典藏书目

(Attached: Ten Principles for Newborns - Feverish sensation, Fetal heat, Fetal cold, Fetal obesity, Fetal weakness, Fetal fright, Fetal jaundice, Umbilical wind, Mouth contraction, Jaw lock, Anal lock, Umbilical protrusion, Eyes closed)

Huangdi said, "I cannot thoroughly examine the young and small, as they belong to a separate category requiring distinct regulation." This is not discussed in the *Huangdi Tu Jing* (Yellow Emperor's Illustrated Classic). Since ancient times, pediatrics has been called the "Mute Department" because infants cannot articulate their sources of illness, making it extremely difficult. Those who consider pediatrics easy to treat are profoundly mistaken. While in the womb, the fetus receives essence and qi from its parents. After ten months of gestation, when all spiritual faculties are complete, it is born. At sixty days, the pupils form, recognizing people, learning to speak and smile; at one hundred days, the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) develops, enabling rolling over; at one hundred and eighty days, the sacral bone forms, enabling independent standing; at two hundred and ten days, the metacarpal bones form, enabling crawling; at three hundred days, the patella forms, enabling rising to a standing position; upon completing one year, the knee bones form, enabling walking. Deviations from this indicate the flourishing or decline of Qi and Blood. Some suffer from weak sinews and bones due to excessive swaddling, warm clothing, lack of exposure to wind and sunlight, and failure to contact the earth's Qi. Rural children benefit from the earth's Qi, thus walking earlier.

Cleaning the mouth: When a newborn first arrives, do not wait for crying. Quickly wrap a finger with cotton cloth, dip it in warm water, and wipe away the turbid blood on the tongue. If delayed, once crying begins, the blood enters the abdomen, causing harm. The infant's mouth and tongue are not yet firm; without a skilled woman, there is fear of injury. Use the following method instead. Decoct Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), each taking a small amount of juice, and drip into the mouth. For Zhusha (Cinnabaris), select large pieces bright red like mica, process by water flotation, dry, and grind ten thousand times. Mix two fen with honey, and apply to the infant's mouth. Form pills the size of red beans using five to seven fen of honey. Dissolve one pill daily in Gancao decoction and administer to remove turbid toxins and calm the heart spirit.

Restoring breath: If a newborn does not cry, quickly instill a small amount of warm water. Then, frequently blow warm air into the infant's mouth with your own mouth until they cry. In cases of difficult labor where the infant has contracted cold and breath is nearly exhausted, quickly heat cotton wadding and wrap it around the chest. Burn the placenta on fire; also light a large paper torch soaked in clear oil and burn it above and below the umbilical cord to allow warm air to enter the abdomen. Within moments, breath will return.

Bathing: Do not cut the umbilical cord before bathing (to prevent dampness invasion, leading to Umbilical Wind or umbilical rot). Add peach, plum, apricot, and willow branches to the bathwater to dispel misfortune. Rub the body with pig bile to prevent sores (this can be used for bathing within the first month). Avoid wind exposure to the back; do not bathe too frequently or for too long, lest it induce Wind Epilepsy. After bathing, check for fine white blisters on the upper palate, known as "Seven Stars"; pierce them with a silver hairpin and apply Beijing ink. If a white membrane is present, known as "Goat's Mouth," wipe it off with soft silk dipped in warm water and apply Beijing ink. Remove any growth under the tongue similarly. There should be no signs of Double Tongue.

Clothing: For boys, use old clothes made by the father or daughter. Do not overdress; moderation is key. (Excessive warmth may stir fire and generate sores. Phlegm-heat inducing Fright Epilepsy often starts here.) Clothes for infants under one year must be made from worn fabric; new cotton causes excessive heat and fright. Do not leave infant clothes out overnight; dew and moisture toxins, along with the Eight Evils, can cause yellowing, emaciation, abdominal pain, high fever, night crying, and skin sores. Also, avoid contamination with bird droppings, which can cause illness.

Umbilical Cord Cutting: Strictly avoid scissors to prevent internal injury. It is best to cut after bathing. Make a thick paper roll like a finger, soak in oil, ignite, and cauterize the umbilical cord, leaving six cun. If too long, it damages muscles; if too short, it damages viscera. (Ancient methods involved biting through with a layer of single cloth, blowing warm air, and removing any worms found in the cord to prevent internal disease.) To bind the navel, ancients used white silk and new cotton; now, use silk thread wrapped around the cord (with alum powder applied) and tie securely. Tightness must be moderate; too tight causes vomiting. Once the cord falls off, apply a plaster to the navel. When changing clothes, keep doors and windows closed. In winter, use fire to warm the air; prevent water, urine, feces, wind, and cold from entering the navel. Mild cases result in swelling and rot; severe cases lead to Umbilical Wind, Mouth Contraction, or Anal Lock.

Oral Administration: The shed umbilical cord should be ground with charcoal fire. Weigh an appropriate amount, mix evenly with measured Zhusha (Cinnabaris). Decoct Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) strongly, and gradually mix with the powder for the infant to drink. This is a divine prescription for resolving fetal toxins related to smallpox and rashes, most effective.

Anal Perforation: Rarely, a newborn lacks an anus and cannot pass stool; if not treated within ten days, death is inevitable. Quickly pierce with a fine knife, ensuring precise opening. Afterwards, roll silk cloth into a shape like a little finger, soak in sesame oil, and insert to prevent closure. Apply Shengji San (Flesh-Regenerating Powder) nearby (see Swelling and Toxicity section) for self-healing. If a pore exists but is blocked, penetrate with the tip of a gold or jade hairpin; a silver hairpin tip also works.

Feeding: Milk and food should be minimal. (Proverb: Endure three parts cold, eat seven parts full. Another saying: Children's illnesses often stem from overeating.) Excess damages the Spleen and Stomach. (Initially vomiting and diarrhea; long-term leads to accumulation disorders.) If breast milk is unavailable, substitute with pig milk (to avoid Fright Epilepsy and smallpox); drinking it regularly within the first month is best. (Method: When a piglet suckles, place a cup underneath, then lift the sow's hind legs to detach the teat.)

Placenta Burial: Place the placenta in a new jar, wrap the mouth with green cloth, tie tightly, and cover with bricks. After three days, bury it three chi deep in a sunny, dry location chosen according to auspicious dates. This ensures the child's longevity and ambition.

Inspecting the Fontanelle (The moving spot on the top of the head): The cranial fontanelle is the gateway of spirit and the aperture of orifices. It connects up and down, communicates with Baihui (GV20), corresponds to the seven orifices, relies on the Five Zang Organs, is the palace of Nidan, and the cave of Hun and Po. When Qi is excess, it closes; when deficient, it opens. As the child grows, it must close properly. Physicians must observe this carefully. Wide fontanels indicate deep pathology; unclosed fontanels suggest fear of heat and aversion to cold. Sunken fontanels indicate loose stools; bulging fontanels indicate Wind diseases; chronic cold indicates vomiting and diarrhea; soft fontanels indicate epilepsy; fontanels extending to the forehead indicate susceptibility to fright; rapid pulsation indicates weak Qi. Many childhood illnesses arise from this. Prefer warmth, avoid cold, and protect to ensure health. (For winter births, make a bowl-shaped cap to wear constantly.) Infants should not be taken out to meet strangers within the first month, nor taken to temples or graves in early childhood (to avoid Evil Qi). In summer, sew a colored cloth pouch containing seven peeled and halved Apricot Kernels (Xingren), and have the child wear it to prevent fright from thunder (See Xingxing San formula, end of volume).