典藏书目

During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, a folk physician surnamed Jin in Hangzhou became wealthy relying on a secret prescription for treating ear diseases. His family has since declined, but someone inherited this prescription and found it highly effective. The method involves taking a whole large clam shell, filling it with human feces, Qiannian Duanshi (a mineral drug calcined over a long period), and wild boar foot claws (available at wax shops). The shell is tightly bound with iron wire, coated externally with mud, and roasted over charcoal until blue smoke rises. It is then placed on the ground to remove its "fire nature," ground into a fine powder, stored secretly in a porcelain bottle. For patients suffering from ear ulcers or otorrhea (discharge of fluid from the ear), applying this powder directly into the ear canal brings immediate cure. This prescription was described by Yu Yixiang from Tiantai, who stated that it is not only effective for ear diseases but also for any external sores or ulcers. It has been used successfully to treat chronic intertrigo (referred to as "skirt-edge sore") lasting for years.

It is common for people to clean their ears after shaving their heads to feel comfortable; this habit often starts in childhood and becomes natural. However, digging too deep can cause injury and bleeding. A case recorded in *Supu Yi'an* (Medical Cases by Zheng Zaixin) is particularly alarming and is recorded here as a warning. A military attendant in his twenties had his ear canal pierced by a copper ear pick while being teased by peers, resulting in continuous bleeding. He sought treatment from a surgeon, initially feeling no pain. Ten days later, he suddenly developed a headache. An internal medicine physician was consulted, but the condition worsened. When I examined him, he suffered from splitting headaches, body stiffness, flushed face, irritability, a wiry and tight pulse, and pus mixed with blood flowing from his mouth. The medications he had taken previously consisted mainly of Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma). The patient claimed the pus did not come from his throat. I diagnosed: "This is pus and blood from the brain entering the nasal cavity and seeping out through the mouth. It is definitely Wind-Stabbing Disease (Po Shang Feng)." Neck stiffness indicates a difficult prognosis, but fortunately, there were no signs of cold extremities. I prescribed Xiao Xuming Tang (Minor Continue Life Decoction), heavily increasing the dosage of Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), while removing Huangqin. After one dose, he sweated slightly, and the headache reduced by half. After the second dose, his neck became flexible. After more than ten doses, scabs formed inside the ear, and cerebrospinal fluid discharge ceased, although he lost hearing completely in that ear.

When astigmatism or corneal opacities (described as "stars" in the eye) first appear, they should be treated immediately. The prescription from *Shishi Milu* (Secret Records of the Stone Chamber) is excellent: Baijili (Tribuli Fructus) 3 qian, decocted in water to wash the eyes, four to five times daily. I achieved success with this method in two other cases. In another instance, inserting fresh tangerine peel into the nostrils cleared the opacity within half a day. Another traditional prescription uses Shancigu (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma) and Balu (Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis) ground into juice, with a small amount of Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) added, applied to the eyes to treat visual obstructions effectively.

Some patients with Liver Disease (Gan Bing) took heavy doses of Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). While their liver disease improved, they went blind because Chaihu exhausts Liver Yin. Generally, warming and dispersing herbs damage vision. A friend of mine who indulged in drinking distilled spirits eventually lost his sight. Foods such as leeks, garlic, pepper, and mustard, which consume visual energy, should also be avoided.

One patient suffered from Head Wind Pain (Tou Feng Tong) leading to blindness in both eyes. Despite seeking various treatments without success, he rested briefly in a teahouse. A local villager advised him to decoct wild amaranth found at road intersections or near village houses. He poured the hot soup into a clay pot and fumigated his eyes with the steam several times a day. After half a month, his vision recovered.

Xu Xinmu stated: Among prescriptions for improving vision that can be taken long-term, Gouju Wan (Goji and Chrysanthemum Pill) is the best (composed solely of Gouqi Zi and Juhua, not to be confused with Liuwei Dihuang Wan). Black soybeans are second. *Shouqin Yanglao Xinshu* records: Li Xiaoyu selected tight, small, round black soybeans, swallowing fourteen grains with well water early in the morning, calling them "Five Zang Grains." This practice maintains hearing and vision even in old age. Recent popular methods suggest taking forty-nine raw small black soybeans with boiling water every morning, continuously, to keep eyes bright until old age. At twenty-nine, I suffered from Wind-Fire Red Eye. After recovery, excessive reading caused blurry, dry, and photophobic eyes, making writing impossible. An ophthalmologist applied red medicinal drops, worsening the condition. I resigned from teaching, stayed indoors to rest, and specifically consumed black soybeans. Every morning, I brushed my teeth with Mingfan (Alumen), rinsed my mouth with the face-washing water, and then washed my eyes with it. I closed my eyes for a moment to let it dry naturally. After six months, my vision returned to normal. Continuing to take black soybeans for over twenty years, my vision remains sharp, allowing me to write small characters under lamplight. This is undoubtedly due to this prescription. Anyone experiencing blurred vision in middle age should take this. If the cool nature of black soybeans is unsuitable for those with cold constitutions, Gouju Wan is recommended. (In autumn of the Ding-Si year, I saw Wu Duanfu's *Yijian Liangfang* record the method of consuming black soybeans and its efficacy. It states: Eat one raw grain per year of age, starting from childhood, adjusting annually, ensuring no eye diseases ever occur. In the Ren-Zi year, during the provincial examination, I was forty-two and could barely see the lines under lamplight. Soon after obtaining this prescription, I took it without interruption. Five years later, my eyesight doubled compared to my youth. Truly a miraculous prescription.)

The *Puji Fang* (Universal Effective Prescriptions) compiled by Prince Zhou of the Ming Dynasty contains 426 volumes and 61,739 prescriptions. While in Hangzhou, I wished to copy this book but needed over a million cash, so I abandoned the idea. In the ninth year of Xianfeng, I obtained a printed volume of ophthalmology from my bookseller friend Qiu Chunsheng. It was Volume 31 of *Puji Fang*, consisting of 100 pages, divided into thirteen categories: External and Internal Obstruction Eyes, Internal Obstruction Eyes, External Obstruction Eyes, Impending Internal Obstruction, Medication After Acupuncture for Internal Obstruction, Skin Opacity, Nail-shaped Opacity, Flower-shaped Opacity, Sudden Membrane Formation, Long-standing Opacity, Dim Vision, Seeing Black Spots/Flying Flies, and Eye Dizziness. Each category has discussions and a total of 588 prescriptions. Among them, in the "External and Internal Obstruction" category, there is a prescription for removing opacities, generating blood, and relieving pain (from *Jiacang Jingyan Fang*), using Qicao juice (larvae juice) dropped into the eyes, and eating roasted larvae. Chen's empirical formula cites: *Book of Jin* records that Sheng Yan's mother went blind. Sheng Yan cared for her personally, feeding her meals. Due to prolonged illness, she became dependent, and servants often beat her. Resenting this, a servant roasted Qicao (grub larvae) while Sheng Yan was away and fed it to the mother, who found it delicious. Suspecting it was strange, she hid it to show Sheng Yan. Upon seeing it, Sheng Yan hugged his mother and wept bitterly. The mother fainted but revived, and her eyes opened clearly, leading to a complete cure. Mencius said: Wasn't Chen Zhongzi truly an upright man? Living in Wuling for three days without food, he heard nothing and saw nothing. There was a plum tree by the well, half-eaten by grubs. He crawled to eat it, swallowed three bites, and then could hear and see again. *Bencao* (Materia Medica) states: Qicao juice dropped in the eyes removes opacities. In Qujiang, I met an officer dismissed from the army due to blindness. Having read this story in *Book of Jin*, combined with Mencius's words and Bencao's theory, I instructed his son to prepare and feed him the roasted larvae secretly. Ten days later, his sight returned, and he thanked me profusely. I recorded this to help others. Note: This prescription is rare in other texts; it is included here for those blinded by opacities. Niu Lanwan said: An elderly woman in Hucheng, in her forties, had blurry vision preventing her from sewing. She obtained a prescription: Collect Ecliptae Herba (Hanlian Cao) on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, crush it into juice, mix with salt, expose to sun by day and dew by night. Every morning, after washing and resting, apply a few drops into the eyes. Initially slightly painful, then normal. Her vision gradually improved, and she could still sew under lamplight in her seventies.