丁巳之秋九月，念六余外家洪氏，忽然喉症，乍起白大若钱，寒热交作，手足如冰，次早延医，服牛蒡、甘桔
而未解也，再服病益进，别延友人，紫正地黄汤。又延友人，羌活大黄汤。月至朔而命殂矣。或曰∶此恶症也，
古无治法。或曰∶此真证也，百不一生。予悲之，天之酷人太甚也。诘朝枢扶叔祖慰我，予具以告。叔祖曰∶燥
也，死于命，非死于病也。子悲何补哉？夫医者，理也，风胜湿，火就燥，燥虚火而非实火也。子喻五行者也，
反生反克，知乎？无水不生非土不养，水燥则涸而木死，木燥则枯而火死，火燥则烈而土死，土燥则崩而金死，
金燥则顽而水死，生机熄矣。其见症也，不亦宜乎？经曰∶燥以润之，不有润也，不死，何待？时志之，不敢忘。
越数日，小女未周岁而症作，即延治，七日而满口之白腐顿消，成败易势，得失相反，始信斯症之不恶也，治有
治法也，证无真假也，一生百生也。我叔祖之言不爽也。今壬戌仲冬，集稿成箧，授予读之，竟其委，清其源，
不觉言之娓娓，道之津津，此非一朝一夕之故，其所由来渐矣。其论确，其见真，其功深，其心苦。其论确，故
要言不烦；其见真，故取效甚速；其功深，其心苦，则叔祖之笃信好学也。世之咄咄以为恶症者，不且共登衽席
而享寿域乎哉！当时，同证三人，二俱不可，死者竟六七，日而偕亡，惟小女未周岁，而独存，吁！不遇枢扶叔
祖，命也。居今思昔，为之尽然，爰跋于后后深感一线之生云尔。
时嘉庆七年岁在壬戌孟冬月上浣双桥莲湖居士谨识
丁巳年秋九月二十六日，我的外祖母家洪氏亲属，突然患上喉症，咽喉间忽然长出像铜钱大小的白色腐膜，寒热交替发作，手脚冰冷如冰。次日早晨请医生诊治，服用牛蒡子、甘草和桔梗（甘桔汤）后病情未解，再服药后病势更加加重。又请另一位朋友诊治，使用紫正地黄汤。随后又请另一位朋友诊治，使用羌活大黄汤。到了下月初一，病人便去世了。有人说：这是恶症，古代没有治疗方法。有人说：这是真寒假热证，百人中难救一人。我为此感到悲伤，感叹上天对人太过残酷。第二天清晨，枢扶叔祖前来安慰我，我将此事详细告知他。叔祖说：这是燥邪所致，死于天命，而非死于疾病本身。你悲伤有什么用呢？所谓医者，是通晓医理之人。风胜则湿去，火性就燥，此为虚火而非实火。你通晓五行之理，难道不懂相生相克的道理吗？无水则土不生，无土则水不养；水若干燥则枯竭而木死，木若干燥则枯槁而火死，火若干燥则猛烈而土死，土若干燥则崩裂而金死，金若干燥则顽劣而水死，生机就此熄灭。其出现的症状，不也是合乎情理的吗？《内经》说：燥者润之。如果不加以滋润，不死还等什么？当时记下此事，不敢忘记。
过了几天，我的小女儿未满周岁也出现同样症状，立即延请治疗，七天后满口白腐顿时消除，成败之势容易转变，得失结果相反，这才相信这种病症并非恶症，治疗是有方法的，证候没有真假之分，生命可以保全。我叔祖的话果然灵验。如今壬戌年仲冬，整理文稿成册，交给我阅读，理清了来龙去脉，追溯了源头，不觉说得娓娓动听，道理讲得津津有味。这并非一朝一夕形成的，而是长期积累的结果。他的论述确切，见解真切，功夫深厚，用心良苦。因为论述确切，所以言语精要不繁琐；因为见解真切，所以取效迅速；因为功夫深厚且用心良苦，体现了叔祖笃信好学的美德。世间那些认为这是恶症并惊慌失措的人，岂不是都能登上安适之地享受长寿吗？当时，患相同症状的共有三人，其中两人病情危重不可救，死者竟有六七人，同日相继去世，只有我的小女儿未满周岁，独自存活。唉！若不是遇到枢扶叔祖，便是天命如此。身处今日回想过去，不禁感慨万千，因此在文末写下这篇跋语，深感这一线生机来之不易。
时值嘉庆七年岁在壬戌孟冬月上浣，双桥莲湖居士谨识。
In the autumn of the ninth month in the Ding Si year, on the twenty-sixth day, a relative from my maternal grandfather's family, the Hong clan, suddenly developed a throat disease. White patches resembling coins appeared abruptly in the throat, accompanied by alternating chills and fever, and ice-cold hands and feet. The following morning, a physician was summoned, and Niubangzi (Fructus Armeniacae), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), and Jiegeng (Radix Platycodonis) were administered, but the condition did not resolve. Upon taking more medicine, the illness worsened. Another friend was consulted, who prescribed Zizheng Dihuang Tang (Purple Correct Rehmannia Decoction). Subsequently, yet another friend was invited to prescribe Qianghuo Dahuang Tang (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix and Rheum Decoction). By the first day of the next lunar month, the patient had passed away. Some said: "This is a malignant syndrome; there are no treatment methods for it in ancient texts." Others said: "This is a true cold syndrome presenting with false heat; fewer than one in a hundred will survive." I felt sorrowful, lamenting that Heaven is too cruel to humans.
The next morning, Shuzu (Uncle Shu) came to console me, and I recounted the details to him. Shuzu said: "This is caused by Dryness pathogen. The patient died due to fate, not merely because of the disease. What good does your grief do? A physician is one who understands principles. Wind overcomes dampness; Fire tends toward dryness. This is deficient fire, not excess fire. You understand the Five Elements; do you not know the laws of mutual generation and restriction? Without Water, Earth cannot generate; without Earth, Water cannot be nourished. If Water dries up, Wood dies; if Wood dries out, Fire dies; if Fire becomes excessive and dry, Earth dies; if Earth collapses and dries, Metal dies; if Metal becomes rigid and dry, Water dies. Thus, the vital energy is extinguished. Is it not appropriate that such symptoms appear? The Classic says: 'Dryness should be moistened.' If moisture is not applied, how can death be avoided?" I recorded this at the time, daring not to forget.
A few days later, my youngest daughter, under one year old, exhibited the same symptoms. Treatment was sought immediately, and within seven days, the white putrid coating covering her mouth disappeared completely. The situation changed from failure to success, and gain replaced loss. Only then did I believe that this syndrome is not malignant, that there are treatment methods for it, that syndromes have no true or false distinctions, and that life can be preserved. My uncle's words proved accurate.
Now, in mid-winter of the Ren Xu year, having compiled the manuscripts into a collection, I handed them to my daughter to read. She traced the origins and clarified the sources, speaking eloquently and explaining the Dao with enthusiasm. This was not the result of a single day or night, but accumulated gradually. His theories are precise, his insights genuine, his expertise profound, and his heart arduous. Because his theories are precise, his words are concise and essential; because his insights are genuine, his efficacy is rapid; because his expertise is profound and his heart arduous, it reflects his uncle's steadfast faith and love for learning. Would those in the world who panic, considering this a malignant syndrome, not all ascend to a state of peace and enjoy longevity? At that time, three patients presented with the same syndrome. Two were critically ill and incurable; six or seven died, passing away on the same day. Only my youngest daughter, under one year old, survived alone. Alas! Had we not met Uncle Shufu, it would have been fate. Reflecting on the past from the present, I am deeply moved. Therefore, I append this postscript, deeply feeling the preciousness of this thread of survival.
Recorded respectfully by the Dweller at Lianhu, Shuangqiao, during the upper ten days of the first month of winter in the seventh year of the Jiaqing reign, corresponding to the Ren Xu year.