Abstract
This case record is probably one of the shortest in Xu’s collection. It is unclear why he provides so few details. It may be due to the fact that he uses it to educate his readers about two syndromes with similar prominent symptoms but with different pathologies. The main symptom is hypertonicity of the neck and discomfort when looking up and down, as if the neck were forcibly stretched, a condition more severe than simple stiffness and pain in the neck. The two syndromes with this major symptom are discussed in the Treatise and associated with two distinct pathologies and treatments, neither of which is what the other doctor in the case prescribed. In addition to exemplifying a common incorrect treatment, Xu shows the readers the correct differential diagnosis and therapy.
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- 1.
See Scheid et al 2009, p. 19.
- 2.
This symptom was originally discussed in the Treatise in two locations (辨太陽病脈證并治法上, line 15; and in 辨太陽病脈證并治中, line 1), see Yu 1997, p. 38 and p. 42 and Mitchell, Ye, and Wiseman 1999, p. 79 and p. 109 (there it is translated as “a stretched stiff nape and back”). The parallels of this symptom in Western terms are tense back and inability to bend down. See Zhongyi da cidian, 2nd ed. P. 1167.
- 3.
See Scheid et al 2009, pp. 19–21.
- 4.
- 5.
Xie Fugu 謝復古 (exact dates unknown) was a Song-dyansty Hanlin Scholar as well as a physician who specialized in Cold Damage disorders and authored the book Annotations on the Canon of Difficult Issues (Nan jing zhu 難經注, lost). See Li Yun et al., eds. 1988, p. 900 and Li Jingwei et al., eds. 1988, p. 632.
- 6.
Cheng Wuji’s (1044/1052–1133/1144) was a very prominent specialist in Cold Damage disorders. His greatest achievement was compiling a new version of the Song Treatise, Annotations on the Treatise (Zhu jie shanghan lun 注解傷寒論, published 1172). Cheng devoted 40 years of his life to this first annotated version using other classical canons. For further information see He Shixi 1991, pp. 379–381; Li Jingwei et al., eds. 1988, p. 113; and Li Yun, ed. 2016, p. 180.
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Goldschmidt, A. (2019). Case Number 20. In: Medical Practice in Twelfth-century China – A Translation of Xu Shuwei’s Ninety Discussions [Cases] on Cold Damage Disorders. Archimedes, vol 54. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06103-6_21
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