A young man frequently saw a small mirror in his vision and consulted physician Zhao Qing. Zhao Qing arranged to entertain the young man with fish the following morning. The young man arrived as scheduled, and Zhao Qing led him into an inner room, instructing him to wait patiently until guests had departed before meeting. Soon after, a table was set with a bowl of mustard vinegar, and nothing else; Zhao Qing did not appear. By midday, having waited for a long time without seeing Zhao Qing, the young man became extremely hungry and, smelling the vinegar, could not resist taking a few sips. After a short while, he drank more, feeling a sudden relief in his chest and the disappearance of his visual disturbance. He then drained the entire bowl. Upon learning this, Zhao Qing finally emerged. The young man apologized shamefully for drinking the vinegar. Zhao Qing said, "Young master, your previous discomfort from excessive consumption of sauces and vinegars, along with fish scales lodged in your chest, caused the visual disturbance. The prepared sauces and vinegar were intended for you to consume when hungry, which indeed cured your ailment. The gathering with fresh fish was merely a stratagem." (From *Bei Suo Meng Yan*)

Those suffering from eye diseases must strictly avoid bathing, lest they become blind. (From *Dun Zhai Xian Lan*)

For those suffering from hordeolum (stye), take one cloth needle, hold it against the mouth of a well, and gaze obliquely at it with the eyes. Then break the needle into two pieces and throw them into the well. The eye will be cured, but do not let others see this act.

Xun Muzhong often told me years ago: A patient perceived one object as two. Physicians attributed this to excess liver qi causing diplopia and prescribed liver-tonifying medicines, all of which failed. What disease is this? I replied: Sun Simiao stated that the optic nerve connects upward to the back of the head and emerges from the brain. If pathogenic factors strike the head while the body is deficient, the pathogens penetrate deeply, following the optic nerve into the brain. Once in the brain, rotation occurs, tension arises in the optic nerve, leading to vertigo. Pathogens striking the eyeball cause misalignment, resulting in scattered vision and diplopia. Prescribing wind-dispelling herbs targeting the brain cured the patient. (From *Ben Shi Fang*)

Equal parts of Angelica sinensis root (Danggui), Coptis chinensis rhizome (Huanglian), and Paeonia lactiflora root (Shaoyao) are decocted strongly in water. Wash the eyes with the hot liquid; reheat if it cools. This is highly beneficial for the eyes and can be used for wind-toxicity-induced red eyes or corneal opacities. All eye diseases stem from blood vessel stagnation; thus, blood-activating herbs combined with Huanglian are used. Blood flows freely when heated, so washing with hot liquid yields miraculous results for users. (From *Ben Cao Gang Mu*, note on Huanglian)

Yuan Zhang, Vice Minister, recounted: A scholar from Kaide Prefecture traveled to the capital with a servant. One day, the servant suddenly suffered from throat closure (throat obstruction), experiencing distension and blocked qi, facing imminent death. Locals advised seeking treatment from Li Family on Maxing Street. Li Family was alarmed, stating the condition was critical and death was certain without intervention. He took a paper wick from a box, ignited it, extinguished the flame upon smoke appearance, inserted it into the servant's open throat, and induced vomiting of half a sheng of dark purple blood. Immediately, breathing eased, speech resumed, and the servant could drink porridge. Medicinal powder was applied, leading to instant recovery. The scholar marveled at the skill. Later, back in his hometown, a quack doctor learned this technique, claiming throat diseases originating in the six fu organs can be treated by probing and lancing blood stasis, whereas those in the five zang organs involve deep toxicity beyond manual or herbal reach, making the paper wick the primary method. However, he did not explain why the paper wick was used. Someone later found a remnant and discovered it had been pre-coated with croton oil, allowing it to ignite easily and deliver toxic fumes directly to the lesion. (From *Lei Bian*)