Abstract
This final record is about the highest-ranked official in the book. Later doctors would have been quite specific about his rank and name. However, neither plays a role in Xu’s discussion. Xu did not actually treat this patient, but simply prognosticated and explained his untimely demise. The case exemplifies the impact of the weather and the patient’s diet on the development of his pathology. According to Chinese medicine, a person has to eat the correct foods at regular mealtimes in each season and each type of weather. Before Xu was invited, another doctor treated the patient with three standard formulas, and even moxibustion, without success. Xu is making the point that, without a correct diagnosis, no therapy will help the patient.
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- 1.
Daguan 達官, lit., “an official who had gained success,” is a vague, unofficial reference to an eminent official, especially to one who had access to the ruler (Hucker, p. 467, #5971).
- 2.
Damp Wind Manifestation Type appears in the Treatise (辨太陽脈證并治下, line 65, see Yu 1997, p. 63) and in the Jinkui yaolue (痓濕暍病脈證治, line 30, see Yu 1997, p. 508). This manifestation type refers to a condition in which the patient is hit by wind, cold, and damp pathogens and the main symptom is a heavy feeling and pain all over the body, and pain in the joints with difficulty in bending and stretching them. For further information see Zhongyi da cidian, 2nd ed., p. 349.
- 3.
Xu is using a short form for the title of this formula, writing 朮附湯 for 白朮附子湯 (see also cases 8 and 41). For further information see Scheid et al. 2009, pp. 272–273. That source does not list the second formula. See also case 9 above.
- 4.
This quotation comes from Problem 24; see Unschuld 2016b, pp. 253–255. The first two and last two sentences originated in Ling shu, 10.3.
- 5.
Both of these metals are exceptional conductors of heat.
Bibliography
Other Sources:
Scheid, Volker, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, and Randall Barolet. 2009. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies. Seattle: Eastland Press.
———. 2016b. Nan Jing: The Classic of Difficult Issues With commentaries by Chinese and Japanese authors from the Third through the Twentieth century The Complete Chinese Text with an Annotated Translation. Berkley, CA: University of California Press.
Yu, Bohai 于伯海, et. al. 1997. Shanghan jinkui wenbing mingzhu jicheng 伤寒金匮温病名著集成 [Collected Famous Works on Cold Damage, Golden Casket, and Febrile Disorders]. Beijing, Huaxia chubanshe.
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Goldschmidt, A. (2019). Case Number 90. 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_91
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