曩余在都门，知鲍觉生侍读，少遘奇疾，赖程君杏轩获全。越二十年，觉生视学中州，
复病
如前，杏轩又起之。心奇其人，以不得一见为恨。嘉庆丁卯春，余撄疾南归，遇杏轩于大梁
使院，乞刀圭焉，十数年来，殆不知其疾之在体也。丁丑夏，余再至新安，杏轩亦倦游归，
相见甚喜，晤语浃旬，尽出其所着书数种示余，上溯轩岐，旁及越人仲景，下逮河间东垣丹
溪诸家，靡不究其精微，扩其旨趣。就中《医案续录》一编，说理精当，视前刻《初集》尤
佳，余劝其付梓，杏轩让未遑。余曰∶子无然也。余见世所为医者多矣，读汤头歌括一册，
诵药性赋一篇，遂榜于门曰医室，号于人曰医师。病者不察，从而求诊乞方焉。幸而得资财
，愈益肆其欺谩，乘坚车，策怒马，驰骋以耀于衢人。尊信之者日益众，杀人日益多。其不
忍为此态者，又或达心而懦，讷于言语，拙于文词，为世所轻，而医理卒以不明于天下。今
先生立卢扁之帜，入孙葛之垒，使是书不胫而走，风行海内，天下望而争趋，登苍生于仁寿
，甚盛事也。纵山川修阻，针砭莫及，世医即可奉为准绳，以奏效于旦夕。其善养生者，得
领绪余，亦足以却病驻年，所全不已多乎。夫士君子之托业，国家之设官，皆为养人计也。
先生少业儒术，长习方书，常自恨不得用于世，以竟其学。余观斯编所载，审是非于毫厘，
察虚实于微渺，其良有司之矜慎以折狱乎?补养以培元气，和解使无郁湮，其良有司之和煦
以爱民乎。法当攻伐，如厉鹰 以逐鸟雀，法当清凉，如沃渊泉以救燎原，其良有司之锄暴
安良，不事姑息乎。吾愿与先生同业者，皆以先生之学为学，其不与先生同业者，皆以先生
之心为心，则郡邑之呻吟皆起矣。先生斯编，顾可秘而不宣乎哉?杏轩曰∶唯唯。然犹藏之
箧笥，自是又增入数十条。今年春，邮寄是书，问序于余，披阅之下，犹记曩在新安与吾杏
轩晤言一室时也，爰追述之以为序。
道光四年岁次甲申季春月桐城吴庚枚
早年我在京城时，得知侍读学士鲍觉生曾患奇疾，多亏程杏轩先生救治才得以保全性命。过了二十年，鲍觉生主持中州地区的学政，又患了同样的病，程杏轩再次将他治愈。我心中对程杏轩其人感到惊奇，遗憾未能亲自一见。嘉庆丁卯年春天，我染病南归，在大梁使院遇到了程杏轩，向他求医，十多年来，几乎不知道疾病存在于我身体上了。
丁丑年夏天，我再次来到新安，程杏轩也结束了游历归来，我们相见非常高兴，交谈了整整十天。他拿出自己所著的几种书籍给我看，内容上追溯黄帝、岐伯（轩岐），旁涉扁鹊（越人）、张仲景，下至刘河间、李东垣、朱丹溪等各家学说，无不探究其精微之处，拓展其主旨意趣。其中《医案续录》这一编，说理精当恰当，比之前刻印的《初集》更加优秀。我劝他将此书付梓刊印，程杏轩谦让说时间来不及。我说：“你不要这样说。我见过世上做医生的人很多了，读了一本《汤头歌括》，背了一篇《药性赋》，就在门上挂牌子说是‘医室’，被人称为‘医师’。病人不明察，便跟随他去求诊开方。侥幸得到钱财后，越发肆意欺诈欺骗，乘着坚固的车，骑着发怒的马，在街市上驰骋炫耀以显示自己。尊奉信任他的人日益增多，杀人也日益增多。那些不忍心做出这种姿态的人，要么内心通达却性格懦弱，要么不善言辞，不擅长写文章，被世人轻视，导致医学道理最终无法在天下阐明。如今先生树立起卢医、秦扁的旗帜，进入孙思邈、葛洪的营垒，如果让这本书不胫而走，风行海内，天下人仰望并争相趋从，使百姓登上仁爱与长寿的境界，这是非常盛大的事情啊。即使山川遥远阻隔，针石药物难以到达，世间的医生也可以奉此书为准绳，从而在早晚之间奏效。善于养生的人，若能领略其中的余绪，也足以祛除疾病、驻留青春，保全的生命难道不是很多吗？士大夫君子所从事的职业，国家所设立的官职，都是为了养育人民而计划的。先生年轻时研习儒术，长大后学习医书，常常遗憾不能施展于世间，以完成他的学问。我看这本书记载的内容，在毫厘之间审辨是非，在微渺之中察知虚实，这就像优秀的官吏谨慎地审理案件吗？用补益滋养来培固元气，用和解的方法使气机没有郁结阻塞，这就像优秀的官吏温和慈爱地爱护百姓吗？治法应当攻伐，如同猛烈的鹰追逐鸟雀；治法应当清凉，如同浇灌深渊的泉水去扑灭燎原大火，这就像优秀的官吏铲除暴虐、安抚良善，不姑息纵容吗？我希望与先生同行业的人，都以先生的学问为学问；不与先生同行业的人，都以先生的心意为心意，那么郡邑中呻吟受苦的人都能起来了。先生的这部书稿，怎么能秘而不宣呢？”程杏轩说：“是，是。”然而仍然将书藏在箱子里，从此又增加了数十条医案。今年春天，他邮寄这本书来，请我为之作序。翻阅之下，依然记得当年在新安与程杏轩在一间屋子里交谈的情景，于是追述这些往事作为序言。
道光四年岁次甲申季春月桐城吴庚枚
In my earlier years, while in the capital, I learned that Bao Juesheng, a Shidu (Attendant Scholar), had suffered from a strange disease and was saved by Dr. Cheng Xuanxuan. Twenty years later, when Bao Juesheng presided over education in Zhongzhou, he fell ill with the same condition, and Dr. Cheng Xuanxuan cured him again. I marveled at his person but regretted not having met him personally. In the spring of Dingmao during the Jiaqing reign, I returned south while afflicted with illness and encountered Dr. Cheng Xuanxuan at the Daliang Envoy's Office. I sought his medical skills, and for over ten years, I hardly knew that illness existed within my body.
In the summer of Dingchou, I visited Xin'an again, and Dr. Cheng Xuanxuan had also returned from his travels. We were delighted to meet, conversing for ten days. He showed me several books he had authored, tracing back to Huangdi and Qibo (Xuanqi), extending to Bian Que (Yueren) and Zhang Zhongjing, and reaching down to Liu Wansu, Li Dongyuan, Zhu Danxi, and other schools. He thoroughly investigated their subtleties and expanded upon their core principles. Among them, the "Continued Records of Medical Cases" offered precise and appropriate reasoning, surpassing the previously printed "First Collection." I advised him to have it printed, but Dr. Cheng declined, saying he lacked the time. I said, "Do not say so. I have seen many practitioners in this world who, after reading one volume of *Tangtou Geku* (Song Formulas for Decoctions) and reciting one chapter of *Yaoxing Fu* (Ode to Drug Properties), hang a sign saying 'Medical Room' and call themselves 'Physicians.' Patients, unaware of the truth, follow them for diagnosis and prescriptions. If they luckily gain wealth, they become even more deceitful, riding sturdy carriages and fierce horses, galloping through streets to show off. Those who revere them grow daily, as do those killed by their incompetence. Those who cannot bear such behavior are either intellectually enlightened yet timid, or inarticulate and poor in writing, despised by the world, causing medical principles to remain obscure globally. Now, you raise the banner of Lu Yi (Bian Que) and Qin Bian, entering the ranks of Sun Simiao and Ge Hong. If this book spreads without legs, becoming popular throughout the land, and people worldwide look up to it and strive to follow it, bringing the populace to benevolence and longevity, it would be a magnificent endeavor. Even if mountains and rivers are distant and acupuncture and herbs cannot reach, physicians can take this book as a standard to achieve efficacy quickly. Those skilled in health preservation, by grasping its residual wisdom, can also dispel disease and prolong life, preserving much more than just physical health. The occupation of scholars and the establishment of government offices are all planned for the nourishment of people. You studied Confucianism in your youth and medical texts in your maturity, often regretting not being able to apply your learning to the world. From what is recorded in this compilation, you discern right from wrong in the minutest details and observe deficiency and excess in the subtlest aspects. Is this not like a virtuous official cautiously adjudicating cases? By tonifying and nourishing to cultivate Yuan Qi (Primary Qi), and using harmonizing methods to prevent stagnation, is this not like a virtuous official treating the people with warmth and kindness? When the method requires attack, it is like a fierce eagle chasing birds; when the method requires cooling, it is like pouring spring water to extinguish a prairie fire. Is this not like a virtuous official removing tyranny and comforting the good, showing no leniency? I wish that those in your profession learn from your scholarship, and those outside your profession adopt your mindset, so that all suffering in the commanderies may cease. How can your manuscript be kept secret?" Dr. Cheng replied, "Yes, yes." However, he still kept it in his chest, adding dozens of new cases since then. This spring, he mailed the book to request a preface. Upon reading it, I recalled our conversation in a single room in Xin'an years ago, and thus wrote this account as the preface.
Spring of the third month in the year Jiashen, Guangxu 4th Year, Wu Gengmei of Tongcheng