Treatise on Febrile and Other Diseases

The Treatise on Febrile and Other Diseases (Shang han za bing lun) was written by Zhang Zhongjing around 200 CE. This influential work significantly impacted traditional Chinese medicine and is often compared to the works of Hippocrates in the West.12

The treatise was later divided into two books: the Shang han lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases) and the Jin gui yao lue (Jingui Collection of Prescriptions). Zhang Zhongjing's work was particularly noted for its detailed descriptions of typhoid and other fevers. He advocated for the use of a few potent drugs, administered one at a time, which was a significant advancement over the common practice of using numerous medications simultaneously. Zhang also recognized the importance of cool baths in fever treatment, an idea that wouldn't be widely adopted for centuries. His meticulous attention to symptoms, disease progression, and treatment outcomes, along with his professional integrity, cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in medical history.12