Li, female, 24 years old, consultation on March 26, 1979. The patient sought treatment on March 12 due to fever, body pain, discomfort in the chest and hypochondrium, and difficulty breathing. She had previously undergone treatment with both Chinese and Western medicine, and her body temperature had dropped below 38°C. However, after taking a bath, her temperature rose again, reaching 39.6°C. After hospitalization, she was diagnosed with "wind-dampness heat" based on physical examination. Despite treatment, her temperature could not be controlled. The patient was conscious and cooperative, complaining of alternating chills and fever, body pain, and pain in the Xiguan (LR7) joint for two weeks. The fever was particularly severe in the afternoon, and she felt a few palpitations in the left chest, followed by a rise in body temperature. She occasionally experienced fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, dizziness, blurred vision, irritability, dry throat, bitter taste in the mouth, thirst without vomiting, slightly yellow and difficult urination, and sweating limited to the head during fever. The pulse was wiry and rapid, the tongue coating was white with a slightly yellow center, and the edges of the tongue were red with little moisture. The condition was attributed to unresolved external pathogens and internal fluid retention. The treatment plan was to use Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Dried Ginger Decoction. The prescription was:
Bupleurum 10g, Cinnamon Twig 3g, Dried Ginger 2g, smallpox powder 5g, Skullcap Root 4g, oyster shell 3g, raw Liquorice Root 2g
. Two doses were to be decocted with water and taken twice a day. The patient took the medicine around 5 PM, just as she was experiencing aversion to cold. After taking the medicine, she felt slightly irritable, followed by sweating and relief from the fever. The next day, she felt a significant reduction in body pain, and her afternoon temperature was only 37.5°C. However, she still felt cold in both hands, chest tightness, and occasional nasal congestion. Her family noticed that her lips were cyanotic. She took the second dose of the decoction in the afternoon as usual. Suddenly, around 11 PM, she experienced aversion to cold, followed by shivering, and her temperature was measured at 40.5°C. This was followed by profuse sweating, thirst, and continuous sweating until dawn, after which her body cooled down and her hands warmed up, her lips turned red, and she felt tired and sleepy. Her temperature was measured at 37.2°C. From then on, the high fever subsided, and her ECG and blood tests returned to normal. She only occasionally felt nasal congestion and slight chest tightness, so the prescription was slightly modified by adding 10g of Trichosanthes peel and 6g of Curcuma Root for a few doses, after which she recovered.