吾乡月山李先生，博极群书，操行修洁，最谨于义利界限，媚学之子，翩翩从之，其诲
诸生也，不止于词艺而已，必勉以正心修身，俾之有士君子之行。德显曾君，从游者之一也。
居无何，场屋之事废，于是以业儒者而业医焉。昔贤达则愿为良相，穷则愿为良医，其心均
在济人耳。医岂细事哉，而幼幼之医，尤不易也。盖气色微，筋骨脆，痒 疾痛，不可问而
知。他人止于面色指纹之间揣摩投剂，德显则切脉先之，倘证阳而脉阴，证阴而脉阳，必治
脉不治证，精思详究，探本索原。药饵所施，百不失一。未尝以病家之贵贱贫富而异用其心，
或遇窘乏太甚之家，亦随力捐资济其 粥，以故全活者众。德显非饶于财者，能推是心，亦
贤矣哉。业医三十年，古今医书，读之不辍，今取其平日阅证用药之已效者，着为方论，纂
为诗歌，名之曰《活幼心书》。是心也，恒心也，恻隐之心也，心诚求之之心也。对越天地神
明而无愧矣。且欲镌梓以为海内共之，用心广大可敬也。夫余尝观赵德麟侯鲭录，有人得痈
疽方甚奇，宝而不传，后为虎所食，非天谴欤？德显心事若兹，天必福之，以诱世人之善用
其心矣。德显衡之 西人，号育溪，名世荣，德显其字也。
丁未中秋邵清遗老七十翁罗宗之巨海甫谨序
我的家乡月山李先生，博览群书，品行高洁，在义与利的界限上极为谨慎。那些仰慕学问的年轻人，纷纷追随他学习。他教导学生们，不仅仅局限于诗词文章，必定勉励他们端正心术、修养身心，使他们具备士大夫君子的行为准则。德显曾先生，就是跟随他学习的学生之一。
没过多久，科举考试制度废止，于是曾先生以儒生身份转而从事医学。过去的贤达人士常说：得志时愿做良相，不得志时愿做良医，其心意都是为了救济世人罢了。医学难道是一件小事吗？而儿科（幼幼之医）尤其不容易。因为小儿气息微弱，筋骨脆弱，对于瘙痒和疼痛等疾苦，无法用言语询问得知。其他人仅仅通过观察面色和指纹来推测病情并投药，而德显先生则先进行切脉诊断。如果病症表现为阳证而脉象为阴脉，或病症表现为阴证而脉象为阳脉，他必定依据脉象进行治疗而不单纯看症状，经过深思熟虑、详细探究，追溯病源根本。他所使用的药物，百发百中。他从未因病人家庭的贵贱贫富而改变用心程度，有时遇到极度贫困窘迫的家庭，他也尽力捐赠资金资助他们喝粥，因此保全性命的人很多。德显先生并非富有之人，却能推广这种仁心，也是贤德的了。
他从事医学三十年，古今医书阅读不停。现在选取他平日诊治病例用药已获效验的案例，撰写成方论，编纂成诗歌，命名为《活幼心书》。这颗心是恒心，是恻隐之心，是诚心探求的心。面对天地神明也问心无愧。并且想要刻印此书供海内人共同享用，其用心之广大令人敬佩。我曾看过赵德麟的《侯鲭录》，书中记载有人得到一个治疗痈疽的奇特药方，珍视却不传授，后来被老虎吃掉，这难道不是上天的谴责吗？德显先生的心事如此，上天必定赐福于他，以此诱导世人善用其心。德显先生是衡州西部人，号育溪，名世荣，“德显”是他的字。
丁未年中秋节，邵清遗老七十岁的罗宗之巨海甫恭敬作序。
My fellow townsman, Mr. Li of Yueshan, had read extensively through all books, maintained a pure and upright conduct, and was most rigorous in distinguishing between righteousness (Yi) and profit (Li). Young men admiring learning followed him in great numbers. In teaching his students, he did not limit himself to literary skills alone; he invariably encouraged them to rectify their minds and cultivate their persons, so that they might possess the conduct of scholar-gentlemen. Master Dexian Zeng was one of those who studied under him.
Not long after, the imperial examination system was abolished, and thus Master Zeng, originally a Confucian scholar, turned to the practice of medicine. The sages of old said: "When successful, one wishes to be a good minister; when unsuccessful, one wishes to be a good physician." Their intent was uniformly to benefit humanity. Is medicine a trivial matter? Indeed, pediatrics (Youyou zhi yi) is especially difficult. This is because infants have subtle vital qi and fragile sinews and bones; regarding ailments such as itching and pain, one cannot ask and know directly. Others merely speculate on the condition based on facial complexion and fingerprint patterns to prescribe medication, whereas Master Dexian prioritates pulse diagnosis. If the syndrome appears Yang but the pulse is Yin, or if the syndrome appears Yin but the pulse is Yang, he will certainly treat according to the pulse rather than the syndrome, engaging in profound reflection and detailed investigation to trace the root cause. His administration of herbal medicines was accurate, missing the mark only rarely. He never altered his dedication based on the nobility or poverty of the patient's family; upon encountering families in extreme destitution, he would donate funds according to his ability to support their porridge, thereby saving many lives. Master Dexian was not wealthy, yet he could extend this benevolent heart, which is truly virtuous.
Having practiced medicine for thirty years, he read ancient and modern medical texts without ceasing. Now, selecting cases where his daily diagnostic and medicinal practices had proven effective, he composed formula discussions and compiled them into poetry, naming the work *Huoyou Xinshu* (Living Infants' Heart Book). This heart is a persevering heart, a compassionate heart, and a heart sincerely seeking [the truth]. Facing Heaven and Earth and the spirits, he has no shame. Furthermore, he desires to have this book engraved and printed for the common use of the world; his broad-mindedness is worthy of respect. I once observed Zhao Delin's *Houqing Lu*, which records that someone obtained a miraculous prescription for carbuncles and ulcers, treasured it but did not transmit it, and was subsequently eaten by a tiger. Was this not a heavenly retribution? Given Master Dexian's mindset as described, Heaven must surely bless him, thereby inducing people of the world to make good use of their hearts. Master Dexian was a person from the west of Hengzhou, with the pseudonym Yuxi, named Shirong, and "Dexian" was his courtesy name.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Dingwei year, Luo Zongzhi Juhai Fu, an old man from Shaoqing aged seventy, respectfully wrote the preface.