龚子才治一小儿，五岁不能言，咸以为废人矣。视其形瘦痿，乃肺肾不足。遂以六味丸加五味、鹿茸，及
补中益气加五味，两月余，形气渐健。将半载，始能言一二言，至年许，始声音明亮。
一富翁子，年八岁不能步履，缘过惜不能得土气，致肌肉软脆，筋骨柔弱。用黄土入于夹袄内与穿，同服
地黄丸加人参、鹿茸、牛膝、虎胫骨，未半料已能行矣。
薛立斋治一小儿患泄泻，声音不亮。杂用清热等剂，声音如哑，饮食少思，去后多在清晨。朝用地黄丸加
五味，夕用补中益气汤，其泄顿止。却专服前丸，不两月，其言渐亮，遂全愈矣。
一小儿三岁，言步未能，牙发稀少，体瘦骨立，发热作渴，目睛黑少，服肥儿丸不应，此肾虚疳症也。前
丸乃脾胃经之药，久服则肾益虚，而疳益甚。不信，果牙发渐落。用六味丸加鹿茸、五味子，半载而痊。
一小儿体瘦，腿不能行步，齿不坚固，发稀短少，属足三阴虚，用六味丸、补中益气汤，半年悉愈，形体
充实。
一小儿七岁，体细短寸许，不良于行，目睛白多，或有盗汗，发黄成穗，用地黄丸加鹿茸、五味为主，佐
以补中益气散，半载行履如故。
万密斋曰∶一儿颈细，其父尝问于予，可养何如？予曰∶颈者，头之茎，细则不能任元。在父母调养之，
八岁后再议。至五岁死。
一儿解颅，未一岁，认字念书，父母甚爱之。予曰∶此儿胎禀不足，肾虚颅解，真阳弱矣，聪慧早发，真
阳泄矣，恐遗父母忧。未一岁而发搐死。（雄按∶余儿寿源，生而壮伟，无一夭相。惟善解人意，未半岁即能
认字，见者无不叹赏，余忧其发泄太早，果不满八月而殇，可悼也已。）
一儿周岁后多笑，予曰∶此儿难养。父问故，曰∶肾为水，心为火，水阴火阳，阴常不足，阳常有余。笑
者，火之声也，水不胜火，故得难养。曰∶诸儿笑者皆不可养乎？曰∶待人引之而笑者，此有情也；见人自笑
者，此无情也。后以疮痘死。
一儿头缝四破，皮光而急，两眼甚小。万曰∶脑者，髓之海也。肾主骨，髓中有伏火，故髓热而头破，额
颅大而眼楞小也，宜服地黄丸。不信，至十四岁而死。
一儿，生下便有目赤口疮之症，自是头常热，山根青筋横截，痰甚多。曰∶此胎热，其治在肝。小儿者，
纯阳之体，头者，诸阳之会。肝为乙木，旺于春，乃少阳发生之气也。经云∶春气者病在头，故头常热也。肝
之色青，故青筋浮露也。肝常有余，不治恐发惊风。乃用泻青丸，去大黄加黄芩为末，蜜丸服之，遂头凉筋隐，
病亦少矣。
龚子才治疗一名五岁还不会说话的小儿，大家都认为他是个废人。观察他的身形消瘦萎弱，判断是肺肾不足。于是使用六味丸加五味子和鹿茸，以及补中益气汤加五味子，服用两个多月后，身形和元气逐渐健壮。将近半年时，才开始能说出一两个字，到了一年多时，声音才变得明亮清晰。
另一名富翁的儿子，八岁了还不能走路，因为过于爱惜导致不能接触泥土吸收地气，致使肌肉软弱脆弱，筋骨柔弱。将黄土放入夹袄内让他穿着，同时服用地黄丸加人参、鹿茸、牛膝、虎胫骨，不到半料药量就能行走了。
薛立斋治疗一名患泄泻、声音不亮的小儿。医生们杂乱地使用清热等药剂，导致声音像哑了一样，饮食减少思虑，大便多在清晨排出。早晨服用地黄丸加五味子，晚上服用补中益气汤，泄泻立刻停止。随后专门服用前面的地黄丸，不到两个月，他的声音逐渐变亮，于是完全痊愈了。
另一名三岁小儿，语言和行走能力都未能具备，牙齿头发稀少，身体瘦削骨骼突出，发热口渴，眼球黑色部分少，服用肥儿丸没有效果，这是肾虚疳症。前面的方剂是脾胃经的药物，久服则肾脏更加虚弱，而疳症更加严重。家属不信，果然牙齿头发逐渐脱落。改用六味丸加鹿茸、五味子，半年后痊愈。
另一名小儿身体瘦弱，腿部不能行走，牙齿不坚固，头发稀疏短少，属于足三阴虚，使用六味丸、补中益气汤，半年全部痊愈，形体变得充实。
另一名七岁小儿，身材细小短小约一寸，行走不便，眼球白色部分多，可能有盗汗，头发发黄结成穗状，以地黄丸加鹿茸、五味子为主，辅以补中益气散，半年后行走如常。
万密斋说：有一个孩子脖子细，他的父亲曾经问我，可以怎样调养？我说：脖子是头的茎干，细了就不能承载元气。在父母调养下，等到八岁后再议。结果孩子五岁时死了。
另一个孩子解颅（囟门迟闭），不到一岁就会认字念书，父母非常喜爱他。我说：这个孩子胎禀不足，肾虚导致颅骨不合，真阳虚弱，聪慧过早发育，真阳泄露了，恐怕会给父母留下忧愁。结果不到一岁就因抽搐而死。（徐灵胎按语：我的儿子寿源，生下来强壮伟岸，没有夭折的相状。只是善于理解人意，不到半岁就能认字，见到的人无不赞叹欣赏，我担心他发泄太早，果然不满八月就夭折了，真是令人哀悼啊。）
另一个孩子周岁后经常笑，我说：这个孩子难养。父亲问原因，我说：肾属水，心属火，水是阴，火是阳，阴常常不足，阳常常有余。笑是火的声音，水不胜火，所以难以养育。父亲问：其他孩子笑的都不能养吗？我说：等人引导才笑的，这是有情；见到人就自己笑的，这是无情。后来因疮痘死了。
另一个孩子头缝四裂，皮肤光亮而紧绷，两眼很小。万密斋说：脑是髓的海。肾主骨，髓中有伏火，所以髓热而头缝破裂，额头颅骨大而眼眶小，适宜服用地黄丸。家属不信，孩子十四岁时死了。
另一个孩子，生下来就有眼睛红赤、口疮的症状，从此头部经常发热，山根青筋横截，痰非常多。我说：这是胎热，治疗关键在于肝。小儿是纯阳之体，头是诸阳之会。肝属乙木，旺盛于春季，是少阳发生之气。经书说：春气致病在头部，所以头部经常发热。肝的颜色是青色，所以青筋浮露。肝气常常有余，不治疗恐怕会引发惊风。于是用泻青丸，去掉大黄加黄芩研为末，蜜丸服用，于是头部变凉，青筋隐退，病也减轻了许多。
Gong Zicai treated a child who, at five years old, could not speak; everyone considered him useless. Observing his emaciated and withered physique, he diagnosed it as insufficiency of the Lung and Kidney (Zang-Fu organs). He prescribed Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) added with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) and Lurong (Deer Antler), along with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi) added with Wuweizi. After more than two months, the child’s physique and vital energy gradually strengthened. By nearly half a year, he could utter one or two words; by over a year, his voice became clear and bright.
The son of a wealthy man, aged eight, could not walk because he was overly cherished and thus deprived of contact with the earth’s qi, resulting in soft and fragile muscles and weak bones and sinews. Yellow soil was placed inside his padded jacket for him to wear, and simultaneously, Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) added with Renshen (Ginseng Root), Lurong (Deer Antler), Niuxi (Achyranthes Root), and Hu Jinggu (Tiger Tibia Bone) was administered. Before half a dose was consumed, he could already walk.
Xue Lizhai treated a child suffering from diarrhea and hoarseness. The use of various heat-clearing formulas caused his voice to become mute-like, reduced appetite, and morning defecation. In the morning, Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) added with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) was given; in the evening, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi) was administered, which immediately stopped the diarrhea. Subsequently, only the former pill was taken exclusively. Within less than two months, his voice gradually recovered clarity, leading to complete recovery.
Another three-year-old child exhibited delayed speech and walking, sparse teeth and hair, emaciation with prominent bones, fever, thirst, and scanty blackness in the eyes. Fei’er Wan (Pill to Fatten the Child) yielded no results; this was diagnosed as Kidney deficiency type Gan syndrome (malnutrition due to Spleen-Stomach dysfunction). The previous formula acted on the Spleen and Stomach meridians; prolonged use further depleted the Kidney and exacerbated the Gan syndrome. Disregarding this advice, the child’s teeth and hair indeed fell out gradually. Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) added with Lurong (Deer Antler) and Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) was used, resulting in recovery after half a year.
Another child presented with emaciation, inability to walk, loose teeth, and sparse short hair, attributed to deficiency of the three Yin meridians of the Foot. Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi) were used, leading to full recovery within six months, with the body becoming robust.
A seven-year-old child was unusually small and short by about one cun, had difficulty walking, excessive whites in the eyes, possible night sweats, and yellow hair forming tufts. Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) added with Lurong (Deer Antler) and Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) served as the main treatment, supplemented by Buzhong Yiqi San (Powder to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi). After half a year, his gait returned to normal.
Wan Mizhai stated: Regarding a child with a thin neck, the father asked how to nurture him. I replied: The neck is the stem of the head; if too thin, it cannot support the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Nurture him under parental care, and we will discuss further when he is eight. The child died at age five.
Regarding a child with Jie Lu (delayed closure of fontanelles) who could recognize characters and read before age one, beloved by parents, I said: This child has insufficient prenatal endowment, Kidney deficiency causing fontanelle separation, and weak True Yang. Early manifestation of intelligence indicates leakage of True Yang; fear that this will bring sorrow to the parents. The child died of convulsions before age one. (Xu Lingtai’s note: My son Shouyuan was born strong and robust, showing no signs of premature death. He was exceptionally perceptive, recognizing characters before six months, admired by all. I worried his development was too early, and indeed, he died before eight months. It is truly lamentable.)
Regarding a child who laughed frequently after age one, I said: This child will be difficult to raise. When asked why, I explained: The Kidney belongs to Water, the Heart to Fire. Water is Yin, Fire is Yang; Yin is often insufficient, while Yang is often in excess. Laughter is the sound of Fire; when Water cannot overcome Fire, raising the child becomes difficult. The father asked: Are all laughing children unraiseable? I replied: Those who laugh only when prompted have emotion; those who laugh spontaneously upon seeing people lack emotion. The child later died of smallpox.
Regarding a child with four split cranial sutures, shiny and tight skin, and very small eyes, Wan said: The brain is the sea of Marrow. The Kidney governs bones; latent fire within the marrow causes marrow heat, leading to split sutures, large forehead and skull, and small eye sockets. Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) is suitable. Disregarding this, the child died at fourteen.
Regarding a child born with red eyes and mouth ulcers, constant head heat, transverse blue veins at the Shangen (root of the nose), and excessive phlegm, I said: This is fetal heat; treatment focuses on the Liver. Children are bodies of pure Yang; the head is the confluence of all Yang meridians. The Liver corresponds to Yi Wood, flourishing in Spring, representing the ascending Qi of Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). The Classics state: “Spring Qi diseases manifest in the head,” hence the constant head heat. The Liver’s color is green, hence the protruding blue veins. Liver Qi is often in excess; untreated, it may lead to Wind stirring (Jing Feng). Thus, Xie Qing Wan (Pill to Drain the Green) was used, removing Dahuang (Rhubarb Root) and adding Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), ground into powder and formed into honey pills. Consequently, the head cooled, veins receded, and symptoms diminished.