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Dream of the Red Chamber: The importance of the Pulse

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The novel was composed some time in the middle of the 18th century during the

Qing Dynasty and attributed to Cao Xueqin. It is generally acknowledged as the

pinnacle of the classical Chinese novels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About our daughter inlaw, you must try to get a good physician. The people who

are attending her are of no use. All they do is listen to the symptoms we tell

them and then repeat them in their medical jargon.<br>

 

Feng Tzu-ying reccomended Chang Yu-Shih, a very learned man and an excellent

diagnostician, though he does not practice professionally. I have written to ask

him to come.<br>

 

Chang Yu-Shih came the following day and was ushered into Chin-Shih's room by

Chia Jung. The latter proposed to tell the physician of his wife's symptoms, but

the physician said, " I should like to feel her pulse first and see for myself

the cause of the illness. We can then compare our observations and devise a

prescription.<br>

 

The physician fast took Chin-shih's right hand and then her left' taking more

than a quarter of an hour for each. Then be retired with Chia Jung to the outer

room.<br>

 

" how do you find the patient's pulse? " Chi, Jung asked, after tea had been

served.<br>

 

This is what I I found the physician answerd " The pulse an her left hand is

deep and agitated under my fore finger; it is deep and faint under my second

finger . On her right hand it is vague and lacks vitality under my forefinger.

The first indicates a febrile state arising from a weak action of the heart;

the second, a sluggishness of the liver,. The vague and spiritless forefinger

pulse of the right hard suggests a disturbance20in the lung humors while the

vague second finger pulse bespeaks a wood element in the liver to strong for

the earth element in the spleen. The symptom of the first disturbance should be

pain in the ribs a tardy menses and a burning sensation around the heart.<br>

 

Disturbance of the lung humors generally leads to giddiness

and perspiration in the early morning hours during sleep.

The prevalence of the wood element in the liver over the

earth element in the spleen should lead to lack of appetite,

general fatigue, and soreness of the limbs. If I am correct

in reading the action of the pulse, these symptoms should but

be present. Some may confuse this pulse, with one indicating pregnancy, I am

afraid that I cannot agree with such a diagnosis.<br>

 

A maid servant who had been attending Chin-shih, said, " The doctor is right in

every detail. None of the other Doctors have described the symptoms so

correctly. Some say that the young mistress is blessed others, that it is

something else. Some say that it is of no consequence others say that there will

be serious danger at about the Winter Solstice.<br>

 

" I do not want to minimize, the skill and knowledge of the other doctors " Chang

Yu-,shih said, after looking over the old prescriptions -but the patient has

suffered from their ignorance. There is still hope. After taking my prescribed

medicine, there will be more hope if the patient can sleep.<br>

 

Judgeing from the pulse the patient is proud, haughty, and sensitive to the

extreme.Because of these traits, she is often hurt and irritated by little

things. Her spleen has been thus affected causing enlarged liver and other

symptoms. If medicine bad been used to nurture her hearty and regulate the

humors, her illness would at have reached the present stage, which is clearly a

case of lack of water and a superabundance of fire. " Then he wrote a

prescription ad gave it to Chia Jung.<br>

 

When Chia Jung questioned the doctor about the patients chances for recovery the

latter answered, - " You are a sensible man and ought to know that at this stage

it is impossible to tell how soon the patient will recover. Medicine will do its

part but more depends upon the will of Heaven. In my opinion there is no danger

this winter . The crisis will come in the spring. She will get well if she can

manage through the spring. " <br>

 

After the doctor left Chia Jung showed the prescription to Chia Gen and told him

and Yu-shih what the doctor had said.<br>

 

" No one has diagnosed her condition so accurately Yushih said. " His prescription

ought to do some good.<br>

 

" He is net an ordinary physician, Chia Gen said. 'Let us hope that our daughter

in law will be cured by him. " Then turning to Chia Jung, he said, " I see ginseng

is called for. You can weigh out the required quantity from the new supply we

bought the other day. It is better than anything the medicine store, can readily

provide. " So saying, he gave the prescription to his son who in turn gave it to

a servant to have it filled.<br>

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