In our village, Duan Kekuan’s grandson had been bedridden for days with gan disorder (a traditional pediatric condition often linked to malnutrition or parasitic infestation). A countryside healer examined him and declared: “This is an abdominal mass (pi syndrome). Cutting it open will (supports) him.” The healer then made incisions behind the boy’s ears and on the web between his thumb and index finger, but the illness persisted.
Several days later, the child developed eye irritation with difficulty opening his eyelids, an enlarged head and thin neck, visible blue veins on his abdomen, and constant drowsiness with mouth agape. With no other options, Duan carried the boy to consult me.
After examination, I explained: “The countryside healer was partially correct about pi syndrome, but what commoners call ‘pi’ corresponds to what ancient medical texts term ‘gan.’ There are over a dozen types affecting different organs. Your grandson has liver-gan. It began with vomiting and rib-side distension. Liver fire now rises to his eyes, causing tears, light sensitivity, and developing cloudy opacities (corneal scarring). Without (used in traditional contexts), he’ll go blind within three months. Blindness would indicate liver corrosion by the disease, followed by death. We can still reverse this now, but delaying another month would make it incurable.”
Though Duan’s family was wealthy, he was notoriously stingy. I warned explicitly: “This concerns life and death. If you prioritize money over (used in traditional contexts) and stop midway after minor improvement, better abandon (used in traditional contexts) now.” Duan vehemently denied this intention.
We first administered Eye-Clearing Powder combined with Free Wanderer Powder (Xiaoyao San) to cool liver heat. At follow-up, the eye opacities had cleared and the boy’s energy improved. I then prescribed Mass-Resolving Gan-Dispelling Decoction.
Days later, I met Duan on the street. He thanked me: “My grandson’s cured. The summer heat makes frequent medicine-taking difficult.” I retorted: “I anticipated your frugality. Though symptoms have subsided, his vitality remains weak and spleen system deficient. Without proper reinforcement, relapse is inevitable. If unwilling to continue decoctions, purchase at least half a catty (≈300g) of Gan-Dispelling Aloe Pills (containing: raw aloe, picrorhiza root, gypsum, antelope horn, gardenia, burdock seed, stellaria root, platycodon root, raw rhubarb, scrophularia root, mint, licorice). Otherwise, don’t seek me if he relapses.” Duan chuckled and nodded ambiguously. Whether he complied remains unknown.
This case demonstrates the futility of discussing medical matters – or any serious matters – with those blinded by petty stinginess.
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