古代的良医,都不预先制定固定的方剂,为什么呢?因为疾病的变化无穷无尽,而方剂的数量是有限的。如果让医术不高明的人被似是而非的症状迷惑而随意使用这些固定方剂,那么造成的危害就太大了。只有张仲景的《伤寒论》在论述病症和开具处方时,详尽无遗,并且制定了增减进退(根据病情变化调整药味或剂量)的方法,以此来预先告知后人。唉!仁人志士的用心之深,如果不是通晓神明、技艺精妙的人是不能做到的。庞安常又担忧书中存在有病症描述却缺乏对应方剂的情况,于是续写了几卷论述,他的用心之深和医术之高,不追随古人,怎么能达到这种境界呢?淮南地区的人称庞安常能够与“伤寒”对话(意指他精通伤寒病机),这难道不是真的吗?我将要离开黄州,栾仲实作为黄州别驾的后任,请求我为其父亲写的序言题字,而仲实的父亲是医生,深得庞君医术的精妙之处,您认为怎么样呢?(出自张耒《柯山集·卷四十四》)
Ancient excellent physicians did not pre-formulate fixed prescriptions. Why? Because the onset and progression of diseases are infinite, whereas the number of prescriptions is finite. If incompetent practitioners were confused by similar yet distinct symptoms and applied these fixed prescriptions indiscriminately, the harm would be severe. Only Zhang Zhongjing’s *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases) meticulously details both disease manifestations and corresponding prescriptions, and further provides methods for modification, addition, reduction, and adjustment to anticipate future changes. Alas! The profound intention of a benevolent person cannot be achieved unless one possesses divine insight and exquisite skill. Pang Anchang further worried that there were cases with symptom descriptions but lacking corresponding prescriptions; thus, he continued to write several volumes of treatises. His dedication and medical expertise, without emulating ancient masters, how could he have reached such heights? People in Huainan say that Pang Anchang can "speak with" cold damage (indicating his mastery over the pathogenesis of cold damage), is this not true? I am about to leave Huangzhou. Luan Zhongshi, succeeding as the Vice Prefect of Huangzhou, requested me to inscribe a postface written by his father. His father was a physician who had mastered the subtleties of Master Pang’s art. What do you think? (From Zhang Lei’s *Keshan Ji*, Volume 44)