Guest guest Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 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> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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