胡某乃媳，夏月患感证，延诊时已七日矣。切脉弦数搏指，壮热谵狂，面目都赤，舌黑
便秘
，腹痛拒按。诊毕令先取冷水一碗与服，某有难色，予曰∶冷水即是妙药，饮之无伤。盖欲
观其饮水多寡，察其热势之轻重耳。其姑取水至，虽闻予言，心尚犹豫，勉倾半盅与饮。妇
恚曰∶何少乃尔。予令尽碗与之，一饮而罄。问曰∶饮此何如。妇曰∶其甘如饴，心地顿快
，吾日来原欲饮水，奈诸人坚禁不与，致焦烦如此。予曰∶毋忧，今令与汝饮，但勿纵耳。
因谓某曰∶汝媳病乃极重感证，邪踞阳明，已成胃实。问所服何药，某出前方，乃小柴胡汤
也。予曰∶杯水能救车薪之火乎?即投白虎泻心，尚是扬汤止沸耳。某曰∶然则当用何方?予
疏大承气汤与之。某持方不决。邻人曰∶吾妇昔病此，曾服此方得效。于是取药煎服，夜间
便
行两次，次早腹痛虽止，他证依然。改用白虎泻心及甘露饮三方出入，石膏用至四两，芩连
各用数钱，佐以银花金汁驱秽解毒，数日间共计用药数斤，冷水十余碗，始得热退病除。众
皆服予胆大。予曰∶非胆大也，此等重证，不得不用此重剂耳。
汪氏妇患热病，壮热不退，目赤唇干，舌黑起刺，便闭溲赤，诊脉弦数有力，应用清剂
无疑
。试问∶渴乎?曰不甚渴，惟喜饮沸汤数口，稍凉即不欲思。如此热证，当渴饮水，何反嗜
饮沸汤?若以此一端而从阴治，似乎不可。偶忆律云∶二罪俱犯，以重者论。今脉证均属阳
热，乌可以喜饮沸汤一事为疑。先与小白汤，病状仿佛，知其药不胜病，乃进大剂白虎汤，
石膏重用四两，因其胃热上冲，呕恶不食，更加芦根竹茹为引，另取元明粉蜜拌涂舌，以润
其燥。如此寒凉叠进，阅十四朝，始得热退神清，便通舌润。使拘古法，以喜热从阴而投温
药，不几抱薪救火乎?孟子云∶尽信书，则不如无书。斯言可证矣。
胡某的妻子，在夏季患上了外感热病，就诊时已经病了七天。切脉发现脉搏弦而数且搏动有力，身体高热，神志不清甚至狂躁，面部和眼睛都发红，舌苔发黑，大便不通，腹部疼痛且拒绝按压。诊察完毕后，我让人先取一碗冷水给她喝，家属面露难色，我说：“冷水就是良药，喝了没有伤害。”这是因为我想通过观察她喝水的多少，来考察热势的轻重程度。她的婆婆取来水，虽然听了我说的话，心里仍然犹豫，勉强倒了半盅让她喝。妇人恼怒地说：“怎么这么少？”我让人把整碗都给她，她一口气喝完。我问她：“喝了感觉怎么样？”妇人说：“甜得像糖一样，心里顿时清爽了，我这几天本来就想喝水，无奈众人坚决禁止不给，导致如此焦躁烦闷。”我说：“不用担心，现在允许你喝，只是不要过量罢了。”于是我对家属说：“你妻子的病是极重的外感证，邪气占据阳明经，已经形成了胃腑实热证。”问他们之前服用了什么药，家属拿出之前的处方，是小柴胡汤。我说：“杯水岂能救车薪之火？即使使用白虎汤和泻心汤，也只是扬汤止沸罢了。”家属问：“那么应该用什么方子？”我开出了大承气汤给他们。家属拿着处方犹豫不决。邻居说：“我妻子以前得过这个病，曾服用此方见效。”于是取药煎服，夜间排便两次，第二天早上腹痛虽然停止了，其他症状依然如故。改用白虎汤、泻心汤及甘露饮三方加减化裁，石膏用到四两，黄芩、黄连各用几钱，辅以金银花、金汁驱除秽浊毒邪，几天内共计用药几斤，冷水十余碗，这才热退病除。众人都佩服我的胆量。我说：“不是胆大，这种重症，不得不使用重剂罢了。”
汪氏妇人患热病，持续高热不退，眼睛红赤，嘴唇干燥，舌苔发黑且有芒刺，大便闭塞，小便短赤，切脉弦数有力，应用清热剂无疑。试着问她：“口渴吗？”回答说：“不太渴，只喜欢喝几口滚烫的热水，稍微凉一点就不想喝了。”像这样热盛的病症，应当口渴想喝水，为何反而嗜好喝滚烫的水？如果仅凭这一点就按照阴证治疗，似乎不可行。偶然想起医律说：“两种情况同时存在，按严重的情况论处。”现在脉象和症状都属于阳热证，怎么能因为喜欢喝热水这一件事而产生怀疑呢？先给予小白汤，病情变化不大，知道药力不能胜任病情，于是进服大剂量白虎汤，重用石膏四两，因为其胃热上冲，出现呕吐恶心、不想进食，再加芦根、竹茹作为引经药，另外取元明粉拌蜜涂抹舌头，以滋润其燥热。如此寒凉药物连续使用，经过十四天，才得热退神清，大便通畅，舌苔润泽。如果拘泥于古法，因为喜好热饮就顺从阴证投以温药，岂不是抱薪救火吗？孟子说：“完全相信书籍，还不如没有书。”这句话可以证明这一点。
Hu's daughter-in-law suffered from an exogenous febrile disease in summer. When consulted, she had been ill for seven days. The pulse was wiry and rapid, forceful against the finger; she had high fever, delirium, and mania; her face and eyes were flushed red; the tongue was black with dry coating; stool was constipated; abdominal pain was present with tenderness upon pressure. After examination, I ordered a bowl of cold water to be given to her first. The family member showed hesitation, but I said, "Cold water is a wonderful medicine; drinking it will cause no harm." This was to observe the quantity of water she could drink to assess the severity of the heat pathogen. Her mother-in-law brought the water. Although she heard my words, she remained hesitant and reluctantly gave half a cup. The woman angrily asked, "Why so little?" I ordered the whole bowl to be given to her, which she drank in one gulp. I asked, "How does it feel?" She replied, "It tastes as sweet as syrup, and my mind feels instantly refreshed. I have wanted to drink water these past few days, but everyone strictly forbade it, causing such anxiety and irritability." I said, "Do not worry. Now I allow you to drink, just do not overindulge." Then I told the family member, "Your wife's illness is a severe exogenous febrile disease. The pathogen occupies the Yangming channel, forming excess syndrome in the Stomach (Wei). What medicines did you take previously?" The family member presented the previous prescription, which was Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). I said, "Can a cup of water save a cartload of burning firewood? Even using Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) and Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) would only be like stirring boiling water to stop it from boiling." The family member asked, "Then what formula should be used?" I prescribed Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction). The family member hesitated to take the prescription. A neighbor said, "My wife once had this illness and recovered after taking this formula." Thus, the medicine was prepared and administered. During the night, she defecated twice. By early morning, although the abdominal pain ceased, other symptoms persisted. We modified Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction), and Ganlu Yin (Sweet Dew Drink) by adding or subtracting herbs. Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) was used up to four liang, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) several qian each, assisted by Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos) and Jinzhi (Human Excrement Juice) to clear turbidity and detoxify. Within several days, several jin of medicine and more than ten bowls of cold water were consumed before the fever subsided and the illness was cured. Everyone admired my boldness. I said, "It is not boldness; for such severe cases, heavy doses are indispensable."
Madam Wang suffered from a febrile disease with persistent high fever, red eyes, dry lips, a black tongue with prickles, constipation, and dark scanty urine. The pulse was wiry, rapid, and forceful. The use of cooling agents was undoubtedly indicated. I asked, "Are you thirsty?" She replied, "Not very thirsty. I only desire to sip a few mouthfuls of boiling hot water; if it cools slightly, I have no desire for it." In such a heat syndrome, thirst and desire for water are expected. Why does she prefer boiling water? If we treat this as a Yin syndrome based solely on this sign, it seems inappropriate. I recalled a medical principle: "When two offenses are committed simultaneously, judge according to the heavier one." Currently, both pulse and symptoms belong to Yang-Heat. How can the preference for hot water cause doubt? Initially, Xiaobai Tang (Minor White Decoction) was given. The condition remained similar, indicating the medication was insufficient for the disease. Therefore, a large dose of Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) was administered, with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) heavily dosed at four liang. Due to Stomach Heat rushing upward causing vomiting, nausea, and anorexia, Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) and Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia) were added as guiding herbs. Additionally, Yuanmingfen (Mirabilite) mixed with honey was applied to the tongue to moisten dryness. Through continuous administration of cold-natured herbs, after fourteen days, the fever subsided, consciousness cleared, bowel movements resumed, and the tongue became moist. If one adhered rigidly to ancient methods, treating as Yin syndrome due to preference for hot drinks and administering warm herbs, it would be akin to carrying firewood to extinguish a fire. Mencius said, "To believe everything in books is better than having no books at all." This statement serves as proof.