幼科古主谓之哑科，以其不能言，而不知病之所在也。此特其一端耳。幼科之病，如变
蒸胎
惊之类，与成人异者，不可胜举。非若妇人之与男子异者，只经产数端耳。古人所以另立专
科，其说精详明备。自初生以至成童，其病名不帝以百计。其治法立方，种种各别。又妇人
之与男子病相同者，治亦相同。若小儿与之成人，即病相同者，治亦迥异。如伤食之症，反
有用巴豆、硼砂。其余诸症，多用金石峻厉之药，特分两极少耳。此古人真传也！后世不敢
用，而以草木和平之药治之，往往迁延而死。此医者失传之故。至于调摄之法，病家能知之
者，千不得一。盖小儿纯阳之体，最宜清凉，今人非太暖，即太饱。而其尤害者，则在于有
病之后，而数与之乳。乳之为物，得热则坚韧如棉絮。况儿有病则食乳甚稀，乳久不食，则
愈弃满，一与之吮，则迅疾涌出，较平日之下咽更多。前乳未消，新乳复充，填积胃口，化
为顽痰，痰火相结，诸脉皆闭而死矣。譬如常人平日食饭几何，当病危之时，其食与平时不
减，安有不死者哉？然嘱病家云∶乳不可食。则群相诟曰∶乳犹水也，食之何害？况儿虚如此
，全赖乳养，若复禁乳，则饿死矣。不但不肯信，反将医者诟骂。其余之不当食而食，与当
食而反不与之食，种种失宜，不可枚举。医者岂能坐守之，使事事合节耶？况明理之医，能
知调养之法者，亦百不得一。故小儿之所以难治者，非尽不能言之故也。
儿科在古代被称为“哑科”，因为患儿不能言语，无法指出病痛所在。这仅仅是其中一个原因罢了。儿科的疾病，如变蒸、胎惊等，与成人不同的情况，多得数不胜数。不像妇女与男子的差异，仅局限于经、带、胎、产几个方面而已。古人之所以单独设立专科，其理论精妙详尽、明确完备。从初生婴儿到成童时期，病名不止以百计。其治疗方法和处方，种种各不相同。而且妇女与男子若病症相同，治疗方法也相同；而小儿与成人即使病症相同，治疗方法也截然不同。例如伤食症，反而有用巴豆、硼砂的情况。其余各种病症，多使用金石类峻烈猛烈的药物，只是剂量极少罢了。这是古人的真传！后世医生不敢使用，而用草木类平和的药物来治疗，往往导致病情拖延致死。这是医者失传的缘故。至于调护的方法，病家能知道的，千中不到一个。因为小儿是纯阳之体，最适宜清凉护理，现在的人不是给孩子穿得太暖，就是喂得太饱。其中危害最大的，在于孩子生病之后，频繁地给其喂奶。乳汁这种东西，受热后会变得坚韧如棉絮。况且孩子有病时吃奶很少，如果长时间不吃，乳汁就会更加充满乳房，一旦让孩子吮吸，就会迅速涌出，比平时吞咽的量更多。前一次的奶还没消化，新的奶又充满了胃，填塞积滞在胃口，化为顽固的痰饮，痰火相互结聚，导致诸脉闭塞而死。这就好比常人平时能吃多少饭，在病危的时候，进食量并不比平时减少，怎么会有不死呢？然而嘱咐病家说：“奶不可吃。”众人就互相辱骂说：“奶就像水一样，吃它有什么害处？况且孩子虚弱成这样，全靠奶来滋养，如果再禁止吃奶，那就饿死了。”不仅不肯相信，反而将医生辱骂。其余的不该吃却吃了，该吃却反而不给吃的，种种不当之处，不可枚举。医生难道能坐在那里守着，让每件事都合乎节度吗？况且明理的医生，能懂得调养方法的，也是百中无一。所以小儿之所以难治，并不完全是因为不能说话的缘故啊。
Pediatrics was historically referred to as the "Mute Department" (Ya Ke), because infants cannot speak and thus cannot indicate the location of their illness. This is merely one aspect of it. The diseases in pediatrics, such as Bian Zheng (physiological fever in infants) and Tai Jing (fetal fright), differ from those in adults in countless ways. Unlike the differences between women and men, which are limited to menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, and childbirth, the distinctions here are manifold. The ancients established a separate specialty for this reason, with theories that were precise, detailed, clear, and comprehensive. From birth to childhood, disease names numbered in the hundreds. Their treatment methods and prescriptions varied greatly. Furthermore, while women and men share similar treatments when suffering from the same disease, children and adults receive vastly different treatments even if they present with identical symptoms. For instance, in cases of food stagnation (Shang Shi), drugs such as Crotonis Fructus (Badou, 巴豆) and Borax (Pengsha, 硼砂) were sometimes used. For other conditions, heavy and harsh minerals and metals were frequently employed, though in very small dosages. This represents the authentic transmission of the ancients! Later generations dared not use these, opting instead for mild herbal medicines, often resulting in prolonged illness and death. This is due to the loss of medical knowledge. Regarding nursing care, fewer than one in a thousand parents know how to properly manage it. Since children possess a "Pure Yang" constitution (Chun Yang Zhi Ti), they require cool and refreshing care. However, modern caregivers either over-warm or over-feed them. The most harmful practice occurs after illness begins, where milk is administered frequently. Milk, when heated, becomes tough like cotton wadding. Moreover, when a child is ill, milk intake is scant; if left unemptied for long, the breasts become engorged. Upon suckling, the milk flows out rapidly and in greater volume than usual. Before the previous meal has digested, new milk fills the stomach, causing accumulation at the epigastrium, transforming into stubborn phlegm. Phlegm and fire bind together, closing all meridians, leading to death. It is akin to an adult who continues to eat normal amounts during critical illness; survival is impossible. Yet, when physicians instruct parents: "Do not give milk," the crowd curses, saying, "Milk is like water; what harm is there? Besides, the child is so weak and relies entirely on milk for nourishment; if we forbid it, the child will starve." They not only refuse to believe but also insult the physician. Other improper feeding practices—feeding when one should not, or withholding food when one should—are too numerous to list. Can a physician sit by and ensure every detail is managed correctly? Even enlightened physicians who understand nursing principles are rare, less than one in a hundred. Therefore, the difficulty in treating children is not solely due to their inability to speak.