This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng leaned back. ”The perspiration method has always been underestimated within the Eight Methods, but it can truly turn the tide, save lives, and have life-restoring effects.”

He glanced at the silent Wu Buwei and smiled softly. ”Alright, I was just asking. Nothing else. Also, when you have time, exercise more and work up a sweat. It not only strengthens your constitution but also dispels cold and dampness.”

Wu Buwei’s eyelids twitched, and he quickly turned and walked out.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the doorway, he almost collided with a man carrying a child.

He quickly took a step back. Looking up, he saw a man anxiously holding a child, with a woman bundled up tightly following behind him.

Her attire looked somewhat familiar. In a flash, Wu Buwei remembered: Isn’t this the woman who spoke to Du Heng this morning? You Fang, was it?

Before Wu Buwei could utter a word of caution, the man completely ignored him, his gaze bypassing Wu Buwei to land on Du Heng behind him. ”Doctor Du, please, take a look at my child!”

Du Heng’s attention was drawn to the commotion at the door. He also recognized the heavily bundled You Fang. Seeing the man in front of her holding the child, Du Heng knew it must be Yang Wei.

But didn’t he just deliver an invitation this morning? How could something have happened to the child in just a few hours? Du Heng’s mind raced, but he outwardly appeared calm. ”Don’t worry. Bring the child over and place him on the bed.”

As he walked towards the bed, he casually asked You Fang, who was following, ”What happened to the child?”

You Fang’s voice was laced with tears. She tightly gripped Yang Wei’s clothes with one hand and the child’s quilt with the other. ”I don’t know,” she sobbed. ”After I delivered the medicine to my mother-in-law this morning, the child cried non-stop. Then, about an hour ago, he suddenly stopped. When I checked, he had fainted! His mouth wouldn’t open, and his body was arched backward—look, just like this!”

As she spoke, the couple had already placed the child in front of Du Heng. Seeing the baby’s body arched backward and his face a deathly blue-black, You Fang wailed, ”Doctor Du, please save my child!”

When Du Heng unwrapped the quilt, he saw an infant with a stiff neck and back, body arched like a bow, lips purplish, and mouth clamped shut. Teeth clenched, opisthotonus!

Seeing the child in this state, Du Heng’s heart clenched. This baby isn’t even a month old!

Du Heng had no time to pay attention to You Fang’s wails and immediately began his examination.

He gently lifted the infant’s eyelids; the eyes were rolled upward. Leaning closer, he could hear the gurgling sound of phlegm in the child’s throat. Upon further inspection, he noticed the child’s nostrils seemed to be constricting.

Touching the child, Du Heng found his small hands and feet icy cold, yet his body was burning hot. There was a distinct purplish line below the child’s ribs. During the examination, the infant even began to convulse.

While Du Heng examined the child’s basic condition, Wu Buwei, who hadn’t left, began to assist him. ”Temperature: 39.1 degrees Celsius.”

”Doctor Du, is my child suffering from epilepsy? Why does he look like this?” Yang Wei anxiously looked at Du Heng, tightly supporting You Fang.

High fever, coma, clenched jaw, opisthotonus, eyes rolled up, phlegm obstruction and nostril flaring, limb convulsions, cyanotic lips and fingers, cold limbs, body burning like charcoal, and a purplish line extending towards the life gate, Du Heng rapidly reviewed the symptoms in his mind and immediately reached a diagnosis: Wind-heat Violating Lung, internal phlegm-heat accumulation, extreme heat stirring wind, and pathogenic evil trapped in the pericardium. Although some symptoms resemble epilepsy, this isn’t epilepsy yet. If it’s not treated, or treated too slowly, it could develop into it.

”The child doesn’t have epilepsy; it’s acute shock from high fever. You two, please step back a bit, don’t block us.”

Du Heng gently urged You Fang and her husband back, then, without turning his head, said steadily to Wu Buwei, ”Buwei, prepare one three-edged needle and one fine needle.”

Then, he began to remove all the child’s clothing and the quilt.

Wu Buwei said nothing, merely moving with utmost speed to prepare what Du Heng required.

Du Heng took the three-edged needle and used it for point pricking on the tips of the infant’s ten fingers and toes, the tips of both ears, Baihui (GV20), and Dazhui, ceasing each prick as soon as blood appeared.

Meanwhile, You Fang watched her tiny child, tears streaming down her face.

When she held the child, her whole body would stiffen, terrified of bumping or twisting him, afraid of dislocating something.

But now, watching Du Heng’s movements—undressing the baby as if performing a trick, then using such a long needle, and even drawing blood—her heart pounded, and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

But she dared not make a sound, lest she disturb Du Heng.

Du Heng’s actions were swift yet remarkably steady, betraying no hint of haste or panic; he seemed to have everything under control.

Seeing Black Blood ooze from the pricked points, Du Heng immediately stopped. He waited three or four seconds. Just as a subtle change came over the infant’s face, the child finally burst into a loud cry, and the opisthotonus subsided.

As the child cried, sweat began to bead on his body and forehead, and his little hands and feet finally regained some warmth.

Hearing their child’s cries, You Fang and her husband gripped each other even tighter. Though tears still streamed down their faces, smiles of immense relief broke through.

Hearing the child’s cry, Du Heng wasn’t overjoyed but became even more serious.

This was because, even as the child cried, he still hadn’t opened his eyes, and the convulsions in his limbs hadn’t ceased.

Acute shock is one of the four major syndromes in pediatrics, a common and critical pediatric emergency. It mostly affects infants and young children aged one to five years, with an even higher incidence in those under one year old.

Its onset is perilous and its progression swift. If not managed properly, it can transition into chronic convulsions, potentially leading to epilepsy or mental retardation and dementia—what people often call ’brain damage from a childhood fever.’

At its worst, it can endanger the child’s life.

Children possess immature Yin and Yang; their viscera are tender and their qi is delicate and easily disturbed. Pathological changes transmit rapidly. They respond swiftly to treatment and recover quickly, so acute conditions must be treated urgently.

The emergency pricking with the three-edged needle just now only served to rouse the infant and relieve the opisthotonus.

Handing the three-edged needle to Wu Buwei, who was standing behind him, Du Heng then picked up the fine needle.

Taking a deep breath and pausing for a moment of reflection, Du Heng began to needle again, using the fine needle for swift point pricking at KI-01, LI-04, and the philtrum.

Finally, when he reached the Suliao point, Du Heng paused briefly.

For this acupoint, he didn’t intend to just prick it; he needed to insert the needle.

An infant’s body is exceedingly delicate, demanding utmost caution.

Steadying his resolve once more, Du Heng inserted the needle into the infant’s body. Once it reached the appropriate depth, he paused momentarily, then began a lifting, thrusting, and pounding manipulation. This movement was much larger in amplitude than the usual twirling motions of needling.

Watching from behind, Wu Buwei’s eyes lit up. He asked in a hushed voice, ”Senior Brother, is this the pecking sparrow technique?”

Du Heng remained unperturbed, all his attention focused on the manipulation of his hand. He merely gave a soft ”Mm” in acknowledgment.

Having received his answer, Wu Buwei fell silent again, standing behind Du Heng and meticulously observing his actions.

Applying this technique to an infant is far more challenging than on an adult. If I don’t learn it now, when will I get another chance?

Du Heng applied the pecking sparrow technique to the Suliao point for about a minute. Finally, he saw the wailing infant open his eyes, and the convulsions in his limbs ceased.

Only then did Du Heng finally feel a sense of relief.

How should an emergency be treated urgently? Acupuncture is key: it reduces fever, opens the orifices, stops convulsions, and blocks the progression of the illness. Once the needling is done, the illness is halfway resolved.

As long as the condition doesn’t progress further and doesn’t affect the child’s nervous system, the remaining issue is just a matter of prescribing medicine and its administration.

Gently removing the fine needle from the Suliao point, Du Heng turned to You Fang and her husband. ”Alright, you can come over now. Dress the child and wrap him in the quilt, but don’t wrap him too tightly. Leave it a little loose.”

The moment he finished speaking, You Fang and Yang Wei rushed over.

Tears still streaming, You Fang could only choke out ”My baby... my treasure...” her heart aching.

Fortunately, she remembered Doctor Du’s instructions. She didn’t just cradle and fuss over the child; she carefully redressed him in the little clothes and wrapped him in the quilt that Du Heng had earlier removed.

Du Heng walked to the table, handed the fine needle to Wu Buwei, and slowly sat down. That round of needling had left his body feeling a bit stiff.

A newborn, not even a month old, is so fragile. The slightest excess force, a tremor of the hand, could lead to consequences that neither I, the child, nor his parents could bear.

The intense concentration had left Du Heng feeling a bit drained.

However, it was a fleeting sensation, and he quickly recovered. ”Buwei, go get the Antelope Musk Antispasmodic Powder. Add 0.3 grams of musk.”