Trace the source of the disease: (V) - Trace the source of the disease

Author: Liu Quande
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-02-01
Features: On Investigating the Causes of Illness focuses on an in-depth exploration and elaboration of seventy-four types of causes of illness, making it a valuable book in the field of TCM etiology and pathogenesis. Additionally, it discusses the main therapeutic effects of herbs, herb guiding, pulse diagnosis for identifying diseases, clinical medication, and formulas, making it a relatively comprehensive introductory book on TCM. The book's features include: verse form for easy reading and memorization; analysis of causes of illness, summarizing the views of various scholars; investigating the origins of diseases, unifying methods and formulas.
Regarding the book The Mirror of Confucian Physicians, the original manuscript does not include the author or scribe's names. At the end of each chapter, there is a phrase "Tian Shi examined and said," suggesting Tian Shi may have been the person who organized, supplemented, and transcribed the book, though his background remains unknown. Based on the references cited in the book, it was likely written before the mid-Ming Dynasty, as it does not avoid the taboo names "Chang" and "Xuan" common in the late Ming and Qing dynasties. The book begins with verse form to describe the modifications of Bu Chen Tang (Buchuan Decoction), Si Wu Tang (Four-Ingredient Decoction), and Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Chaihu Decoction), covering common comorbidities and variations in clinical use. The language is concise and easy to memorize, making it highly practical. Subsequently, it records the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment methods for twenty-six common internal medicine diseases, with a writing style similar to important internal medicine books since the Song Dynasty. Each chapter first summarizes the theories from medical classics and previous scholars, discussing the classification, representative symptoms, diagnostic principles, treatment principles, and prognosis of the disease. It then lists representative formulas and specific decoction methods, followed by Tian Shi's additional insights on the disease's diagnosis and treatment.
The Essentials of Wang Leiting is a collection of clinical case studies by Huang Leiting, recorded in the spring of the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875 AD). Little is known about Huang Leiting's life, as there is no record in official histories or local chronicles, suggesting he may have been a person from southern Jiangsu in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. The book is organized by disease, divided into 53 categories such as seasonal fevers, hemoptysis, hematemesis, and enuresis, with a total of 972 recorded cases. For each disease, the cases are listed first, often followed by medical discussions. The content primarily focuses on internal medicine, with occasional cases from gynecology and surgery. Each case begins with a description of the condition, followed by the prescribed formulas and medications. The cases in the book often involve continuous treatment, which helps readers understand the progression of the disease and changes in treatment.