preface
When it comes to "dorsal fever", many people may not be familiar with this term. It is a serious skin infection that, if it occurs on the back, is often referred to as "dorsal fever". In ancient times, this could be described as a "terminal illness", and countless wise advisers and famous generals could not escape it. Among them, the most embarrassing is Fan Zeng, a famous minister of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He assisted Sun Quan in his life and performed outstanding feats, but he died suddenly in his later years due to "back fever", which made countless people regret it...
1. Back fever: an out-and-out ancient "terminal disease"
The term "dorsal furuncle" is not unfamiliar to us, it is now medically known as "purulent furunculosis of the back". This is an acute purulent infection caused by infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue by pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.
This skin disease mostly occurs on the back, at first just a pimple grows, and then the pimple will gradually swell, fester, and eventually suppurate. At this time, the "back boil" has been seriously infected and must be treated in time, otherwise it may be life-threatening.
And in ancient times, "back fever" can simply be said to be a "terminal illness". Due to the lack of antibiotics and other drugs at that time, the medical conditions were extremely backward, and once the "back fever" attacked, it could only be allowed to develop, and there was no effective treatment.
According to historical records, after many ancient people suffered from "dorsal boils", what doctors could do was to cut the necrotic tissue around the pustules with a knife, and then lavage the wound, hoping to prevent the infection from spreading. However, because there are fewer muscles in the back, once too much muscle tissue is removed, it can lead to paralysis or even death.
It can be said that in ancient society, the harm of skin diseases such as "back boil" was very serious. Due to poor sanitation, many poor civilians and soldiers are vulnerable. Once infected, and in the absence of effective drug treatment, the mortality rate is extremely high. Therefore, "back fever" has become a daunting terminal disease.
Second, Fan Zeng's back attack was difficult to escape death
When it comes to historical celebrities who died young due to "back fever", the first thing that comes to mind is Fan Zeng, a famous minister of Eastern Wu.
Fan Zeng, the two lords of Sun Ce and Sun Quan throughout his life, was the head of the auxiliary ministers of the Eastern Wu state. He provided advice and feats. Sun Quan once relied heavily on him and respected him as "Ya Father".
In 210 BC, Sun Quan sent Fan Zeng's envoy to Western Chu to lobby Xiang Yu, intending to unite against Cao Cao. At this time, Chen Ping, a counselor under Liu Bang the King of Han, set up a divisive scheme and sent rumors to Xiang Yu, which made Xiang Yu jealous. Fan Zeng's mission failed, and he also felt Xiang Yu's doubts, so he retired and resigned to return to his hometown.
On the way back to the village, the 73-year-old Fan Zeng, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back. It turned out that his back did not know when he suffered from "back fever".
At first it was just a lump, but it quickly suppurated, festered, and was painful. When the car drove to Linyi, Fan Zeng was already dying, and finally died of "back fever".
Fan Zeng's death made Sun Quan and the people of Eastern Wu sad. At that time, medical skills were limited, Fan Zeng's old age and depression, once the "back fever" attacked, it was difficult to cure.
"Back Fever" killed the head of Eastern Wu's advisers, and also caused Sun Quan to lose a confidant and a friend of trouble. Before Fan Zeng's death, Sun Quan specially sent someone to visit, but unfortunately it was too late.
Third, Zong Ze was unable to return to heaven, and Liu Yan ended with hatred
Zong Ze, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty, also died of "back fever". He resisted gold all his life, broke gold many times, and was a loyal and brave minister of the Song Dynasty. However, due to the corruption of the dynasty and the emperor's contempt for the Northern Expedition, Zongze was never reused.
In 1258, Zong Ze followed Wen Tianxiang in his Northern Expedition and repelled the Mongol army in the area of Huaixi. At this time, he was already close to the age of flower armor, and his body was getting weaker and weaker.
Once, Zong Ze took off his military uniform to check his back and found that a huge lump had grown on his right back and was festering and draining pus. He realized that he had "back boils".
After seeing it, the medical officer accompanying the army could only shake his head helplessly. At that time, medical techniques could not cure the "back boil", and all they could do was help Zongze debride, stop bleeding, apply medicine, and relieve pain.
A month later, the "back fever" worsened, and Zong Ze's high fever did not subside, and he was already critically ill. In order to fulfill his last wish, he ordered his troops to recover the lost territory of Huaixi, and he himself died in the military tent at the age of 65.
Liu Yan, a famous general of the Shu Han dynasty at the same time as Zong Ze, also died of "back fever". Liu Yan was originally an important general of the Shu Han dynasty, and only after Liu Chan surrendered to the Wei state did he lead his troops to surrender to Wei.
In 263, the Wei army went south to attack Wu and appointed Liu Yan as the overseer, allowing him to lead the army first. Liu Yan was bent on defending his territory for the country, but at this time the "back fever" attacked, which seriously affected his military operations.
He could only endure the pain of directing the battle, hoping to last a little longer. However, the "back fever" worsened day by day, and Liu Yan was critically ill and unable to return to heaven. In order to boost the morale of the army, he ordered the soldiers to transport themselves in coffins to the barracks, insisting on sitting in the coffins and continuing to command.
In the end, Liu Yan still failed to fulfill his last wish. He died in the army at the age of 65. How many people feel unfair about the fate of this general, he could have made another battle merit, but he was taken away by "back fever".
Fourth, Meng Haoran did not listen to dissuasion, and Xu Da was jealous of the emperor
The great poet Meng Haoran also died of "back boiling". He had many pregnancies in his life, and in his later years, he became ill and weak.
In 746, Meng Haoran returned to his hometown from Chang'an, and while passing through Huazhou, he met Wang Changling, an old acquaintance. When the two were interested, they ate and drank, completely forgetting that Meng Haoran was already weak.
As a result, the night after eating the banquet, Meng Haoran suddenly felt a hot pain in his back. During the examination, I saw that his entire right back was already red and swollen, and it was rapidly festering, and pus was dripping.
It turned out that the "back fever" on Meng Haoran's back had an attack because of drinking and overeating. The attendant hurriedly called in the doctor, who advised him to stop eating and maintenance immediately. However, Meng Haoran did not listen to the advice and ate a lot of food, resulting in a rapid deterioration of "back boils".
Finally, on the way back to his hometown, Meng Haoran died of "back fever" and passed away at the age of 58. As a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, he should have had a better life, but he was taken away by this stubborn disease.
Xu Da, the founding general of the country at the same time as Meng Haoran, also died of "back fever". However, his "back fever" is likely to be caused by the psychological pressure caused by the emperor's suspicion.
Xu Da's return to Zhu Yuanzhang was meritorious, but after all, he was from an aristocratic family, and Zhu Yuanzhang had always been suspicious of him. In his later years, Xu Da was depressed and difficult to show his talents, which caused him to suffer from "back fever".
In the eleventh year of Hongwu (1378), Xu Da wrote a letter requesting retirement and was approved. Soon, a lump grew on his back, suppurating and festering, and the pain was unbearable.
When the ministers of the DPRK learned the news of Xu Da's illness, they went to visit one after another. Unfortunately, at this time, the "back fever" was terminally ill, and the treatment was ineffective. In the end, Xu Da could only barely stand by leaning on the hanger to show his loyalty to the emperor, and then died of hatred at the age of 65.
Fifth, the poor suffer from illness, while the rich have no way to seek medical care
Not only the powerful and celebrities, but also in ancient times, the vast number of poor people often died of stubborn diseases such as "back fever".
In ancient times, most ordinary people were poor, working all year round, and sanitary conditions were extremely poor. They often wear coarse cloth clothes, and this linen texture of clothing has a lot of friction on the skin, which can easily lead to skin damage, so the probability of suffering from "back boiling" is higher.
Once they have "back disease", due to lack of medical knowledge and inability to seek medical treatment, poor people can only let it deteriorate. When the "back boil" festers and suppurates, the poor families have no money to buy medicinal herbs, and can only watch their flesh being eaten away by the disease little by little.
Even a few wealthier families may not be able to treat "back fever". Because in ancient times, there were very few famous doctors with real skills, and even if they had money, they might not be able to find smart doctors.
According to historical records, some dignitaries suffered from "back sickness" and sought medical treatment everywhere, but often had to return without success, and finally could only be appointed. In ancient times, there were no antibiotics, and the level of medicine was limited, and it was impossible to cure the serious skin infection of "back boil".
Therefore, whether rich or poor, once suffering from "back fever", they can basically only let the disease destroy the body, suffer from the onset, and then wait for death with hatred. For the ancients, it was simply a desperate torment and torment.
6. The unremitting efforts of healers, our gratitude
Today, "dorsal fever" is no longer a terrible terminal illness for us. This is all thanks to the unremitting efforts of generations of medical workers since modern times.
In ancient times, Shennong tasted hundred herbs and Bian Que went upstream, and in modern times, Gu Fangzhou, the "sugar pill grandfather", developed antibiotics, and Zhong Nanshan and others fought tirelessly against emerging infectious diseases. It is the dedication of these benevolent people that has freed us from the suffering of the ancients who were sick and incurable.
Nowadays, as long as it is detected in time and used correctly, "back fever" can be completely cured. We owe our gratitude to those who have braved hardships and pursued medical progress throughout history. It is also necessary to cherish the current life and not make a fuss because of a little skin disease.
When we complain that life is not satisfactory, think of how the ancients felt when they faced a terminal illness such as "back fever"; When we are dissatisfied with our current medical conditions, we must also remember to thank the medical workers who have worked hard for our health.
Without their efforts, our lives would still be stuck in the stage where the ancients were tormented by stubborn diseases. Gratitude makes our lives more meaningful.
epilogue
"Back fever" has made many ancient people despair, we must thank the progress of the times, this once terminal illness is no longer a threat to life. Every day we live is precious, and let's enrich it with gratitude and cherishing.