I am currently in a translation workshop, led by Stephen Boyanton, with Lorraine Wilcox and others. The quirky cases Lorraine shares are a constant delight for the participants. Recently, she shared a case in which the doctor spun the patient on a home-made wheel until he vomited to obtain a cure for the patient’s insanity. In another case, the patient had a lump due to grief, and the doctor successfully treated him by teasing him until he laughed so hard he could barely stand it. These cases are wonderful and will hopefully find their way into a book for all to enjoy and learn from.

Today, Lorraine posted this case in our new White Pine Circle Translation Support Group. It is from Volume 2 of 俞弁《續醫說》 Xù Yī Shuō by Yú Biàn (1522, Míng):

宋蔡元長苦大便秘，國醫用藥，俱不能通利，蓋元長不肯服大黃故也。時史載之未知名，往謁之閽者，齟齬久之，乃得見既而診脈，史欲出奇曰：請求二十文錢。元長問何為，曰：欲市紫菀耳。

(Northern Sòng dynasty prime minister) Cài Yuánzhǎng suffered constipation. The Imperial Doctors used herbs, but nothing could free his stool. It was probably because Cài Yuánzhǎng was not willing to take dàhuáng. At the time, Shǐ Zàizhī was not a well-known doctor. He called on Cài, but the gatekeeper argued with him for a long time. Eventually, Shǐ got to see Cài and took his pulse. Shǐ was about to leave and strangely asked for 20 coins. […]