余自去冬游于粤省，得遇张君伯龙。天姿英敏、文史淹通、留心世故而不习举业，真达
人也。其父墨园曾膺张香帅保荐循吏，政治劳心，每生疾 。伯龙以人子须知医寝，馈方书
于今七年前春，其父偶感时证病象危险，群医无策，伯龙极力救治，顿获安全国手之名，一
时腾噪。乃益留心医理。与余邂逅便留讲贯，谓余所着中西各种医书于病源治法，固已详矣。
而独少本草，未免缺然。余曰∶吾所论著已寓药性，且本草业经充拣，何烦再赘？伯龙曰∶
不然，诸家本草扬厉铺张，几于一药能治百病及遵用之，卒不能治一病者，注失之泛也。又
或极意求精，失于穿凿，故托高远难获实效，且其说与黄炎、仲景诸书往往刺谬。若不
加辨正，恐古圣之旨不能彰着于天下。近日西医释药每攻中医，适能中中医之弊，而中国医
士不能发西人之覆，徒使西药流弊，又增甚于中国本草之祸岂浅鲜哉？甚矣！本草自晋唐以
后，
千歧百出，极于纲目，几令人目迷，五色三家注力求深奥，转多晦义，徐灵胎冠绝一时，颇
合经旨。惜其时无西人之说未能互证，以注本经。今先生博通西医，参合黄炎仲景之书以折
衷于至当，若不将本草发明，其流弊又谁救哉？虽西国异产及新出药品不能尽行论列，但使
揭出大义，举一反三，则据此以求，无论中西各药，见于目而尝于口，便可推例以知其性矣，
幸毋隐秘不宣。惟先生明以教我，余以伯龙此言甚挚，
大清光绪十九年岁在癸巳仲春月蜀天彭唐宗海容川叙
我自从去年冬天在广东游历，遇到了张伯龙先生。他天资聪慧敏捷，文史知识渊博通达，关心世事却不热衷于科举考试，真是位通达事理的人。他的父亲张墨园曾得到张香帅（张之洞）的保荐担任循良官吏，因政务操劳，经常生病。伯龙作为儿子深知必须懂医，于是在七年前春天赠送方书给他父亲。当时他父亲偶然感染时行疫病，病象危险，众医生没有办法，伯龙极力救治，顿时获得安全，由此得名“国手”（指医术高超的医生），一时名声大噪。于是更加留心研究医理。与我偶然相遇便留下讲解贯通，说我所著的中西各种医书中对于病源治法，固然已经详细了。但唯独缺少本草方面的论述，未免有所欠缺。我说：我所论述著述中已蕴含药性内容，而且本草著作经过挑选充实，何必再赘述呢？伯龙说：不是这样，各家本草张扬夸大，几乎认为一种药能治百病，等到真正遵用之时，最终却连一种病都治不好，这是因为注解过于宽泛的缘故。又或者极意追求精微，失于穿凿附会，所以寄托高远难以获得实效，而且他们的说法与黄帝、炎帝、仲景等人的书籍往往矛盾冲突。如果不加以辨正，恐怕古代圣人的旨意不能彰显于天下。近日西医解释药物常常攻击中医，恰好能击中中医的弊端，而中国医生不能揭发西方人的谬误，徒然使西药的流弊，又比中国本草的祸害更严重，这难道不浅显吗？太严重了！本草自晋唐以后，千歧百出，极于《本草纲目》，几乎令人眼花缭乱，三家注力求深奥，反而多有晦涩难懂的含义，徐灵胎冠绝一时，颇合经典旨意。可惜他那个时代没有西方人的学说未能互相印证，以注释《本经》。如今先生博通西医，参合黄帝、炎帝、仲景的书来折衷于最恰当之处，如果不将本草发明出来，其流弊又有谁来挽救呢？虽然西方国家的异地产物及新出的药品不能完全列举讨论，但只要揭示出大义，举一反三，那么据此来推求，无论中西各药，见于眼睛而尝于口，就可以推例来知道它的性质了，希望您不要隐秘不宣。只有先生明确地教导我，我认为伯龙这番话非常诚恳真挚。大清光绪十九年岁在癸巳仲春月蜀地天彭唐宗海容川叙
Since last winter, while traveling in Guangdong Province, I met Mr. Zhang Bolong. He possessed a brilliant and agile intellect, was well-versed in literature and history, cared about worldly affairs but did not engage in the imperial examinations; he was truly a person of enlightenment. His father, Mr. Moyuan, had been recommended by Marshal Zhang (Zhang Zhidong) to serve as an upright official. Due to the mental strain of political duties, he frequently fell ill. As a son who knew that medicine must be understood, Bolong presented medical texts to his father in the spring of seven years ago. At that time, his father contracted a seasonal epidemic with dangerous symptoms. The assembled physicians had no effective strategy. Bolong exerted himself in treatment, resulting in immediate safety, thereby earning the reputation of a "Guoshou" (National Master Physician), and his fame spread rapidly throughout the region. Consequently, he paid closer attention to medical principles. Upon our chance encounter, he invited me to stay and discuss, stating that although my various Chinese and Western medical books had detailed the sources of diseases and methods of treatment, they lacked a section on *Bencao* (Materia Medica), which was somewhat deficient. I replied: "My writings already imply the properties of medicines, and since *Bencao* works have been selected and enriched, why add more?" Bolong said: "Not so. Various *Bencao* works exaggerate and embellish, almost claiming that one herb can cure a hundred diseases. Yet when actually used, they often fail to cure even one disease, because the annotations are too broad. Or, in striving for extreme precision, they become forced and pedantic, leading to lofty theories that yield little practical effect. Moreover, their interpretations often contradict the works of Huangdi (Yellow Emperor), Yandi (Flame Emperor), and Zhang Zhongjing. If not corrected and clarified, it is feared that the intent of the ancient sages will not be manifested to the world. Recently, Western physicians' explanations of drugs often attack Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), effectively hitting upon its weaknesses. However, Chinese physicians fail to expose these Western errors, allowing the drawbacks of Western medicines to become even more severe than the harms caused by flawed Chinese *Bencao*. This is indeed serious! Since the Jin and Tang dynasties, *Bencao* has branched out in countless directions, culminating in the *Compendium of Materia Medica*, leaving people bewildered. The three major commentaries strive for profundity but often result in obscure meanings. Xu Lingtai's work was unparalleled in his time and closely aligned with classical intent. Unfortunately, in his era, there were no Western theories to cross-verify with the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). Now, you are proficient in Western medicine and integrate the teachings of Huangdi, Yandi, and Zhang Zhongjing to arrive at the most appropriate conclusions. If you do not elucidate *Bencao*, who will save us from its detrimental trends? Although we cannot fully list all exotic products and newly discovered drugs from foreign countries, if we reveal the general principles and apply them by analogy, then based on this, whether dealing with Chinese or Western medicines, once seen and tasted, their properties can be deduced. I hope you will not keep this knowledge secret. Please teach me clearly. I find Mr. Bolong's words very sincere."
Recorded by Tang Zonghai (Rongchuan) of Tianpeng, Shu, in the second month of the Gui-Si year, the 19th year of Guangxu, Great Qing Dynasty.