Abstract
In this case Xu discusses an ailment called chi 痓 which is one of the Treatise’s three disorders of the Mature Yang tract. However, in the Treatise the discussion of this disorder is limited and it appears only nine times. Moreover, the Treatise does not list a treatment for this disorder. It is unclear why Xu chose to devote one of his 90 cases to this disorder, unless it was common during his lifetime yet no treatment was on record. In this case the patient’s body is hot but his feet are cold, his neck is stiff and he has convulsions. These symptoms are often associated with wind pathology; hence Xu informs the reader that one doctor treated his patient for Wind Strike, which only worsened the patient’s condition. Following Xu’s correct diagnosis, he treats the patient with two prescriptions.
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- 1.
Treatise (辨痓濕暍脈證, line 1). See Yu 1997, p. 35.
- 2.
This combination of characters (瘛疭) points in general to convulsions or spasms (痙攣) and more specifically to convulsions arms and legs. See Zhongyi da cidian, 2nd ed., p. 1938.
- 3.
It is not clear if Xu actually palpated the patient’s body and it felt dry to him or whether the patient reported this feeling to him.
- 4.
- 5.
See Scheid et al. 2009, pp. 63–66 and p. 623.
- 6.
In this quotation Xu Shuwei is actually quoting two disjointed parts within one paragraph of the original text. See Suwen (pian 70, 五常政大論, line 3, the bold characters are what Xu quotes in the case): “赫曦之紀, 是謂蕃茂, 陰氣內化, 陽氣外榮, 炎暑施化, 物得以昌, 其化長, 其氣高, 其政動, 其令鳴顯, 其動炎灼妄擾, 其德暄暑鬱蒸, 其變炎烈沸騰, 其穀麥豆, 其畜羊彘, 其果杏栗, 其色赤白玄, 其味苦辛鹹, 其象夏, 其經手少陰太陽, 手厥陰少陽, 其藏心肺, 其蟲羽鱗, 其物脈濡, 其病笑瘧瘡瘍血流狂妄目赤, 上羽與正徵同, 其收齊, 其病痓,…”
Unschuld and Tessenow’s translation (2011, vol. 2, p. 314 and 316) is slightly different. See also Guo Aichun 1992, vol. 2, pp. 926–927.
- 7.
The character ji 紀 (emblem) refers to certain combinations, or years, of the sexagenery cycle, namely wucehn 戊辰 (year 5 in the cycle of 60), wuyin 戊寅 (year 15), wuzi 戊子 (year 25), wuxu 戊戌 (year 35), wushen 戊申 (year 45), wuwu 戊午 (year 55). According to the wuyun liuqi doctrine, these 6 years are characterized by excessive Fire that injures the lung’s qi and enlivens the yang.
- 8.
- 9.
These are the Five Phases coordinates of two notes of the musical scale.
- 10.
The combination yields sexagenary year 35.
- 11.
Shou 收 refers to the Metal Phase qi of the wuyun liuqi doctrine; see Guo Aichun’s Huangdi neijing cidian 1995, p. 376.
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Goldschmidt, A. (2019). Case Number 21. 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_22
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