先生出身寒门，平素不肯轻易挥霍分文，但每见市肆出售药书，则无不倾囊购之。还经常到旧书摊上收买廉价旧书，谓：书旧字不旧，价值依然。遇到好机会，碰巧买到稀有珍本，更是喜形于色，乐不胜制。先生从此时起已开始养成了爱书如宝，千方百计地买书藏书的习惯。纵然一时无法买到的珍本，善本，每必借抄，汇订成册，列入书架。偶而发现所藏书籍有所破损，总候暇予以细心修补。中年以后，先生儿女绕膝，他一面勉励儿女勤奋读书学习，一面教育孩子爱护书籍，家教甚严。记得有一次他年方十几岁的爱子，阅读时不慎弄损了几页书，禀性慈祥的先生则一反其常，大加责斥。
一九一一年间(民国元年)，先生藏书已达数千册，著作手稿已有十余种。因先生同善局施医所住宅遭受火灾，时先生适返原籍探亲，回绍后见所著手稿、收藏书籍尽付一炬，殊感痛惜。抗战时期，日寇
飞机轰炸绍兴，时先生手著《人身体用通考》诸书业已完稿，为防被日机炸毁，于是动员合家，日以继夜地挖成防空洞，将稿和书悉置洞内，而对其他家产却不暇顾及。后来绍兴沦陷，先生又连夜租船将所藏之书和手稿转移至山乡僻地。战后回城，他为所藏书稿得保完璧而喜不自禁，竟似孩提般鼓掌庆幸之，而对别的家产焚于战火却不甚痛惜。
及至晚年，先生的著作已有数百种，收藏医书也突破万册，成了书富翁。他幽默地称自己是一个书富家贫的人。
毕生钻研学术堪称著作等身
一八九六年，先生辞去药铺职业，先投方晓安老夫子门下，专攻《内》、《难》、《伤寒》、《金匮》及各大家医著，历时七载。后又问业于先哲何廉臣老博士，尽传其七十年博大精深之学业，更旁参广证，奄揽众长，于是学业倍进，声名渐起。接着在绍城开办和济药局，悬壶古越。先生不喜泛泛社交，除应诊外，总是聚精会神地钻研医理。当时，同行中不少人染上酗酒赌博、寻花问柳之恶习，间或有人欲拉先生入伙，先生总是严肃地回绝，每给这些人讨个没趣。先生读书相当刻苦。清晨看书是起床后第一要事。中年以后，凡诊务稍闲，便手不离卷，直至晚年，毫不松懈。所阅之书，范围相当广泛，可说是天文，地理，生物、理化，新旧医籍，无所不览，所以他的学问非常广博、深邃。一九三四年，上海大东书局欲整理浩瀚之祖国医学书籍，因久闻先生大名，认定此任非先生莫属，乃优礼以聘，先生亦慨允弗辞。于是，从自己珍藏的万余册医籍中，精心选定三百六十五种，予以校勘、重订，编为《中国医学大成》，另辑《中国医学大成总目提要》一册，一九三六年全稿交齐。是书搜集内容之宏富，前所未有，被当时医界誉为医学之渊府。先生原筹划再编续集三百六十五种，后因战事影响，壮志未酬，连初集也仅刊印及半而遭停印。
其他如《彩图辨舌指南b，《喉痧证治》、《增订通俗伤寒论》及诸药物考证等著作，均是商量旧学，发皇新义，手眼独出，为杏林不朽名著。此外，如《浙江名医传略》等著作，对于今天的医史研究，仍不失为重要参考书。先生一生撰述、编辑、校订、圈注、眉批的医药著作，总计竟有四百一十三种之多(不包括各医刊发表的论文)，从这个数字中可以想见先生为此而付出的精力是何等的惊人。
先生原先主持绍兴春城、致大两家国药肆业务而兼行医，因此，对药品的考证、炮制、真伪辨识尤为精通。在其全部著作中除了诊断、治疗，预防卫生、医史等方面外，有很大一部分，诸如《中华药物
源流考》、《人参考》、《麝香考》，《冬虫夏草种类及效用》、《增订伪药条辨》等，都是属于药物考证、辨讹、厘订方面的专著。故其得意门生徐荣斋教授认为：曹氏学术思想，当以论药及药物考证为首位。此评语甚为中的。一九四零年前后，先生拟将近五十年所阅览的经史、说部、名人笔记、游记，各地报刊杂志摘录之所获，参考动植物学、矿物学，结合个人心得，为重修《本草纲目》作资料准备。怎奈时局动乱，兼之诊务繁忙，且完成如此宏大规模之巨著又非一花甲老人所能独胜，先生深叹欲为难成，然又不愿半途而废，无奈只得选用珍贵资料，择要逐年写成专考发表。
晚年，先生因长年伏案，久视蝇头细字，兼之用脑过度而致耳聋目花也终不悔。建国后，虽年逾古稀，仍著述不倦。在临辞世前半年，虽已龙钟老态，体力不济，然仍壮心不已，曾说：此后如精力许可，当一识途老马，为后起者指出整理祖国医学之途径。一息尚存，此志不敢稍懈也。
丹心爱国济民高风亮节后人称
先生忠以爱国，仁以济民，肝胆照人。日寇入侵时期，日货也随之充塞我国市场，药界也未能幸免。时日产翘胡子牌仁丹，谓能治夏秋暑热百病，在药肆大批拍卖，不但掠夺国民金币，而且严重地冲击，排斥我国药业，许多爱国志士，为此很感耻辱、痛心。先生目睹此状，气愤万分，于是拍案而起，决心为国家振威，为民族争气。在翻阅了大量医籍资料后，再融入多年之经验，精心研制了一种丸药，其药效高于日货仁丹，而价格也廉。定名为雪耻灵丹，意为中华民族洗辱雪耻之意，很受病家、民众所信赖、欢迎，而日货仁丹却冷落旮旯，无人问津。
此事虽小，但先生精神可嘉可敬。
一九二九年，伪中央通过了余(云岫)汪(大燮)提案，妄图消灭中医，激起了全国中医药界的强烈反对。消息传来，先生怒火填膺，急速会同医药界同仁，为捍卫祖国医药事业而大声疾呼，并与裘吉生、何幼廉(何廉臣之子)共被推为绍兴中医界之代表，赴上海出席全国医药总会成立大会，旋即晋京向
伪中央提抗议。回绍以后，又联络医药同道成立神州医学会绍兴支会，并被拥为主席。先生在为争取中医合法地位，发扬民族文化的斗争中立下了不可磨灭的功绩。
先生十分怜悯贫病者，富于同情感。中年以后，虽已大名鼎鼎，但从不摆身架或先富慢贫，对应诊病人一视同仁，待贫病者更多爱抚同情之心。当时医生出诊都以轿代步，然而遇贫苦病家来请，先生都徒步随行，有时连诊费也不收，且随叫随到，从不耽搁。
先生以医济民，安贫乐道，不为身谋，厚德薄利，惟为病家着想的高尚医德，迄今仍有口皆碑。
读书博精相兼勤录文摘万则
先生治学有两大特点：一为见缝插针，充分利用时间，广阅博览，即使是点滴空闲也从不轻易放过。把这些短暂而宝贵的间隙时间，用来读些简单精悍的小品，或是一目数行地浏览一些看来尚无关紧要，一时又用不上的边缘学科，谓之随便翻，积累知识，即所谓开卷有益。
然而，先生更多侧重的读书方式却是熟读娴研，这要花相当精力，须逐字逐句的反复推敲。因此，在时间的安排上要长一些，多在夜晚和清晨进行。因此时多不受诊务及其他的干扰，可以专心致志地解决一些实际问题。
先生读书两者相兼，而以精读为主，科学地利用了时间。尤其是在青年时代，读书注重博览强记，对《内》、《难》、《伤寒》、《金匮》诸经典，读得更是滚瓜烂熟，直到晚年，仍能朗朗背诵。其间精读之苦功，可以想见。
先生认为掌握了经典，犹如成竹在胸，后去探索金元及明清诸家，则易如反掌。对诸家学说，主张逐一研究，反对囫囵吞枣和不求甚解，也不应停留于泛泛的传统理解，强调细研详究，并在全面领会的基础上推出新意。
先生在研读中，每有心得必随手录之；即便在卧间餐时，偶有所悟必认真摘记。并常开导我们：涓涓细流可汇成千里大江，磊磊泥沙能积为万仞高山。其间寓意之深长，很能启发后学。
先生阅读前人名著和同人撰述时，一有所得，每必顺手载入笔记或录成卡片。并告诫我们别小看这只字片言，一旦用时方知字字值千金。因此，先生总把平时摘录的笔记，卡片，不论其内容如何，文字多寡，一概珍视，并分类收藏。毕生持之以恒，及至暮年，虽几经战乱，所藏卡片仍不下数万则。
济世不囿疆域颂歌四海同奏
先生生于浙，长于绍，一生中除一九二九年为抗议反动政府之废除中医政策时赴沪参加集会外，因忙于诊务及著述，几乎再没有外出过。但在学术上与各地的交流，却十分频繁，已故名医恽铁樵、傅嫩园、章次公，章太炎、周小农、徐相任和秦伯未等都与先生相交莫逆。医林今贤陈存悙(《中国药学大字典》著者)、魏长春、范行准和已故名医浙江叶熙春、山东刘惠民等也曾向先生讨教学问，鱼雁往来甚密，尤叶、刘两老，解放后先后面谒先生，研讨医理，推心
置腹，十分投机。
先生除为《绍兴医药月报》著文外，还曾给《新中国医学院校刊》、《医药卫生报》、《越铎日报》、《如皋医学报汇刊》、《中国药报》、《三三医报》等全国二十余家医药刊物撰稿，颇受编者和读者的褒誉。
先生尚不以疆域自限，与泰国、新加坡，日本、缅甸、马来西亚、菲律宾、越南等国的中医同道交流学术，并接受函询会诊，还被这些国家的中医师公会、中医药刊物聘为名誉理事、名誉编辑和特约撰
述员。不同国籍的中医同道也都纷纷来信，商讨学术，请先生答疑解惑。先生也尽皆有问必答，有求必
应，把与邻国同道的友好交往，看作是自己的义务和应尽的责任。
由于先生的谦逊好学、博闻广识和工作的出色，赢得了民众与同道的赞扬和表彰，先后收到来自海内外的表扬信函百数件，各国家中医团体的表彰十数起。如泰国中医师公会给先生的誉辞是医林泰斗，马来西亚中医公会的赞语是医界学术巨匠，新加坡中医师公会的嘉词是曹炳章先生医学深邃，自任本会撰述员以来，撰述医论，提倡学风，成绩卓著……。这些都是对先生辛勤劳动的中肯评价。
先生医术高超，屡起沉疴，深孚众望。近邻四方者，纷纷赶来就诊。日诊不下八、九十人，远方来函索方乃至海外问病求方者也日接数件。先生总把解救远方病者的疾苦，视为己任，每天必从诊务、著述两忙中抽暇为他们服务。今从先生遗简中选出海外问病拟方一则，以飨同道。
为菲律宾曾瑞锭拟方，据述；前患梦遗，经治愈后，观两耳如风水声，或如蝉鸣声，耳因此重听，眩晕。舌绛无苔垢，脉弦细。精关不固，性交早泄。此属肝肾阴液两亏，肝阳化风上扰，法当镇潜固摄为治。
盐水炒熟地12克，炒萸肉、淡天冬、破麦冬各6克，淮山药、生鳖甲(先煎)、生白芍各9克，生牡蛎15克，北芡实、川石斛各9克，生龟板(先煎)15克，煅磁石(先煎)12克，五化龙骨9克，共十帖分前后服。如服前方五帖后，耳鸣眩晕未除，问服下方四帖，再接服前方五帖。大生地12克，破麦冬9克，天冬6克，白菊花4．5克，钩藤(后下)9克，冬桑叶6克，黑芝麻9克，磁石，苦丁茶各6克，生石决明(先煎)18克，生白芍6克，生鳖甲(先煎)9克，生龟板(先煎)15克。四帖。如服后效著，多服四帖亦可。
丸方：病状同前，久常服之。
青盐O．6克，炒熟地120克，盐炒萸肉90克，淮山药、炒白芍、制首乌各90克，煅牡蛎120克，杜莲须90克，粉丹皮45克，煅磁石，北芡实各9克，炒桑蛸60克，炒黄柏36克，炒知母60克，沙苑子，黄鱼鳔胶(烊化捣入)各90克。
上药为末，用黄鱼鳔胶捣匀，加蜜炼为丸，每服90克，早晚食前各服一次，淡盐汤送下。
结束语
先生逝世二十五周年了。他一生尽瘁医事，犹如春蚕吐丝，为继承和发扬祖国医药事业耗尽了心血。先生逝世后，其家属遵先生遗嘱把他一生收藏的数万册医籍、遗稿、笔记悉数捐献给国家，交浙江省卫生厅接收，由浙江省中医药研究所等单位保存，尚待整理发掘。
先生的一生，虽因家道贫寒没有经历过正规院校培训，但其成就却是巨大的。这些成就与贡献全来自他毕生与书为伍，坚持不懈地努力自学中。他的一生，是刻苦自学的一生。梅花香自苦寒来，正是先生一生的最好写照。
【袁鹤侪小传】袁鹤侪(1879～1958)，名琴舫，字其铭。河北雄县人，北京著名老中医之一。早年攻读经史诗文，因父母病故，自己身染重疾而立志学医。一九零三年就学于京师大学堂医学馆，一九零六年毕业。
曾为清大医院御医兼医半馆教习，那拉氏(慈禧)随侍御医。以后，任内城官医院内科医长。一九三三年，应施今墨先生之请，任华北国学院教授。解放后，历任全国政协委员、北京市政协委员、中苏友好协会理事、中华医学会常务理事，中国科学普及协会理事，北京中医学会耆宿顾问、北京中医进修学校教授以及协和医院、北京医院中医顾问等职。著有《大医院伤寒论讲草》、《伤寒方义辑粹》、《温病概要》、《温病条辨选注》，《中医诊疗原则》，《医术经谈》、《袁氏医案》等。
先生出身于贫寒家庭，平时不肯轻易花费一分钱，但每当看到市场上出售医药书籍时，无不倾尽所有购买。他还经常到旧书摊上收购廉价的旧书，说道：书虽然旧了，但文字内容并不陈旧，价值依然存在。遇到好机会，碰巧买到稀有珍本，更是喜形于色，乐不可支。先生从那时起就开始养成了视书如宝、千方百计买书藏书的习惯。即使暂时无法买到的珍贵善本，也一定要借阅抄写，汇编成册，列入书架。偶尔发现所藏的书籍有所破损，总要等到闲暇时予以细心修补。中年以后，先生儿女绕膝，他一面勉励儿女勤奋读书学习，一面教育孩子爱护书籍，家教非常严格。记得有一次，他十几岁的爱子在阅读时不慎弄损了几页书，秉性慈祥的先生却一反常态，大加责斥。
一九一一年（民国元年），先生的藏书已达数千册，著作手稿已有十余种。因先生同善局施医所的住宅遭受火灾，当时先生恰好返回原籍探亲，回到绍兴后见所著手稿、收藏书籍全部化为灰烬，深感痛惜。抗战时期，日寇飞机轰炸绍兴，当时先生手著的《人身体用通考》等书业已完稿，为防止被日机炸毁，于是动员全家，日以继夜地挖掘防空洞，将稿件和书籍全部置于洞内，而对其他家产却不暇顾及。后来绍兴沦陷，先生又连夜租船将所藏之书和手稿转移至山乡僻地。战后回城，他为所藏书稿得以保全而喜不自禁，竟像孩童般鼓掌庆幸，而对别的家产焚于战火却不甚痛惜。
及至晚年，先生的著作已有数百种，收藏医书也突破万册，成了“书富翁”。他幽默地称自己是一个“书富家贫”的人。
毕生钻研学术堪称著作等身
一八九六年，先生辞去药铺职业，先投方晓安老夫子门下，专攻《内经》、《难经》、《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》及各大家医著，历时七载。后又问业于先哲何廉臣老博士，尽传其七十年博大精深之学业，更旁参广证，奄揽众长，于是学业倍进，声名渐起。接着在绍城开办和济药局，悬壶古越。先生不喜泛泛社交，除应诊外，总是聚精会神地钻研医理。当时，同行中不少人染上酗酒赌博、寻花问柳之恶习，间或有人欲拉先生入伙，先生总是严肃地回绝，每给这些人讨个没趣。先生读书相当刻苦。清晨看书是起床后第一要事。中年以后，凡诊务稍闲，便手不离卷，直至晚年，毫不松懈。所阅之书，范围相当广泛，可说是天文、地理、生物、理化、新旧医籍，无所不览，所以他的学问非常广博、深邃。一九三四年，上海大东书局欲整理浩瀚之祖国医学书籍，因久闻先生大名，认定此任非先生莫属，乃优礼以聘，先生亦慨允弗辞。于是，从自己珍藏的万余册医籍中，精心选定三百六十五种，予以校勘、重订，编为《中国医学大成》，另辑《中国医学大成总目提要》一册，一九三六年全稿交齐。是书搜集内容之宏富，前所未有，被当时医界誉为医学之渊府。先生原筹划再编续集三百六十五种，后因战事影响，壮志未酬，连初集也仅刊印及半而遭停印。
其他如《彩图辨舌指南》、《喉痧证治》、《增订通俗伤寒论》及诸药物考证等著作，均是商量旧学，发皇新义，手眼独出，为杏林不朽名著。此外，如《浙江名医传略》等著作，对于今天的医史研究，仍不失为重要参考书。先生一生撰述、编辑、校订、圈注、眉批的医药著作，总计竟有四百一十三种之多（不包括各医刊发表的论文），从这个数字中可以想见先生为此而付出的精力是何等的惊人。
先生原先主持绍兴春城、致大两家国药肆业务而兼行医，因此，对药品的考证、炮制、真伪辨识尤为精通。在其全部著作中除了诊断、治疗、预防卫生、医史等方面外，有很大一部分，诸如《中华药物源流考》、《人参考》、《麝香考》、《冬虫夏草种类及效用》、《增订伪药条辨》等，都是属于药物考证、辨讹、厘订方面的专著。故其得意门生徐荣斋教授认为：曹氏学术思想，当以论药及药物考证为首位。此评语甚为中的。一九四零年前后，先生拟将近五十年所阅览的经史、说部、名人笔记、游记，各地报刊杂志摘录之所获，参考动植物学、矿物学，结合个人心得，为重修《本草纲目》作资料准备。怎奈时局动乱，兼之诊务繁忙，且完成如此宏大规模之巨著又非一花甲老人所能独胜，先生深叹欲为难成，然又不愿半途而废，无奈只得选用珍贵资料，择要逐年写成专考发表。
晚年，先生因长年伏案，久视蝇头细字，兼之用脑过度而致耳聋目花也终不悔。建国后，虽年逾古稀，仍著述不倦。在临辞世前半年，虽已龙钟老态，体力不济，然仍壮心不已，曾说：此后如精力许可，当一识途老马，为后起者指出整理祖国医学之途径。一息尚存，此志不敢稍懈也。
丹心爱国济民高风亮节后人称
先生忠以爱国，仁以济民，肝胆照人。日寇入侵时期，日货也随之充塞我国市场，药界也未能幸免。时日产翘胡子牌仁丹，谓能治夏秋暑热百病，在药肆大批拍卖，不但掠夺国民金币，而且严重地冲击、排斥我国药业，许多爱国志士，为此很感耻辱、痛心。先生目睹此状，气愤万分，于是拍案而起，决心为国家振威，为民族争气。在翻阅了大量医籍资料后，再融入多年之经验，精心研制了一种丸药，其药效高于日货仁丹，而价格也廉。定名为雪耻灵丹，意为中华民族洗辱雪耻之意，很受病家、民众所信赖、欢迎，而日货仁丹却冷落旮旯，无人问津。
此事虽小，但先生精神可嘉可敬。
一九二九年，伪中央通过了余（云岫）汪（大燮）提案，妄图消灭中医，激起了全国中医药界的强烈反对。消息传来，先生怒火填膺，急速会同医药界同仁，为捍卫祖国医药事业而大声疾呼，并与裘吉生、何幼廉（何廉臣之子）共被推为绍兴中医界之代表，赴上海出席全国医药总会成立大会，旋即晋京向伪中央提抗议。回绍以后，又联络医药同道成立神州医学会绍兴支会，并被拥为主席。先生在为争取中医合法地位，发扬民族文化的斗争中立下了不可磨灭的功绩。
先生十分怜悯贫病者，富于同情感。中年以后，虽已大名鼎鼎，但从不摆身架或先富慢贫，对应诊病人一视同仁，待贫病者更多爱抚同情之心。当时医生出诊都以轿代步，然而遇贫苦病家来请，先生都徒步随行，有时连诊费也不收，且随叫随到，从不耽搁。
先生以医济民，安贫乐道，不为身谋，厚德薄利，惟为病家着想的高尚医德，迄今仍有口皆碑。
读书博精相兼勤录文摘万则
先生治学有两大特点：一为见缝插针，充分利用时间，广阅博览，即使是点滴空闲也从不轻易放过。把这些短暂而宝贵的间隙时间，用来读些简单精悍的小品，或是一目数行地浏览一些看来尚无关紧要，一时又用不上的边缘学科，谓之随便翻，积累知识，即所谓开卷有益。
然而，先生更多侧重的读书方式却是熟读娴研，这要花相当精力，须逐字逐句的反复推敲。因此，在时间的安排上要长一些，多在夜晚和清晨进行。因此时多不受诊务及其他的干扰，可以专心致志地解决一些实际问题。
先生读书两者相兼，而以精读为主，科学地利用了时间。尤其是在青年时代，读书注重博览强记，对《内经》、《难经》、《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》诸经典，读得更是滚瓜烂熟，直到晚年，仍能朗朗背诵。其间精读之苦功，可以想见。
先生认为掌握了经典，犹如成竹在胸，后去探索金元及明清诸家，则易如反掌。对诸家学说，主张逐一研究，反对囫囵吞枣和不求甚解，也不应停留于泛泛的传统理解，强调细研详究，并在全面领会的基础上推出新意。
先生在研读中，每有心得必随手录之；即便在卧间餐时，偶有所悟必认真摘记。并常开导我们：涓涓细流可汇成千里大江，磊磊泥沙能积为万仞高山。其间寓意之深长，很能启发后学。
先生阅读前人名著和同人撰述时，一有所得，每必顺手载入笔记或录成卡片。并告诫我们别小看这只字片言，一旦用时方知字字值千金。因此，先生总把平时摘录的笔记，卡片，不论其内容如何，文字多寡，一概珍视，并分类收藏。毕生持之以恒，及至暮年，虽几经战乱，所藏卡片仍不下数万则。
济世不囿疆域颂歌四海同奏
先生生于浙，长于绍，一生中除一九二九年为抗议反动政府之废除中医政策时赴沪参加集会外，因忙于诊务及著述，几乎再没有外出过。但在学术上与各地的交流，却十分频繁，已故名医恽铁樵、傅嫩园、章次公，章太炎、周小农、徐相任和秦伯未等都与先生相交莫逆。医林今贤陈存悙（《中国药学大字典》著者）、魏长春、范行准和已故名医浙江叶熙春、山东刘惠民等也曾向先生讨教学问，鱼雁往来甚密，尤叶、刘两老，解放后先后面谒先生，研讨医理，推心置腹，十分投机。
先生除为《绍兴医药月报》著文外，还曾给《新中国医学院校刊》、《医药卫生报》、《越铎日报》、《如皋医学报汇刊》、《中国药报》、《三三医报》等全国二十余家医药刊物撰稿，颇受编者和读者的褒誉。
先生尚不以疆域自限，与泰国、新加坡，日本、缅甸、马来西亚、菲律宾、越南等国的中医同道交流学术，并接受函询会诊，还被这些国家的中医师公会、中医药刊物聘为名誉理事、名誉编辑和特约撰述员。不同国籍的中医同道也都纷纷来信，商讨学术，请先生答疑解惑。先生也尽皆有问必答，有求必应，把与邻国同道的友好交往，看作是自己的义务和应尽的责任。
由于先生的谦逊好学、博闻广识和工作的出色，赢得了民众与同道的赞扬和表彰，先后收到来自海内外的表扬信函百数件，各国家中医团体的表彰十数起。如泰国中医师公会给先生的誉辞是医林泰斗，马来西亚中医公会的赞语是医界学术巨匠，新加坡中医师公会的嘉词是曹炳章先生医学深邃，自任本会撰述员以来，撰述医论，提倡学风，成绩卓著……。这些都是对先生辛勤劳动的中肯评价。
先生医术高超，屡起沉疴，深孚众望。近邻四方者，纷纷赶来就诊。日诊不下八、九十人，远方来函索方乃至海外问病求方者也日接数件。先生总把解救远方病者的疾苦，视为己任，每天必从诊务、著述两忙中抽暇为他们服务。今从先生遗简中选出海外问病拟方一则，以飨同道。
为菲律宾曾瑞锭拟方，据述：前患梦遗，经治愈后，观两耳如风水声，或如蝉鸣声，耳因此重听，眩晕。舌绛无苔垢，脉弦细。精关不固，性交早泄。此属肝肾阴液两亏，肝阳化风上扰，法当镇潜固摄为治。
盐水炒熟地12克，炒萸肉、淡天冬、破麦冬各6克，淮山药、生鳖甲（先煎）、生白芍各9克，生牡蛎15克，北芡实、川石斛各9克，生龟板（先煎）15克，煅磁石（先煎）12克，五化龙骨9克，共十帖分前后服。如服前方五帖后，耳鸣眩晕未除，问服下方四帖，再接服前方五帖。大生地12克，破麦冬9克，天冬6克，白菊花4.5克，钩藤（后下）9克，冬桑叶6克，黑芝麻9克，磁石，苦丁茶各6克，生石决明（先煎）18克，生白芍6克，生鳖甲（先煎）9克，生龟板（先煎）15克。四帖。如服后效著，多服四帖亦可。
丸方：病状同前，久常服之。
青盐0.6克，炒熟地120克，盐炒萸肉90克，淮山药、炒白芍、制首乌各90克，煅牡蛎120克，杜莲须90克，粉丹皮45克，煅磁石，北芡实各9克，炒桑螵蛸60克，炒黄柏36克，炒知母60克，沙苑子，黄鱼鳔胶（烊化捣入）各90克。
上药为末，用黄鱼鳔胶捣匀，加蜜炼为丸，每服9克，早晚食前各服一次，淡盐汤送下。
结束语
先生逝世二十五周年了。他一生尽瘁医事，犹如春蚕吐丝，为继承和发扬祖国医药事业耗尽了心血。先生逝世后，其家属遵先生遗嘱把他一生收藏的数万册医籍、遗稿、笔记悉数捐献给国家，交浙江省卫生厅接收，由浙江省中医药研究所等单位保存，尚待整理发掘。
先生的一生，虽因家道贫寒没有经历过正规院校培训，但其成就却是巨大的。这些成就与贡献全来自他毕生与书为伍，坚持不懈地努力自学中。他的一生，是刻苦自学的一生。梅花香自苦寒来，正是先生一生的最好写照。
【袁鹤侪小传】袁鹤侪（1879～1958），名琴舫，字其铭。河北雄县人，北京著名老中医之一。早年攻读经史诗文，因父母病故，自己身染重疾而立志学医。一九零三年就学于京师大学堂医学馆，一九零六年毕业。
曾为清大医院御医兼医半馆教习，那拉氏（慈禧）随侍御医。以后，任内城官医院内科医长。一九三三年，应施今墨先生之请，任华北国学院教授。解放后，历任全国政协委员、北京市政协委员、中苏友好协会理事、中华医学会常务理事，中国科学普及协会理事，北京中医学会耆宿顾问、北京中医进修学校教授以及协和医院、北京医院中医顾问等职。著有《大医院伤寒论讲草》、《伤寒方义辑粹》、《温病概要》、《温病条辨选注》，《中医诊疗原则》，《医术经谈》、《袁氏医案》等。
Mr. Cao Bingzhang was born into a poor family and was usually unwilling to spend money lightly. However, whenever he saw medical books sold in the market, he would empty his pockets to buy them. He often went to second-hand book stalls to purchase cheap old books, saying, "Although the books are old, the text is not outdated; their value remains." When he encountered a good opportunity and happened to buy rare precious editions, he was visibly overjoyed and extremely happy. From then on, Mr. Cao began to develop the habit of treasuring books like treasures and buying and collecting them by every means possible. Even for precious and good editions that he could not afford to buy at the moment, he would always borrow and copy them, compile them into volumes, and place them on his bookshelf. Occasionally, if he found that the books in his collection were damaged, he would wait for leisure time to carefully repair them. After reaching middle age, with his children around him, he encouraged his children to study hard while also teaching them to cherish books, maintaining strict family discipline. I remember once when his beloved son, who was only in his teens, accidentally damaged a few pages while reading. The usually kind-hearted Mr. Cao broke from his usual demeanor and severely reprimanded him.
In 1911 (the first year of the Republic of China), Mr. Cao's collection had reached several thousand volumes, and he had more than ten types of manuscript drafts. Because the residence of the Tongshan Bureau Medical Clinic where he lived suffered a fire, and at that time he happened to return to his hometown to visit relatives, upon returning to Shaoxing, he saw that all his manuscripts and collected books had been burned to ashes, which caused him great pain and regret. During the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese planes bombed Shaoxing. At that time, Mr. Cao's handwritten works, such as *Comprehensive Study of Human Body Structure and Function*, had already been completed. To prevent them from being destroyed by Japanese bombs, he mobilized his whole family to dig air-raid shelters day and night, placing all manuscripts and books inside, while neglecting other family property. Later, when Shaoxing fell, Mr. Cao rented a boat overnight to transfer his collected books and manuscripts to remote mountain areas. After the war, upon returning to the city, he was uncontrollably happy that his books and manuscripts were preserved intact, clapping his hands like a child in celebration, while feeling little regret over other family properties burned in the war.
By his later years, Mr. Cao's published works numbered in the hundreds, and his collection of medical books exceeded ten thousand, making him a "book millionaire." He humorously called himself a person who was rich in books but poor in wealth.
His lifelong dedication to academic research resulted in a body of work towering like a mountain.
In 1896, Mr. Cao resigned from his position in the pharmacy and first studied under Master Fang Xiaoan, specializing in the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases), *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), and the medical works of various masters, a period lasting seven years. He later studied under the late philosopher Dr. He Lianchen, inheriting his seventy years of profound and extensive learning. By referencing widely and verifying extensively, absorbing the strengths of many, his academic achievements doubled, and his reputation gradually rose. Subsequently, he opened the Heji Pharmacy in Shaoxing City and practiced medicine in ancient Yue. Mr. Cao disliked superficial socializing; apart from clinical consultations, he always concentrated on studying medical principles. At that time, many of his peers indulged in bad habits such as alcoholism, gambling, and visiting brothels. Occasionally, some tried to recruit Mr. Cao, but he always sternly refused, leaving them embarrassed. Mr. Cao studied very diligently. Reading in the morning was the first thing he did after getting up. After middle age, whenever his clinical duties were slightly relaxed, he kept a book in hand until his late years, never relaxing. The scope of books he read was quite broad, covering astronomy, geography, biology, physics and chemistry, and both old and new medical texts, so his knowledge was extremely extensive and profound. In 1934, Shanghai Dadong Bookstore wanted to organize the vast collection of Chinese traditional medical books. Having heard of Mr. Cao's fame for a long time, they believed no one else was suitable for this task and invited him with great courtesy, which he generously accepted without hesitation. Thus, from his珍藏 of over ten thousand medical books, he carefully selected three hundred and sixty-five, proofread and revised them, compiling them into *Great Compendium of Chinese Medicine*, and compiled another volume titled *General Catalog and Abstracts of Great Compendium of Chinese Medicine*. The complete manuscript was submitted in 1936. The richness of the content collected in this book was unprecedented and was praised by the medical community at that time as an abyss of medicine. Mr. Cao originally planned to compile a sequel of three hundred and sixty-five types, but due to the impact of the war, his ambition remained unfulfilled, and even the first volume was stopped printing after half was published.
Other works such as *Illustrated Guide to Tongue Diagnosis*, *Treatment of Throat Plague*, *Revised Popular Treatise on Cold Damage*, and various pharmacological studies were all based on old learning, expounding new meanings, with unique insights, becoming immortal masterpieces in the medical field. In addition, works such as *Biographies of Famous Zhejiang Doctors* remain important reference books for today's medical history research. The total number of medical works written, edited, proofread, annotated, and commented on by Mr. Cao throughout his life amounted to four hundred and thirteen (excluding papers published in various medical journals). From this number, one can imagine how astonishing the energy he devoted to this was.
Mr. Cao previously managed the business of two national drugstores, Chuncheng and Zhida, in Shaoxing while practicing medicine, so he was particularly proficient in the verification, processing, and identification of authenticity of medicines. In all his works, besides aspects of diagnosis, treatment, preventive health care, and medical history, a large part, such as *Study on the Origin and Development of Chinese Medicines*, *Study on Ginseng*, *Study on Musk*, *Types and Effects of Cordyceps*, *Revised Discrimination of Fake Drugs*, etc., belong to monographs on pharmacological verification, error correction, and clarification. Therefore, his distinguished student, Professor Xu Rongzhai, believed: "Mr. Cao's academic thought should prioritize the discussion of medicines and pharmacological verification." This comment was very apt. Around 1940, Mr. Cao intended to prepare materials for revising the *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) based on nearly fifty years of reading classics, histories, novels, famous people's notes, travelogues, excerpts from local newspapers and magazines, referencing zoology, botany, and mineralogy, combined with personal insights. Alas, due to the turbulent times, busy clinical duties, and the fact that completing such a massive work was beyond the capacity of a man past sixty, Mr. Cao deeply sighed that it would be difficult to achieve, yet unwilling to give up halfway, he had no choice but to select precious materials and write special studies year by year for publication.
In his later years, although Mr. Cao became deaf and his eyesight blurred due to long hours at his desk, staring at small print, and excessive mental exertion, he never regretted it. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, although over seventy years old, he continued to write tirelessly. Half a year before his death, although he was frail and physically weak, his ambition remained strong. He once said: "If my energy permits from now on, I will act as an old horse knowing the way, pointing out the path for organizing Chinese traditional medicine for the younger generation. As long as I breathe, I dare not relax this resolve."
Loyal to the country, benevolent to the people, noble character praised by posterity
Mr. Cao was loyal to the country, benevolent to the people, and open-hearted. During the Japanese invasion, Japanese goods flooded the Chinese market, and the pharmaceutical industry was no exception. At that time, Japanese-made "Whiskers Brand" Ninjin was claimed to cure all summer and autumn heat diseases, sold in bulk in pharmacies. It not only plundered national gold coins but also severely impacted and excluded the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Many patriots felt ashamed and pained by this. Witnessing this, Mr. Cao was furious. He slammed the table, determined to restore national prestige and win honor for the nation. After reviewing a large amount of medical literature and integrating years of experience, he carefully developed a pill whose efficacy was higher than the Japanese Ninjin and whose price was cheaper. He named it "Xuechi Lingdan" (Spiritual Pill of Washing Away Shame), meaning washing away the shame of the Chinese nation. It was highly trusted and welcomed by patients and the public, while the Japanese Ninjin was left neglected and unsold.
This matter was small, but Mr. Cao's spirit was commendable and respectable.
In 1929, the puppet central government passed the proposal by Yu Yunxiu and Wang Daxie, attempting to eliminate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which aroused strong opposition from the TCM community nationwide. Upon hearing the news, Mr. Cao was filled with anger. He quickly joined forces with colleagues in the medical and pharmaceutical fields to loudly advocate for defending the cause of Chinese traditional medicine. He and Qiu Jisheng, He Youlian (son of He Lianchen), were elected as representatives of the Shaoxing TCM community to attend the founding conference of the National Medical Association in Shanghai, and subsequently traveled to Beijing to protest to the puppet central government. After returning to Shaoxing, he contacted medical colleagues to establish the Shenzhou Medical Society Shaoxing Branch and was elected chairman. Mr. Cao made indelible contributions in the struggle to secure legal status for TCM and promote national culture.
Mr. Cao was very compassionate towards the poor and sick, full of empathy. After middle age, although he was famous, he never put on airs or favored the rich over the poor. He treated all patients equally, showing more affection and sympathy to the poor and sick. At that time, doctors used sedan chairs for house calls, but when poor families requested visits, Mr. Cao walked, sometimes even waiving consultation fees, arriving promptly whenever called, never delaying.
Mr. Cao used medicine to benefit the people, was content with poverty and dedicated to the Dao, did not plan for himself, possessed thick virtue and thin profit, and his noble medical ethics of always thinking of the patients have been praised by everyone to this day.
Reading broadly and precisely, diligently recording excerpts totaling ten thousand
Mr. Cao had two major characteristics in his scholarship: one was seizing every opportunity, fully utilizing time, reading widely, never letting go of even bits of free time. He used these brief and precious intervals to read simple and concise essays or skim through peripheral disciplines that seemed irrelevant or not immediately useful, calling it "casual flipping" to accumulate knowledge, i.e., "opening a book is beneficial."
However, the reading method Mr. Cao emphasized more was familiar reading and careful study, which required considerable effort and repeated deliberation word by word and sentence by sentence. Therefore, the time arrangement needed to be longer, mostly conducted at night and in the morning. At these times, he was less disturbed by clinical duties and other matters, allowing him to focus intently on solving practical problems.
Mr. Cao combined both methods, focusing mainly on intensive reading, scientifically utilizing time. Especially in his youth, he focused on broad reading and strong memorization. Classics such as the *Neijing*, *Nanjing*, *Shanghan Lun*, and *Jingui Yaolue* were read so fluently that even in his later years, he could recite them clearly. The arduous effort of intensive reading can be imagined.
Mr. Cao believed that mastering the classics was like having a bamboo forest in mind; subsequently exploring the schools of Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties would be easy as turning over one's hand. Regarding various schools of thought, he advocated studying them one by one, opposed swallowing dates whole and understanding superficially, and should not stop at general traditional understanding. He emphasized detailed research and deriving new ideas on the basis of comprehensive comprehension.
During his study, Mr. Cao always recorded his insights immediately; even during rest or meals, if he had any sudden realization, he carefully noted it down. He often guided us: "Droplets of water can form a river spanning thousands of miles; grains of sand can accumulate into a mountain ten thousand ren high." The deep meaning here is very inspiring for junior scholars.
When reading famous works of predecessors and writings of contemporaries, whenever Mr. Cao gained something, he would invariably record it in his notes or transcribe it onto cards. He warned us not to underestimate these fragments of words; only when needed do we realize each word is worth a thousand gold. Therefore, Mr. Cao always cherished the notes and cards he excerpted daily, regardless of content or length, classifying and storing them. He persisted throughout his life, and even in his twilight years, despite going through multiple wars, his collection of cards still numbered tens of thousands.
Serving the world without borders, songs of praise played across the four seas
Mr. Cao was born in Zhejiang and grew up in Shaoxing. Throughout his life, except for attending a gathering in Shanghai in 1929 to protest the reactionary government's policy of abolishing TCM, due to busy clinical duties and writing, he hardly ever traveled abroad. However, academic exchanges with various places were very frequent. The late famous doctors Yun Tieqiao, Fu Nen yuan, Zhang Cigong, Zhang Taiyan, Zhou Xiaonong, Xu Xiangren, and Qin Bowei were all close friends with Mr. Cao. Contemporary medical experts Chen Cunyu (author of *Chinese Pharmacopoeia Dictionary*), Wei Changchun, Fan Xingzhun, and the late famous doctors Ye Xichun from Zhejiang and Liu Huimin from Shandong also sought knowledge from Mr. Cao, with frequent correspondence. Especially the two elders, Ye and Liu, visited Mr. Cao successively after liberation to discuss medical principles, speaking heart-to-heart and finding much in common.
Besides writing for *Shaoxing Pharmaceutical Monthly Report*, Mr. Cao also contributed to over twenty national pharmaceutical publications such as *Journal of New China Medical Colleges*, *Medical and Health News*, *Yueduo Daily*, *Rugao Medical Report Compilation*, *China Pharmaceutical News*, and *San San Medical Report*, receiving high praise from editors and readers.
Mr. Cao did not limit himself by borders. He exchanged academic views with TCM colleagues in Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc., and accepted inquiries and consultations by letter. He was also appointed as honorary director, honorary editor, and special contributor by TCM practitioners' associations and TCM publications in these countries. TCM colleagues of different nationalities also wrote letters frequently to discuss academics and ask Mr. Cao for answers. Mr. Cao answered every question and met every request, viewing friendly exchanges with colleagues in neighboring countries as his duty and responsibility.
Due to Mr. Cao's humility, eagerness to learn, extensive knowledge, and outstanding work, he won praise and recognition from the public and peers, receiving hundreds of commendation letters from home and abroad and dozens of recognitions from TCM organizations in various countries. For example, the Thai TCM Practitioners Association praised him as a "Titan of the Medical Forest," the Malaysian TCM Association called him an "Academic Giant of the Medical World," and the Singapore TCM Practitioners Association stated: "Mr. Cao Bingzhang has profound medical knowledge. Since serving as a contributor to this association, he has written medical theories, promoted academic style, and achieved remarkable results..." These are all fair evaluations of Mr. Cao's hard work.
Mr. Cao's medical skills were superb, repeatedly curing severe illnesses, and he enjoyed great prestige. People from nearby and distant places flocked to consult him. He saw no less than eighty to ninety patients daily, and received several letters daily from afar requesting prescriptions or seeking medical advice from overseas. Mr. Cao always regarded relieving the suffering of distant patients as his own responsibility, finding time every day from his busy clinical and writing schedules to serve them. Now, selecting one case of overseas medical inquiry and prescription from Mr. Cao's remaining letters to share with colleagues.
Prescription for Zeng Ruiding from the Philippines, according to his account: Previously suffered from nocturnal emissions, cured afterwards, observed wind-water sounds or cicada-like buzzing in both ears, leading to heavy hearing and dizziness. Tongue was crimson without coating, pulse was wiry and fine. Essence gate unstable, premature ejaculation. This belongs to deficiency of liver and kidney yin fluids, liver yang transforming into wind disturbing upwards. The method should be sedation, submergence, and consolidation.
Salt-fried Prepared Rehmannia Root 12g, Fried Cornus Fruit, Light Ophiopogon Tuber, Broken Ophiopogon Tuber each 6g, Chinese Yam, Raw Softshell Turtle Shell (decocted first), Raw White Peony Root each 9g, Raw Oyster Shell 15g, Northern Euryale Seed, Sichuan Dendrobium Stem each 9g, Raw Tortoise Plastron (decocted first) 15g, Calcined Magnetite (decocted first) 12g, Calcined Dragon Bone 9g. Total ten doses, taken sequentially. If after taking five doses of the previous prescription, tinnitus and dizziness are not relieved, take four doses of the following prescription, then resume five doses of the previous prescription. Large Raw Rehmannia Root 12g, Broken Ophiopogon Tuber 9g, Ophiopogon Tuber 6g, White Chrysanthemum Flower 4.5g, Uncaria Ramulus with Hook (added later) 9g, Winter Mulberry Leaf 6g, Black Sesame Seed 9g, Magnetite, Bitter Tea Leaf each 6g, Raw Abalone Shell (decocted first) 18g, Raw White Peony Root 6g, Raw Softshell Turtle Shell (decocted first) 9g, Raw Tortoise Plastron (decocted first) 15g. Four doses. If efficacy is significant after taking, taking four more doses is also acceptable.
Pill Prescription: Symptoms same as above, take for a long time.
Green Salt 0.6g, Fried Prepared Rehmannia Root 120g, Salt-fried Cornus Fruit 90g, Chinese Yam, Fried White Peony Root, Processed Polygonum Multiflorum Root each 90g, Calcined Oyster Shell 120g, Dogtail Stamen Nelumbinis 90g, Powdered Moutan Cortex 45g, Calcined Magnetite, Northern Euryale Seed each 9g, Fried Mantis Egg Case 60g, Fried Phellodendron Bark 36g, Fried Anemarrhenae Rhizoma 60g, Astragalus Complanatus Seed, Yellow Fish Swim Bladder Glue (melted and mixed in) each 90g.
Grind the above herbs into powder, mix evenly with Yellow Fish Swim Bladder Glue, add honey and refine into pills. Take 9g each time, once in the morning and once in the evening before meals, washed down with light salt water.
Conclusion
It has been twenty-five years since Mr. Cao passed away. He devoted his life to medical affairs, like a silkworm spinning silk, exhausting his heart and blood for inheriting and promoting the cause of Chinese traditional medicine. After Mr. Cao's death, his family followed his will and donated all the tens of thousands of medical books, manuscripts, and notes he collected throughout his life to the state, handed over to the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Health for preservation by units such as the Zhejiang Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, awaiting organization and excavation.
Mr. Cao's life, although lacking formal institutional training due to family poverty, achieved tremendous success. These achievements and contributions all came from his lifelong companionship with books and persistent self-study. His life was a life of diligent self-study. "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold," which is the best portrayal of Mr. Cao's life.
[Biography of Yuan Hechai] Yuan Hechai (1879–1958), name Qinfang, courtesy name Qiming. Born in Xiong County, Hebei, he was one of the famous senior TCM doctors in Beijing. In his early years, he studied classics, history, poetry, and prose. Due to the death of his parents and his own serious illness, he resolved to study medicine. In 1903, he enrolled in the Medical Hall of the Imperial University of Peking and graduated in 1906.
He served as an imperial physician for the Qing Grand Hospital and as a teacher at Yiban Hall, accompanying Empress Dowager Cixi (Nala clan) as her attending physician. Later, he served as the Chief Physician of Internal Medicine at the Inner City Official Hospital. In 1933, at the invitation of Mr. Shi Jinmo, he served as a professor at the North China National Academy. After liberation, he successively served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, a director of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association, a standing director of the Chinese Medical Association, a director of the Chinese Science Popularization Association, an advisor to the Beijing TCM Society, a professor at the Beijing TCM Advanced School, and a TCM consultant at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Hospital. He authored *Lecture Notes on Shanghan Lun in Large Hospitals*, *Compilation of Principles of Shanghan Formulas*, *Overview of Warm Diseases*, *Selected Annotations on Wenbing Tiaobian*, *Principles of TCM Diagnosis and Treatment*, *Talks on Medical Skills*, *Yuan's Medical Cases*, etc.