English Original
Liu Zongyuan fell ill and summoned a renowned doctor for diagnosis. The doctor examined him and said, "Your spleen is swollen. You will recover by taking high-quality poris cocos (fuling)."
Liu Zongyuan sent a servant to purchase the herb from an apothecary. He brewed and drank the decoction, but instead of improving, his condition worsened.
Suspecting the doctor had prescribed the wrong medicine, Liu summoned and reproached him, demanding an explanation.
The doctor, unconvinced of his error, poured out the dregs from the pot for examination. To his astonishment, they were not poris cocos, but merely dried sweet potatoes that had been dyed and processed.
The doctor sighed and remarked, "The medicine seller is a swindler, and the patient cannot distinguish genuine from fake. An illness cannot be cured by the doctor alone."
中文翻译
柳宗元患病，请来一位名医诊治。医生诊断后说：“你的脾脏肿大，服用上等的茯苓就会康复。”
柳宗元派人去药店买来茯苓，煎成汤药服下。然而，他的病情不但没有减轻，反而加重了。
柳宗元以为是医生开错了药，便将他叫来责问是怎么回事。
医生不信自己误诊，倒出药罐里的药渣查验。他惊讶地发现，那根本不是茯苓，而是经过染色加工的老山芋干。
医生叹息道：“卖药的是骗子，吃药的又不识货，光靠医生是治不好病的！”