortunate encounter."

The wife of Dong Longshan, Grand Secretary's son, was the daughter of Vice Commissioner Mao Lumen. At thirty-five, she suffered from hematochezia (blood in stool), passing blood two or three times daily, without abdominal pain. Various physicians treated her for three years without success. I palpated her pulse: the Left pulse was deep and choppy, and the Right pulse leaked beyond the Guan position, appearing inconsistent with the disease. I secretly reasoned that since bleeding had persisted for a long time, I should tonify Qi and lift Yang to probe the nature of the syndrome. Thus, I used Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), added Donkey-Hide Gelatin, Sanguisorba Root, and Biota Leaf, and administered eight doses. The bleeding stopped for half a month. She rejoiced, believing herself cured. Accidentally, due to exertion, the bleeding recurred, and she requested the previous prescription. I told Mr. Longshan, "Madam's illness must involve stagnant Blood accumulated in the meridians. Previously, because the Right pulse leaking beyond the Guan made diagnosis difficult, I used lifting, tonifying, and astringing methods to probe the deficiency and excess. Now that I understand the pathology, the method requires purging to remove the root cause." Mr. Longshan said, "For three years she has had bloody stools, though only two or three times a day, her menstrual cycle has been regular, lasting five days each time. How can there still be stagnant Blood?" I said, "I deduced the presence of stagnant Blood based on her daily bleeding until the end of the month. The Classic states: 'If blocked, flow ceases; if not flowing, it will not stop.' The current stasis is indeed caused by blockage preventing flow; we must not use further astringents. Ancient practitioners treating dysentery would first purge, which reflects this same principle." Mr. Longshan said, "Let us consult divination tomorrow." I said, "Divination resolves doubt; if there is no doubt, why divinate?" Mr. Longshan conveyed this to Madam. She said, "Mr. Sun is not one who harms people; his insights often exceed the ordinary. We should obey his command." Since Madam was literate, intelligent, and decisive, comparable to her husband, she understood immediately upon hearing this. I immediately prescribed Tao Ren Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Kernel Draining the Yin Decoction), added Salvia Root, Trogopterus Dung, and Lotus Seed Pod Peduncle, decocted in water, and administered at night. At dawn (Wugeng), she passed half a bucket of black, stagnant Blood. On that day, no more blood appeared, and she requested further purgatives. I said, "Temporarily use spleen-regulating herbs to nourish the body. The root of the disease has been stirred; it is not too late to purge again after five days." When the time came, another purgative was used, resulting in half the amount of black blood as before. Subsequently, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) were used for regulation, leading to a complete recovery.