李中梓，字士材，邑诸生也。有文名，并精医理，名重一时。时金坛王肯堂（字泰）亦精
岐黄
术，年八十，患脾泄，群医咸以年高体衰，辄投滋补，病愈剧。乃延李诊视，诊毕，语王曰
∶“公体肥多痰，愈补则愈滞，当用迅利药荡涤之，能勿疑乎？”王曰∶“当世知医，惟我
二人，君定方，我服药，又何疑？”遂用巴豆霜下痰涎数升，疾顿愈。鲁藩某病寒，时方盛
暑
，寝门重闭，床施毡帷悬貂帐，身覆貂被三重，而犹呼冷。李往诊之，曰∶“此内热也，古
有冷水灌顶法，今姑通变用之。”乃以石膏三斤，浓煎作三次服，一服去貂被，再服去貂
帐，服三次，而尽去外围，体蒸蒸流汗，遂呼进粥，病若失矣。其医之神效类如此，特素自
矜贵，非富贵家不能致也。
童菽原曰∶是亦一时之隽，但非富贵人不能致，则与集中姚蒙异。虽情性各别，未可
强同，而品地实于斯判。
姚蒙字以正，居邑之百曲港，明时以医名于世，尤精太素脉。言人生死祸福，每奇中，
而性
特异。其所可意者与之谈，娓娓不倦，至废寝食，否即白眼仰观，呼之不答，镇日可无一语
。是时医名重海内，求者户常满。姚于贫人，每施方药，却酬金。证如危险，每日诊视二三
次不吝。至富者欲延，则于礼貌间苟不当意，往往勿顾。或问其故，曰∶“此辈库有银，仓
有粟，死亦何害？若贫者自食其力，妻孥赖之，安可死耶？”时都御史邹来学巡抚江南，召蒙
视疾。蒙欲辞，邑宰某迫之行。及入抚署，见邹高坐不为礼，蒙即直视，噤不发言。邹曰∶
“汝亦有疾乎？”蒙曰∶“有风疾。”曰∶“何不自疗？”曰∶“是胎风，不可疗也。”邹即
引手令诊，蒙却不前。邹悟，呼座坐之。诊毕，曰∶“大人根器上别有一窍，常流污水，然
乎？”邹大惊，曰∶“此予隐疾，事甚秘，汝何由知？”曰∶“以脉得之。左手关脉滑而缓
，肝第四叶合有漏，漏必从下泄，故知之耳。”邹始改容谢，且求方药。蒙曰∶“不须药也
，至南京即愈。”以手策之，曰∶“今日初七，得十二日可到”邹遂行，届十二日晨，抵南
京，竟卒。
两苍氏曰∶贫富异视，时贤往往有此，但恨与姚相反耳。至以医论，则其相去者，又
未可以道里计矣。
李中梓，字士材，是当地的秀才。他因文章闻名，同时也精通医学理论，在当时名声很大。当时金坛人王肯堂（字泰）也精通岐黄之术，已经八十岁了，患有脾泄（脾胃虚弱导致的慢性腹泻），众医生都认为他年高体衰，于是都投用滋补药物，结果病情反而加重。于是王肯堂请李中梓诊治，诊脉结束后，李中梓对王肯堂说：“您身体肥胖且多痰湿，越滋补就越会导致气机阻滞，应当使用迅猛通利的药物来涤荡积滞，您能不要怀疑吗？”王肯堂说：“当今世上懂医的只有我们两人，您定方子，我服药，有什么可怀疑的？”于是使用了巴豆霜（由巴豆制成的泻下药），排出痰涎数升，疾病立刻痊愈。
鲁藩王府的某位宗室患寒证，当时正值盛夏，房间门窗紧闭，床上铺设毡垫帷帐，悬挂貂皮帐幔，身上覆盖三层貂皮被，但仍然喊冷。李中梓前去诊治，说：“这是内热（真热假寒），古代有冷水灌顶的方法，现在姑且变通使用它。”于是用石膏三斤，浓煎后分三次服用，第一次服下后去掉貂皮被，第二次服下后去掉貂皮帐，服完第三次，完全去掉了外围的保暖物，身体蒸蒸发汗，于是喊着要喝粥，病就好了。他的医术神效大多像这样，只是他向来自视高贵，不是富贵人家不能请到。
童菽原评论说：李中梓也是一时的杰出人物，但如果只有富贵人才能请到，那就与书中的姚蒙不同了。虽然性情各不相同，不能强求一致，但人品高下其实由此可以分辨。
姚蒙，字以正，居住在当地的百曲港，明代时以医术闻名于世，尤其精通太素脉（一种通过脉象推断命运吉凶的诊法）。他说人生死祸福，每次都很灵验，但性格特别怪异。让他满意的人就与他交谈，娓娓不倦，甚至废寝忘食；如果不满意，就翻白眼仰视，叫他也不回答，整天可以说一句话都没有。当时医学名声重振海内，求医者家门常满。姚蒙对于穷人，常常施予方药，拒绝收取酬金。如果病情危险，每天诊视两三次也不吝啬。至于富人想要延请，如果在礼貌上稍有不如意，往往就不顾而去。有人问他原因，他说：“这些人库房里有银子，仓库里有粮食，死了又有什么害处？如果是穷人靠自己的力气生活，妻子儿女依赖他们，怎么能让他们死呢？”当时都御史邹来学巡抚江南，召见姚蒙为他看病。姚蒙想推辞，县令某人强迫他去。等到进入巡抚衙署，看见邹来学高高坐着而不行礼，姚蒙就直视着他，闭口不说话。邹来学说：“你也有病吗？”姚蒙说：“有风疾（中风或神经系统疾病）。”邹来学说：“为什么不自己治疗？”姚蒙说：“这是胎风（先天性疾病），无法治疗。”邹来学随即伸出手让他诊脉，姚蒙却不走上前。邹来学领悟了，叫他在座位上坐下。诊脉结束后，姚蒙说：“大人根基之上另有一窍，经常流出污水，是这样吗？”邹来学大惊，说：“这是我的隐疾，事情非常秘密，你是怎么知道的？”姚蒙说：“通过脉象得知。左手关脉滑而缓，肝脏第四叶可能有漏洞，漏洞必然从下面泄漏，所以我才知道。”邹来学这才改变脸色道歉，并且请求开方药。姚蒙说：“不需要药，到了南京就会痊愈。”用手比划着说：“今天是初七，到十二日可以到。”邹来学于是出发，到了十二日早晨，抵达南京，竟然去世了。
两苍氏评论说：对待贫富态度不同，当时的贤者往往有此现象，只是遗憾这与姚蒙相反罢了。至于谈论医术，那么他们之间的差距，又不能用道路里程来计算了。
Li Zhongzi, courtesy name Shicai, was a local *shengyuan* (licentiate). He was famous for his literary works and also mastered medical theories, enjoying great reputation at the time. At that time, Wang Kentang from Jintan (courtesy name Tai) was also proficient in the art of Qi Huang (traditional Chinese medicine), aged eighty, suffering from Pi Xie (chronic diarrhea due to spleen deficiency). All physicians believed he was old and frail, thus administering tonic prescriptions, which aggravated his condition. Consequently, Wang Kentang invited Li Zhongzi for consultation. After diagnosis, Li said to Wang: "Your physique is obese with excessive phlegm-dampness; further tonification will only cause stagnation. You should use rapid and purgative medicines to cleanse the accumulation. Can you have no doubts?" Wang replied: "Among the living, only we two understand medicine. You prescribe, I take the medicine, what is there to doubt about?" Thus, Radix Crotonis Tiglii Frost (Badou Shuang, 巴豆霜) was used, expelling several sheng (a unit of volume) of phlegm-saliva, and the illness was instantly cured.
A certain prince of the Lu Prince's mansion suffered from a cold syndrome. It was midsummer, yet the sleeping quarters were tightly closed, beds covered with felt curtains, marten fur canopies hung, and three layers of marten fur quilts covered the body, yet he still complained of cold. Li went to diagnose him and said: "This is internal heat (true heat presenting as false cold). In ancient times, there was a method of pouring cold water on the head; now let us adapt it." Therefore, Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, 石膏) three jin (a unit of weight) was decocted strongly and taken in three doses. After the first dose, the marten fur quilt was removed; after the second, the marten fur canopy; after the third, all outer coverings were removed. The body began to sweat profusely, he called for porridge, and the illness vanished. His miraculous efficacy was typical of such cases, but he always considered himself noble and could only be summoned by wealthy families.
Tong Shuyuan commented: "He was indeed an outstanding figure of his time, but if he could only be summoned by the wealthy, this differs from Yao Meng in the collection. Although their temperaments differed and cannot be forced to be the same, their moral standing is clearly distinguished here."
Yao Meng, courtesy name Yizheng, resided at Baiqu Port in the county. During the Ming Dynasty, he was famous for his medical skills, especially mastering Taisu Pulse Diagnosis (a diagnostic method inferring fate through pulse). His predictions regarding life, death, fortune, and misfortune were often accurate, but his personality was peculiar. If he liked someone, he would talk tirelessly, even neglecting sleep and food; if not, he would roll his eyes upward, ignoring calls, sometimes speaking not a word all day. At that time, medical fame was prominent nationwide, and seekers filled his door daily. For the poor, Yao Meng often prescribed medicine without accepting payment. If the case was critical, he did not hesitate to visit two or three times a day. However, when the wealthy sought his services, if their manners were not satisfactory, he would often leave disregarding them. When asked why, he said: "These people have silver in their vaults and grain in their granaries; what harm is there if they die? But the poor rely on their own labor, and their wives and children depend on them; how can we let them die?" At that time, Censor-in-Chief Zou Laixue, serving as Governor-General of Jiangnan, summoned Yao Meng to treat an illness. Yao wanted to decline, but the County Magistrate compelled him to go. Upon entering the Governor's office, seeing Zou sitting high without showing respect, Yao stared straight ahead and remained silent. Zou asked: "Do you have an illness too?" Yao replied: "I have Feng Ji (wind disease/neurological disorder)." Zou asked: "Why do you not treat yourself?" Yao said: "It is Tai Feng (congenital disease), incurable." Zou extended his hand for pulse diagnosis, but Yao refused to approach. Zou understood, called him to sit. After diagnosis, Yao said: "My Lord, above your root constitution, there is another aperture that constantly flows foul water, is this so?" Zou was greatly shocked, saying: "This is my hidden ailment, very secret; how did you know?" Yao replied: "Through the pulse. The Guan position of the left hand is slippery and slow; the fourth lobe of the liver likely has a leak, which must drain downwards, hence I knew." Zou then changed his demeanor, apologized, and requested a prescription. Yao said: "No medicine is needed; you will recover upon arriving in Nanjing." Gesturing with his hand, he said: "Today is the seventh; you can arrive by the twelfth." Zou departed, and on the morning of the twelfth, upon reaching Nanjing, he unexpectedly passed away.
Liangcang Shi commented: "Treating the rich and poor differently was common among contemporary virtuous men, but regretfully opposite to Yao Meng. As for discussing medical skill, the gap between them is immeasurable."