Lingshu · Cold and Heat

The text

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: Cold and heat, and the scrofulous knots at the neck and the armpit — what qi makes them all arise? Qi Bo said: These are all the toxic qi of rat-basket cold and heat, remaining in the vessels and not leaving. The Yellow Emperor said: How is it removed? Qi Bo said: The root of the rat-basket is always in the zang; its tip comes out above, between the neck and the armpit. If it floats in the vessels and has not yet lodged inward in the flesh, and outwardly is pus and blood, it is easy to remove. The Yellow Emperor said: How is it removed? Qi Bo said: Lead from the root and draw the tip; you may make it wane and leave, and cut off its cold and heat. Examine and press its road, then give it; go slowly and come slowly, so as to take it away. If it is as small as a grain of wheat, one insertion and it is known; three insertions and it is finished. The Yellow Emperor said: How does one decide life and death? Qi Bo said: Turn back the eye and look. If there are red vessels running up and down through the pupil: see one vessel, death in one year; see one vessel and a half, death in a year and a half; see two vessels, death in two years; see two vessels and a half, death in two years and a half; see three vessels, death in three years. If the red vessels are seen and do not run down through the pupil, it can be treated.

The line

The Yellow Emperor asked Qi Bo: Cold and heat, and the scrofulous knots at the neck and the armpit — what qi makes them all arise?

The note

Cold and heat at the neck and armpit: ask what qi made them. With the likes of rat fistula, still ask qi first, not the knife. Cold and heat are the name; qi is the root.