光绪丙子秋，儿子庚生病胃胀痛，百治不瘳。耳孟河马培之先生医声，挈儿子就河庄求
治。
日坐先生旁，见其就诊者，日数百辈。其以疡毒来证者，去寻丈外，即听声 色，洞达症结
。讶其先嘱之奇，间诘之，因谓予疮疡之发，患实内蕴。病情神色，未有不达于面目者，故
可望形而得之。其用药非精熟《灵》、《素》，按脉辨证，平章阴阳，无以应手辄效。如兢
兢守一二古方，漫然施治，不莽莽乎？且外症实难于内科，非得真传口诀，未易券获。至于
看法、治法、手法，亦非笔墨所能宣。刀针有当用，有不当用，有不能用之别，如谓一概禁
之，非正治也。如痈疽毒初聚，用针以泄气，可冀消散；毒已成，针之易收口；若令自溃，
必至脓腐穿破，疮口卷脔，难以收功。古书固不可废，而辨证尤为首务。议论所及，又谓王
氏《全生集》一书，近时业疡科者，奉为枕秘。设遇症即录方照服，既不凭脉，亦不辨症，
贻误非浅。《集》中所载阳和汤、犀黄丸、子龙丸，法非不善，而论证究失一偏。白陷者概
认作疽，用阳和汤，不知假寒真热，假热真寒，区别攸分。阳和汤为温散血中寒邪，果系阴
寒凝结，服之或可消散，如伏热郁热之症，皮色白者误投之，是速其溃也。至已溃之症，麻
黄尤所必忌。乳岩起于肝郁，郁久化火掣痛，姜桂必不宜服。肺痈乃金受火克，肺喜清肃，
倘肺有伏热，犀黄丸多溃气之品，讵非转劫真阴乎？子龙丸行水驱痰之剂，只可施之壮实，
如虚羸之质，则吐泻作而生气损矣。先生之论类如是，皆发前人所未发，而其要首贵审脉而
已。爰亟觅旧本，首请详注，重刻行世，以不负先生寿世之苦心。工既竣，因质述其平日之
说，以告世之读是书者。先生尚有《验方新编》亦按部择验过之方，增减重订，成集待刊云
。
光绪九年仲春上浣仁和吴恒仲英
光绪丙子年（1876年）秋天，我的儿子王庚生病，胃部胀痛，经过各种治疗都没有痊愈。我听闻孟河马培之先生医术高明、声名远播，便带着儿子前往河庄求医。
我每天坐在先生身旁，观察他接诊的患者，每天多达数百人。那些患有疮疡毒症来就诊的人，在距离医生几丈远的地方，先生仅凭听声音和观察神色，就能透彻地洞察病情的关键所在。我对这种先于问诊之前就判断出病症的奇妙能力感到惊讶，于是向他请教其中的缘由。先生对我说，疮疡的发生，根本原因在于体内蕴积了病邪。病情和神色，没有不反映在面容上的，所以我能够望见形体神色就得知病因。如果用药不能精通《灵枢》、《素问》，依据脉象辨证，权衡阴阳，就不可能做到手到病除。如果只是拘谨地固守一两个古方，随意施治，这难道不是鲁莽吗？况且外科病症实际上比内科更难诊治，如果没有得到真正的传承口诀，很难保证疗效。至于诊断方法、治疗方法和操作手法，也不是笔墨语言所能完全表达清楚的。刀针的使用有应当用的，有不应当用的，有不能用的区别，如果说一概禁止使用，这不是正确的治疗方法。比如痈疽毒邪刚刚聚集时，用针泄气，可以期望消散；毒邪已经形成，用针引流容易收口；如果让它自行溃破，必然导致脓液腐败穿破，疮口边缘卷曲翻花，难以治愈。古书固然不可废弃，但辨证更是首要任务。
先生在议论中还提到，王氏的《全生集》一书，是近期从事外科的人奉为枕中秘宝的书籍。如果遇到病症就抄录方剂照着服用，既不诊脉，也不辨证，造成的延误和错误是非常严重的。《全生集》中记载的阳和汤、犀黄丸、子龙丸，其法则并非不好，但在论证方面终究有所偏颇。对于白色凹陷的疮疡，一概认定为疽证，使用阳和汤，却不知道有假寒真热、假热真寒的区别，这是至关重要的。阳和汤是用来温散血中的寒邪的，如果是阴寒凝结的病症，服用它或许可以消散；但对于伏热、郁热的病症，即使皮色发白，误投此药，只会加速其溃烂。至于已经溃破的病症，麻黄尤其必须禁忌。乳岩（乳腺癌）起于肝气郁结，郁久化火牵引疼痛，姜、桂等温热药物一定不宜服用。肺痈是由于金（肺）受火克，肺喜清肃，如果肺中有伏热，犀黄丸中含有较多耗散元气的药物，岂不是反而劫夺真阴吗？子龙丸是行水驱痰的药剂，只可应用于体质壮实的人，如果是虚弱消瘦的体质，服用后会导致吐泻发作，损伤生气。先生的论述大致如此，都是阐发了前人未曾发现的问题，而其要点首先在于审慎诊脉。于是我急忙寻找旧版书籍，首先请求详细注释，重新刻印发行，以不辜负先生救世救人的苦心。工作完成后，因此陈述他平日所说的理论，以此告诉世上阅读这本书的人。先生还有《验方新编》，也是按照类别选择验证过的方剂，增减重订，集结等待刊印。
光绪九年（1883年）春季二月上旬，仁和吴恒仲英
In the autumn of Bingzi year (1876) of the Guangxu reign, my son Wang Geng fell ill with stomach distension and pain. Despite various treatments, he did not recover. Hearing of the medical fame of Mr. Ma Peizhi from Menghe, I took my son to Hezhuang to seek treatment.
I sat by Mr. Ma's side daily, observing his consultations, where hundreds of patients came each day. For those suffering from sores and toxins (Yangdu), at a distance of several zhang, he could clearly perceive the crux of the condition merely by listening to their voice and observing their complexion. Astonished by this miraculous ability to diagnose before inquiry, I asked him about it. He replied that the onset of sores and ulcers stems from internal accumulation of pathogenic factors. The condition and demeanor are invariably reflected in the face; thus, I can ascertain the cause by observing form and spirit. If one does not master the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, differentiate syndromes based on pulse diagnosis, and balance Yin and Yang, one cannot achieve immediate efficacy. To rigidly adhere to one or two ancient prescriptions and treat indiscriminately would be reckless. Moreover, external diseases are indeed more difficult to treat than internal ones; without authentic transmission and secret formulas, success is hard to guarantee. Diagnostic methods, therapeutic approaches, and manual techniques cannot be fully expressed in words. The use of knives and needles has distinctions: when appropriate, when inappropriate, and when contraindicated. To prohibit their use entirely is not correct treatment. For instance, when carbuncles and sores first gather, using a needle to vent Qi may hope for resolution; when the toxin has formed, needling facilitates wound closure; if left to rupture spontaneously, pus and necrosis will penetrate, causing the wound edges to evert and making healing difficult. Ancient texts should not be discarded, but syndrome differentiation is paramount.
Regarding discussions, Mr. Ma mentioned that Wang Shi's *Quansheng Ji* is regarded as a secret treasure by contemporary surgeons. Prescribing formulas blindly upon seeing symptoms, without pulse diagnosis or syndrome differentiation, causes significant harm. The formulas recorded in the *Ji*, such as Yanghe Tang (Warm and Disperse Decoction), Xihuang Wan (Rhino Horn Pill), and Zilong Wan, are not flawed in principle, but their theoretical arguments are somewhat biased. White, depressed lesions are generally identified as deep abscesses (Ju), treated with Yanghe Tang, ignoring the distinction between false cold/true heat and false heat/true cold, which is crucial. Yanghe Tang warms and disperses cold pathogens in the blood; it may resolve cases of Yin-cold coagulation, but for conditions with latent or stagnant heat, even if the skin color is white, misusing it accelerates ulceration. For already ruptured lesions, Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) is particularly contraindicated. Breast cancer (Ruyan) originates from Liver Qi stagnation, which over time transforms into fire causing pulling pain; warming herbs like Ginger and Cinnamon Twig are unsuitable. Lung abscess (Fei Yong) results from Metal (Lung) being overcome by Fire; the Lung prefers clarity and purity. If there is latent heat in the Lung, Xihuang Wan, containing many Qi-dispersing ingredients, would surely deplete True Yin. Zilong Wan is a formula for promoting water metabolism and expelling phlegm, applicable only to robust constitutions; for frail and emaciated individuals, it induces vomiting and diarrhea, damaging vital Qi. Mr. Ma's arguments were generally like these, uncovering insights previously unexpressed, with the core emphasis on careful pulse diagnosis. Therefore, I urgently sought an old edition, requested detailed annotations, and arranged for re-printing to honor his benevolent intention to save lives. Upon completion, I recorded his usual theories to inform readers of this book. Mr. Ma also compiled *Yanfang Xinbian* (New Compilation of Verified Formulas), selecting verified formulas by category, revising them through addition and deletion, awaiting publication.
Early spring, second month, Guangxu 9th Year (1883), Wu Heng Zhongying of Renhe