医何尚乎有案，案何尚乎有方，方者，效也；案者，断也。案有理有法，穷其因，详其证，而断以治。方
有君有臣，有正有反，有奇有偶，因其过，去其偏，而持乎平。平即治，治即愈矣。慨自长沙以降，名贤如鲫，
着述之多，更仆难尽，至于今日，读者不暇举其名目，遑论其所说哉！即其说也，亦复各持一端，善于此者毁
于彼，主于此者奴于彼，而更句繁语叠，篇重简复，片言可尽，累卷难穷，虽妙语如环，动人耳目，而清谈徒
尚，无补实用。论不能必其有用，用不能必其有效，徒使学人目眩耳迷、徘徊岐路，尽信书则不如无书，以有涯
之生，致无穷之学，其不殆者寡矣。博以求约，信而有征，则医案是尚。盖医案之作，因证求因，以因求治，因治
制方，以方观效。其效也，如鼓应桴，其不效也，如日月之食，非可以空言搪塞，敷语维持也。后之学人，按图以
索，亦步以趋，损益成法，错纵新意，因规矩以成方圆，举一隅而得三反，其用宏，其效着矣。案之佳者，首
推清代，徐、尤、叶、薛，各有专精。宅诵家传，奉为鸿秘，惟精于此者拙于彼，癖于补者难于攻，殆所谓专
精易深，众善难求者欤。甘仁丁先生，系出孟河，孟河固多名医。先生耳目所及，取精撷华，益复上追古人，
穷研至理，熔古铸今，内外兼善，盖无病而不治，无治而不痊者也。悬壶海上，户限为穿，社会推为良工，医
界让为巨擘。绍庭几席追陪，谬承知己，谊同昆季，进于友师，磨琢切磋，获益无既。惜乎仁者不寿，先生遽
归道山，马首难瞻，他山莫助，此绍庭所为嘻吁流涕者也。乃者先生文孙济万，克承先志，收辑遗案，编订成
书。以资后学之观摩，以作同道之借镜，意至善也。辱承不弃，索序于余，惭余无学，不足以序先生，惟以为
医案之关系医道也如此其巨，而先生之学问，为绍庭所深知，则此编之有益于同道、于后学，盖无待乎烛照数
计而龟卜矣，是为序。
丁卯年冬月应堂夏绍庭谨撰
医生为什么还需要医案？医案的价值在于处方，处方的核心在于疗效；医案的核心在于辨证论断。医案要有理有据、有法可依，探究病因，详察证候，从而做出治疗判断。处方要有君药、臣药，有正治、反治，有奇方、偶方，针对病邪的偏盛，去除身体的偏颇，从而使机体恢复平衡。平衡即是治愈，治愈即意味着痊愈。
自汉代张仲景（长沙太守）以来，名医如鱼群般众多，著作之多，数不胜数。到了今天，读者连书名都来不及列举，更不用说深入探讨其中的内容了！即使讨论这些学说，也是各持己见，擅长此道的人往往诋毁彼道，主张此法的人往往贬低彼法，而且文字繁复重叠，篇章重复简略，本来一句话就能说清的道理，却要用几卷书也难以穷尽。虽然妙语连珠，动人心目，但只是崇尚清谈，对实际医疗没有帮助。理论不能保证一定有用，应用不能保证一定有效，只会让学习者眼花缭乱、在歧路上徘徊。完全相信书本不如没有书本，以有限的生命去追求无穷的知识，能避免危险的人是很少的。通过广博的学习以求简约，确信且有证据支持，那么医案就是首选。因为医案的编写，是根据症状求病因，根据病因求治法，根据治法制定处方，通过处方观察疗效。其疗效之显著，如同击鼓应槌般迅速准确；其无效的情况，也如日食月食一样清晰可见，不能用空话搪塞，用言语维持。后来的学习者，按照图索骥，亦步亦趋，在成法基础上增减创新，遵循规矩而成方圆，举一反三，其作用宏大，效果显著。
优秀的医案首推清代，徐灵胎、尤在泾、叶天士、薛生白等人，各有专精。我诵读家传医籍，奉为珍贵秘密，但精通某一方面的人往往在其他方面显得笨拙，偏好补益疗法的人难以掌握攻伐之法，这大概就是所谓“专精容易深入，众善难以兼得”吧。丁甘仁先生，出身于孟河，孟河原本就名医辈出。先生耳闻目睹，汲取精华，进而追溯古人，穷究至理，融会古今，内外兼修，可以说没有治不好的病，没有不痊愈的治疗。他在上海行医，门槛都被踏破，社会推崇他为良医，医学界尊他为巨擘。我有幸在厅堂旁侍奉追随，承蒙视为知己，情同兄弟，进则为友师，切磋琢磨，获益无穷。可惜仁者不长寿，先生突然去世，再也无法瞻仰马首，其他方面也得不到帮助，这是绍庭叹息流泪的原因。如今先生的文孙丁济万，能够继承先人遗志，收集整理遗留下的医案，编辑成书。以此供后学观摩，作为同道的借鉴，用意非常美好。承蒙不弃，向我索求序言，惭愧我没有学问，不足以给先生作序，只认为医案对医道的关系如此巨大，而先生的学问，被绍庭所深知，那么这部书对同道、对后学的益处，根本不用占卜测算就知道了，这就是序言。
丁卯年冬月，夏绍庭谨撰
Why is it that physicians still value medical cases? What is valued in medical cases is the prescription; what is essential in prescriptions is efficacy. A medical case involves reasoning and methodology: investigating the etiology, detailing the syndrome patterns, and making a therapeutic judgment. A prescription consists of sovereign (Jun), ministerial (Chen) herbs, orthodox (Zheng) and counteracting (Fan) treatments, odd (Qi) and even (Ou) formulas. It addresses pathogenic excesses, eliminates bodily imbalances, and maintains equilibrium. Equilibrium constitutes cure, and cure signifies recovery.
Since the time of Zhang Zhongjing (the Prefect of Changsha), renowned sages have been as numerous as fish in a stream, and their writings are too many to count one by one. To this day, readers do not have the leisure to even list their titles, let alone discuss their contents! Even when discussing these theories, each adheres to a single viewpoint; those proficient in one area disparage another, and proponents of one method enslave themselves to another. The language is verbose and repetitive, with chapters duplicating simple concepts. What could be summarized in a few words takes volumes to exhaust. Although the brilliant phrases may captivate the senses, they merely advocate empty talk without benefiting practical application. Theories cannot guarantee utility, and applications cannot guarantee efficacy. This only bewilders learners, causing them to hesitate on the wrong path. As the saying goes, "To believe everything in books is better than having no books at all." With life being finite and learning infinite, few can avoid peril. Seeking simplicity through breadth, and ensuring claims are credible and verifiable, medical cases are paramount. The creation of medical cases involves seeking etiology from symptoms, seeking treatment from etiology, formulating prescriptions based on treatment, and observing efficacy through prescriptions. Their efficacy is as immediate as a drum responding to a beat; their lack of efficacy is as evident as an eclipse of the sun or moon. They cannot be dismissed with empty words or sustained by mere rhetoric. Later learners, following the map to find the horse, step by step emulate, modifying established methods and integrating novel ideas. Following rules to create shapes, inferring three corners from one, their utility is broad and their effects prominent.
Among excellent medical cases, the Qing Dynasty is foremost, with figures such as Xu Lingtai, You Zaijing, Ye Tianshi, and Xue Shengbai, each possessing specialized expertise. I studied family-transmitted texts, regarding them as precious secrets. However, those proficient in one aspect are often clumsy in others; those addicted to tonification find attack methods difficult. This is perhaps what is meant by "specialization allows for depth, but mastering all virtues is hard." Mr. Ding Ganren, originating from Menghe—a place indeed famous for many physicians—absorbed the essence he observed with his eyes and ears, further tracing back to ancient masters, thoroughly researching profound principles, melting the ancient into the modern, excelling in both internal and external medicine. There was no disease he could not treat, nor any treatment that did not result in recovery. Practicing in Shanghai, he wore out the thresholds of his door. Society praised him as a skilled artisan, and the medical community acknowledged him as a giant. Having the privilege to attend lectures and receive guidance, I was mistakenly regarded as a confidant, our relationship akin to brothers, advancing from friend to teacher. Through mutual polishing and discussion, I benefited immensely. Alas, benevolent people do not always enjoy longevity. Mr. suddenly passed away, his horse's head became impossible to follow, and help from other mountains was unavailable. This is why Shaoting sighs and sheds tears. Now, Mr.'s literary grandson, Jiwan, has faithfully inherited his grandfather's will, collecting and editing his remaining cases into a book. This serves to provide material for later learners to observe and emulate, and to serve as a mirror for colleagues. The intention is most virtuous. Disregarding my unworthiness, you asked me for a preface. Ashamed of my lack of scholarship, I feel inadequate to write a preface for Mr. However, given how significant medical cases are to the medical way, and knowing that Mr.'s scholarship is deeply understood by Shaoting, the benefit of this compilation to colleagues and future learners needs neither candlelight inspection nor tortoise shell divination to be known. Thus, this preface.
Written respectfully by Xia Shaoting in the winter month of the Dingmao year.