孙位申室人,平昔阴虚肝滞,痛胀少餐,暮热形消,咽痛喉癣,不孕育者,九年矣。往岁汛愆,人皆谓将不起,
而孟英切其脉,尚不细,而肌犹卓泽,许筹带病延年之策,果月事仍行,而诸恙皆缓。且能作劳,唯饮食日不过合米。
今秋,延孟英往诊,(自)云∶经自三月至今未转,一切旧恙,弥见其增,君术虽仁,恐难再延其算矣。及举脉,
弦滑左甚。遽曰∶岂仅可延其寿算哉,有熊罴入梦矣。其家闻之骇异,迨季冬,果得一子,颇快而健。
程秋霞之子,患脑漏,医与辛夷、苍耳之药,渐有寒热,改用柴、葛、羌、防数帖,遂至寒热日发数次,神昏
自汗,势甚可危。孟英用竹叶石膏汤一剂,寒热退而神清进粥,继以甘凉清肃,复投滋润填阴,旬日而愈。
牙行王炳华妻,患舌疮,痛碍饮食,内治外敷皆不效。孟英视其舌红润,脉形空数。曰∶此血虚火浮也。以产后
发热例施之。用∶熟地 当归 酒炒白芍 炙甘草 茯苓 炮姜,投之,其病如失。
一老人,霍乱后,目闭呃忒,医谓脱陷在即,与挂、附回阳之药,业已煎矣,适孟英至,询知溺赤口干,诊得
脉形软数,而药香扑鼻。即曰∶此药中有肉桂,叟勿服也,服之必死。迫令将药倾泼,而予肃肺清胃之剂,果渐向安。
瞿氏妇,患舌糜,沈悦庭知其素禀阴亏,虚火之上炎也。予清凉滋降之法,及珠黄(散)等敷药而不愈。孟英
视之∶舌心糜腐、黄浓,边尖俱已无皮,汤饮入口,痛不可当。此服药所不能愈者,令将锡类散糁(掺)之,果即
霍然。或疑喉药治舌,何以敏捷如斯?孟英曰∶此散擅生肌蚀腐之长,不但喉舌之相近者,可以借用,苟能隅反,
其功未可言罄(作完毕解),贵用者之善悟耳。且糜腐浓腻,不仅阴虚,要须识此,自知其故。
孙位申的妻子,平时阴虚且肝气郁滞,经常感到疼痛和腹胀,食欲减退,傍晚发热,身体消瘦,咽喉疼痛并患有喉癣(一种以咽喉部黏膜糜烂、溃疡为特征的疾病),九年未能生育。往年月经失调,人们都认为她病重难治,但孟英诊察她的脉象,并不细弱,肌肤依然润泽,于是建议采取带病延年的策略,果然月经仍然来潮,各种病症都得到缓解。而且她能从事劳作,只是每日饮食不过一合米。今年秋天,请孟英去诊治,(自己)说:从三月到现在月经没有来潮,所有旧病更加加重,虽然您医术仁德,恐怕也难以再延长寿命了。等到诊脉,左脉弦滑特别明显。孟英立刻说:哪里仅仅是能延长寿命呢,会有生子的吉兆。她的家人听到后感到惊异,到了冬季末,果然生下一个儿子,非常健壮。
程秋霞的儿子,患脑漏(鼻渊,指鼻腔流出浊涕如脑髓的病症),医生给予辛夷、苍耳子等药物,逐渐出现寒热往来症状,改用柴胡、葛根、羌活、防风等药数帖后,导致每天发作数次寒热,神志昏迷,自汗,病情十分危急。孟英使用竹叶石膏汤一剂,寒热退去,神志清醒并能进食粥食,接着用甘凉清肃的方法,再投滋润填阴的药物,十天痊愈。
牙行商人王炳华的妻子,患舌疮,疼痛妨碍饮食,内服外敷治疗均无效。孟英观察她的舌头红润,脉象空而快。说:这是血虚火浮。按照产后发热的例子进行治疗。使用:熟地黄、当归、酒炒白芍、炙甘草、茯苓、炮姜,服用后,病如消失。
一位老人,霍乱之后,眼睛闭合,呃逆,医生认为是阳气脱陷在即,准备给予人参、附子回阳救逆的药物,已经煎好,恰好孟英来到,询问得知小便赤红、口干,诊得脉象软而快,且药香扑鼻。立即说:这药中有肉桂,老翁不要服用,服用必死。强迫让人将药倒掉,然后给予肃肺清胃的药剂,果然逐渐安稳。
瞿姓妇女,患舌糜(舌面溃烂),沈悦庭知道她素体阴亏,是虚火上炎所致。给予清凉滋降的方法,以及珠黄散等外敷药,但未痊愈。孟英查看:舌中心糜烂腐坏,苔黄浓,边缘和舌尖都已无皮,汤水入口,疼痛难忍。这是服药不能治愈的,令将锡类散撒布其上,果然立即痊愈。有人怀疑喉科药治舌,为何如此敏捷?孟英说:这种散剂擅长生肌祛腐,不仅是喉舌相近部位可以借用,如果能举一反三,其功效不可穷尽,关键在于使用者善于领悟。而且糜烂腐坏苔腻,不仅是因为阴虚,必须认识这一点,自然明白其中的缘故。
Ms. Sun Weishen, who typically suffered from Yin deficiency and Liver Qi stagnation, experienced pain, distension, poor appetite, evening fever, emaciation, sore throat, and **hou xuan** (throat ringworm/ulceration), and had been unable to conceive for nine years. In previous years, her menstrual periods were irregular, and people believed she was critically ill. However, Mengying palpated her pulse, which was not thready, and her skin remained lustrous, so he suggested a strategy of living with the disease to prolong life. Indeed, her menstruation continued, and all ailments eased. She could even perform labor, though her daily food intake was limited to only one *ge* (a traditional unit of volume). In autumn this year, Mengying was invited to examine her. She said: "My menstruation has not occurred since March; all old ailments have worsened. Although your benevolence is great, I fear you cannot extend my lifespan further." Upon palpating the pulse, the left side was notably wiry and slippery. He immediately said: "Not only can her lifespan be extended, but she will dream of bears and tigers [an omen of bearing sons]." Her family was startled by this. By late winter, she indeed gave birth to a son, who was robust and healthy.
Mr. Cheng Qiuxia's son suffered from **nao lou** (nasal discharge resembling brain fluid/rhinitis). The physician prescribed herbs such as *Xinyi* (Magnolia Flower) and *Cangerzi* (Xanthium Fruit), leading to alternating chills and fever. The prescription was changed to include *Chaihu* (Bupleurum Root), *Gegen* (Pueraria Root), *Qianghuo* (Notopterygium Rhizome), and *Fangfeng* (Saposhnikovia Root) for several doses, resulting in frequent episodes of chills and fever multiple times a day, coma, and spontaneous sweating, making the condition critical. Mengying administered one dose of **Zhuye Shigao Tang** (Lophatherum and Gypsum Decoction). The chills and fever subsided, consciousness returned, and the patient could eat congee. Subsequently, using sweet-cool clearing methods followed by moistening and filling Yin tonics, he recovered within ten days.
The wife of Wang Binghua, a tooth broker, suffered from **she chuang** (tongue ulcers), where pain hindered eating and drinking. Internal and external treatments were ineffective. Mengying observed that her tongue was red and lustrous, and her pulse was empty and rapid. He stated: "This is Blood deficiency with floating Fire." He treated it according to the pattern of postpartum fever, using: *Shudi* (Prepared Rehmannia Root), *Danggui* (Angelica Sinensis Root), wine-fried *Baishao* (White Peony Root), *Zhi Gancao* (Honey-fried Licorice Root), *Fuling* (Poria), and *Pao Jiang* (Roasted Ginger). After administration, the illness disappeared as if it had never existed.
An elderly man, after suffering from **huoluan** (cholera-like acute gastroenteritis), had his eyes closed and experienced hiccups. Physicians believed Yang collapse was imminent and prepared **Guazhong Fuyang** (Restoring Yang) medicines containing *Renshen* (Ginseng) and *Fuzi* (Aconite Root). The decoction was already brewed when Mengying arrived. Upon inquiry, he learned the patient had dark urine and dry mouth. Palpation revealed a soft and rapid pulse, and the smell of medicine was strong. Mengying immediately said: "This medicine contains *Rougui* (Cinnamon Bark). Do not take it, old man; taking it will cause death." He forced them to pour out the medicine and prescribed a formula to clear Lung heat and stomach fire. The patient gradually stabilized.
Mrs. Qu suffered from **she mi** (tongue erosion/membrane). Shen Yueting knew she had a constitutional Yin deficiency with deficient Fire flaming upward. He used cooling and descending methods, along with external applications like **Zhuhuang San** (Pearl and Realgar Powder), but without success. Mengying examined her: the center of the tongue was eroded and foul-smelling with thick yellow coating; the edges and tip lacked epithelium. Swallowing liquids caused unbearable pain. He stated this could not be cured by oral medication alone. He instructed applying **Xilei San** (Xilei Powder) topically. The patient recovered immediately. Some questioned why a throat medicine worked so quickly on the tongue. Mengying explained: "This powder excels at generating tissue and removing necrotic tissue. It is not only applicable to the adjacent throat and tongue areas; if one can infer other uses from this example, its efficacy is boundless. It depends on the practitioner's insight. Moreover, thick erosion and coating are not solely due to Yin deficiency; one must recognize this to understand the rationale."