三家医案，藏箧有年，校刊医效秘传竣事，同人以两书如丰城宝物，必合延津，怂恿合
刻。缘重为补订，命门人凌又新，侄右 校正，以应同人之命。并略系例言如左。
医案与医书，似同实异。书则示人以规矩，故宜分门别类，使后学有一定之准绳；案则
因症用
方有一方之运用，不致泥古不化，以佐书之不逮。既无定体，奚烦类别，故随选随录之。况
案中病情杂见者颇多，本难条分缕析也。
叶氏方案，散播人间者不少，然所存俱当时门诊为多，余搜罗二十余年，不下八九百案
禊湖毛氏、邱氏本，皆系及门汇存赴诊之案。案中议论超迈，立法精到，尤足启迪后人，故
采取独多于他本。
薛案，余所得郡中朱氏抄存本外，散见者落落晨星。如定武兰亭不少概见，惟余同里
莲溪有手抄本，较朱本多十分之四，亟为注册表。然终恨存方不多，倘同志君子另有藏本，尚
希邮寄补刊，以广其传，幸甚。
缪案，乃业师张友樵先生手录。缪氏专于调补，善用异类有情之品，疗治虚劳杂症，头
头是道，实补前哲所未发。故合纂行世。
是书所录，仅三家之寸鳞片爪耳。而回春妙手，已见一斑，诚即此触类而引伸之，于斯
道未必无小补云。
续刊书五各，西洋利西泰人身说概，盐官裴一中言医，平湖陆秋山瘟疫新编，暨拙着语
冰漫录，阅历知非，俱已汇稿嗣出。
道光辛卯秋八月望日笠泽吴金寿子音氏识
《三家医案》这部书，在书箱中收藏已有多年。在校勘刊印《医效秘传》完成后，志同道合的朋友认为这两本书如同丰城宝剑与延津龙剑一般，是珍贵的宝物，必定应当合而为一，于是怂恿我将它们合并刻印。因此重新加以补充修订，命令门人凌又新、侄子吴右对内容进行校正，以回应朋友们的嘱托。并简要列出如下凡例。
医案与医书，表面上看似相同，实际上却不同。医书是用来向人们展示诊疗规范和法则的，所以适宜分门别类，使初学者有固定的准则可循；医案则是根据症状使用方药，体现了一首方剂在具体运用中的灵活性，不至于拘泥古法而不知变通，以此来弥补医书的不足。既然医案没有固定的体式，何必烦劳去分类呢？所以我是随选随录的。况且医案中病情错综复杂的情况很多，本来就很难条理分明地逐一分析。
叶天士的方案，流传在民间的不少，但保存下来的大多是当时的门诊记录。我搜集了二十多年，不下八九百案。禊湖毛氏和邱氏的版本，都是其弟子汇集保存的上门诊病记录。这些医案中议论高超，立法精当，尤其足以启迪后人，所以我采纳的数量多于其他版本。
薛生白的医案，我在郡中得到朱氏抄存的版本之外，散见于世的寥寥无几，就像定武兰亭帖一样难得一见。只有我同乡莲溪有一部手抄本，比朱氏版本多出十分之四，急忙将其注册表记出来。然而始终遗憾存留的方子不多，如果有志同道合的君子另有藏本，还希望邮寄过来以便补刻，使其广泛流传，那将是莫大的幸运。
缪仲淳的医案，是我的业师张友樵先生亲手记录的。缪氏专门擅长调理补益，善于使用“异类有情”（指动物类药材）的药物，治疗虚劳杂症，头头是道，确实填补了前代名医未曾阐发的空白。所以将其合编刊行于世。
这本书所收录的，仅仅是这三家医案的冰山一角。但他们起死回生的妙手神技，已可见一斑。如果读者能由此触类旁通、引申发挥，对于中医之道未必没有小小的帮助。
后续计划刊行的书籍有五部：西洋人利玛窦口述的《人身说概》、盐官裴一中的《言医》、平湖陆秋山的《瘟疫新编》，以及拙作《语冰漫录》、《阅历知非》，都已经汇总稿件，随后将会出版。
道光辛卯年（1831年）八月十五日，笠泽吴金寿字子音者识于后。
The *Three Physicians' Medical Cases* has been kept in a book chest for many years. After the completion of the collation and printing of *Yi Xiao Mi Chuan* (Secrets of Medical Efficacy), like-minded friends, regarding these two books as precious treasures akin to the swords found at Fengcheng and Yanjin, urged that they be combined and printed together. Consequently, I undertook further supplementation and revision, instructing my disciple Ling Youxin and my nephew Wu You to proofread and correct the texts, in response to their request. The following precepts are briefly listed below.
Medical cases and medical books appear similar but are fundamentally different. Books demonstrate rules and standards to readers; therefore, they should be categorized by subject matter so that beginners have a fixed guideline. Cases, however, involve applying formulas based on specific symptoms, demonstrating the flexible application of a single formula without rigid adherence to ancient methods, thereby supplementing the limitations of books. Since cases lack a fixed format, there is no need for strict categorization; thus, I selected and recorded them as I went. Moreover, since cases often present complex and mixed clinical presentations, it is inherently difficult to analyze them with meticulous detail.
Ye Tianshi's case records are widely circulated among the public, yet most preserved ones are outpatient consultations. Having collected materials for over twenty years, I gathered no fewer than eight hundred to nine hundred cases. The versions by Mao and Qiu from Xihu were compiled and preserved by their disciples from home visits. The discussions in these cases are profound, and their formulation principles are precise, making them particularly enlightening for future generations; hence, I adopted more of these than other versions.
Regarding Xue Bing's cases, besides the copy preserved by the Zhu family in our county, scattered copies are rare, much like the elusive Lanting Preface from Dingwu. Only Mr. Lianxi, a fellow townsman, possessed a handwritten copy containing forty percent more content than the Zhu version, which I promptly registered and noted. However, I regret that the number of prescriptions preserved is small. If any gentleman sharing this interest possesses another copy, I hope he will mail it to me for supplementary printing to facilitate its wider dissemination, which would be greatly appreciated.
Miao Wei's cases were hand-recorded by my principal teacher, Mr. Zhang Youqiao. Miao specialized in regulation and tonification, skillfully utilizing "sentient substances of different categories" (animal-derived medicinal materials) to treat consumptive diseases and miscellaneous disorders. His approach was logical and comprehensive, truly filling gaps left by earlier physicians. Therefore, these have been compiled and published together.
The cases recorded in this book represent only a fragment of the three physicians' works. Yet, glimpses of their miraculous healing skills are evident. It is hoped that readers may extend these insights through analogy and deduction, providing perhaps a minor contribution to the art of medicine.
Subsequent publications planned include five volumes: *Ren Shen Shuo Gai* (General Description of the Human Body) dictated by the Westerner Matteo Ricci, *Yan Yi* (Remarks on Medicine) by Pei Yizhong of Yanguan, *Wen Yi Xin Bian* (New Compilation on Plague Diseases) by Lu Qiushan of Pinghu, along with my own works *Yu Bing Man Lu* (Casual Records of Speaking Ice) and *Yu Li Zhi Fei* (Knowing Errors Through Experience). These manuscripts have been compiled and will be issued subsequently.
Recorded on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Xinmao year of the Daoguang reign [1831], by Wu Jinshou, courtesy name Ziyin, of Lizé.