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Yang, male, 31 years old. Initial consultation: March 1923. Initially due to mild wind-cold, fever, headache, and after taking over ten doses of a certain doctor's prescription, each dose containing bitter and cold purgatives, and heavily dosed with Rhinoceros Horn, antelope horn, Coptis, etc., the condition worsened progressively without self-reflection, nearly life-threatening. After 20 days of illness, I was finally invited for consultation.
This seasonal disease presents with red eyes, swollen and burnt lips, barefoot and exposed body, dysphoria and insomnia, unconsciousness and delirious speech, body hot as fire, thirst with a preference for hot water, scanty and dark urine, no bowel movement for several days, inability to eat, and a floating, weak pulse on the verge of dissipation.
This is a deteriorated pattern due to the mistreatment of wind-cold. The excessive use of bitter and cold purgative drugs has forced the true yang to the exterior, resulting in a syndrome of extreme yin appearing as yang. Although there is a display of heat symptoms externally, which is false heat, internally there is extreme cold, which is true cold. If it were truly a yang pattern, with internal heat steaming, there should be great thirst for cold drinks, not a preference for hot drinks. Moreover, the floating and weak pulse is a sign of the original yang on the verge of collapse.
Bitter and cold purgatives must not be taken again. Only large doses of yang-restoring and astringent formulas may save the situation. The condition is very critical. I urgently prescribed White Unblocking Decoction with added Cassia Bark. Prescription:
Aconite 2 liang, Dried Ginger 1 liang, Superior Cassia Bark 3 qian (ground, soaked in water and mixed in), Fistular Onion Stalk 4 stalks

After prescribing, the family mentioned that they did not dare to decoct and administer the medicine that night due to lack of guidance. The next morning, they urgently requested another consultation. I adhered to the previous prescription and advised them to first try the Cassia Bark soaked in water. If tolerable, then proceed with the decoction as prescribed, as there was no better alternative. The family then administered the Cassia Bark water. After taking it, the patient vomited about a bowl of phlegm, became slightly clearer in mind, and reported feeling refreshed internally, then took the prescribed medicine. After one dose, the condition slightly improved, showing signs of aversion to cold and cold limbs. In the afternoon consultation, the fever had reduced by one or two degrees, no longer showing dysphoria or delirious speech, and the patient was able to sleep soundly for a while. I then prescribed Cold-Extremities Decoction with added Cassia Bark. Prescription:
Aconite 3 liang, Dried Ginger 2 liang, Liquorice Root 3 qian, Superior Cassia Bark 3 qian (ground, soaked in water and mixed in)
After taking the above prescription, the fever reduced by four to five degrees, the pulse showed slight vitality, the urine was dark and copious, and the patient could eat a little porridge. Upon further administration, the fever reduced by seven to eight degrees, bowel movement started, dark and hard, but with much coughing and blood in the phlegm. The family consulted several other doctors, all diagnosing it as a heat pattern, prescribing bitter and cold purgatives. Due to the previous misdiagnosis, they dared not try these prescriptions lightly. Later, the patient ate a pear, and that night suddenly became violent and feverish as before, urgently requesting my consultation again, mentioning the pear incident. I observed a white and slippery tongue, still preferring hot drinks, indicating yang spirit deficiency and residual pudendal coldness, urgently needing yang support but deficient, and the addition of yin-enriching and cooling fruit increased interior cold, worsening the condition. I advised against raw and cold fruits and cooling bitter and cold medicines, and continued with large doses of yang-restoring and cold-expelling formulas. Doubling the dose of the second prescription and adding Poria 1 liang, Pinellia 1.5 liang, and Northern Asarum 1 qian, administered twice daily. After six doses over three days, the fever subsided, coughing and phlegm gradually improved, appetite increased, urine became light yellow and copious, and stools turned yellow and loose. The prescription was then adjusted by removing Pinellia and Asarum, adding Villous Amomum Fruit, White Atractylodes Rhizome, and Astragalus Root, one dose daily for over ten doses, leading to complete recovery, with the patient's health better than before.