第15章 曹操杀华佗

历史上的华佗，是一代名医。他出生在汉末沛国谯县，也就是现在的安徽亳县，是东汉末期医学家。华佗一生行医各地，精通内科、外科、儿科、针灸各科，尤其擅长外科，因此在当时的中国很有声誉。特别是他发明的“麻沸散”，在世界上前所未有，成为当今医学界医生动手术为病人麻醉的麻醉药。当然，华佗发明的“五禽戏”，也是医学上重大的发明创造，是中国现代体育运动、气功运动，甚至是武术界健身运动的始祖。因此，华佗被后人称为外科圣手、外科鼻祖。

曹操患有头风病，每次复发都头痛欲裂，十分痛苦。听说沛国谯县（今安徽亳县）的华佗医术很有名，便把他召来，留在身边专为自己诊治。头风再发作时，华佗只要针刺“鬲腧”一个穴位，病就好了。华佗在京日子久了，十分思念家乡亲人，便对曹操说：“刚刚接到家里来信，家中有事，我必须请假回家一趟。”曹操只好答应了他的请求。华佗在家乡为百姓治病，实在不愿意回去侍候权贵，便以妻子有病为由，几次捎信给曹操，要求延长假期。

曹操多次命下属写信要华佗回去，又下令让郡县地方官催他回京，他都借口妻子病未好拒绝上路。曹操十分恼怒，立刻派人前去查核，并说：“如果他的妻子确实有病，赏赐四十斛小豆，放宽假期；如果他妻子没有病，马上拘捕进京。”那人抓住华佗，把他关在许昌的监狱里。曹操的一位参赞催促曹操：“华佗的医术很好，与人的生死有关，还是把他放了！”曹操不听，立刻下令处决华佗。当华佗去世前，他拿出一本书，对狱吏说：“这本书可以拯救生命。”当狱吏不接受它的时候，华佗就把书烧了。

后来，曹操的儿子蜀处于危急关头，他叹了口气说：“我真后悔杀了华佗，不然孩子就不会死了。”

Cao Cao Killed Hua Tuo

Born in Pei County（now Boxian,Anhui Province），Hua Tuo is a famous doctor as well as a medical scientist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty（25—220）.He practiced medicine in his life all around the country,and was most proficient in internal medicine,surgery,pediatrics,acupuncture and other subjects,especially in surgery.He was extremely celebrated in China at that time.In particular,what he invented named "powder for anesthesia" is unprecedented in the world,and it became the narcotic which has been used for the operation.Besides,the "Five Animals Play" he invented is also an important invention and the ancestor of China modern sport,Qigong and even martial arts.In short,he was known as the surgical originator.

Cao Cao suffered from Toufeng syndrome,and he had a splitting headache every time it recurred.He heard of Hua Tuo's fame and sent someone to summon Hua Tuo to his side to serve him only.Each time his bad headache happened again,Hua Tuo would use the acupuncture needle to stimulate the "Ge Shu" acupoint,and then the pain would fade away.Hua Tuo had been in the capital city for such a long time that he missed his home and family.He said to Cao Cao，" got a letter from my family and I want to go home for a vacation,may I?" Thinking for a long time,Cao Cao finally agreed，" am really not willing to agree but I have to as you need some rest." When Hua Tuo returned to his hometown,he treated the poor people who got sick.He did not want to go back to serve the king anymore,so he sent letters to Cao Cao several times with the excuse of his wife's illness and asked for more days off.

Cao Cao ordered his subordinates to write a letter to Hua Tuo and asked the county magistrate to urge him to go back to the capital city.Hua Tuo refused again and again with the excuse of his wife's illness.Therefore Cao was very angry and immediately sent a man to check it out,saying，"f his wife was ill,give 40 hu（9.6 kilograms）of red beans to Hua Tuo and extend the leave.If not,you must arrest him,and take him back to the Capital." The man seized Hua Tuo and sent him to prison in Xuchang.One counsellor of Cao Cao said to him，"ua Tuo has exquisite medical skills,and he can save people's life,please set him free." Turning a deaf ear to him,Cao Cao sentenced Hua Tuo to death immediately.Before he died,Hua Tuo took out a book and said to the warder，"his book can save lives." But the warder dare not accept it.Then Hua Tuo burned the book.

Later,when Cao Cao's son Shu was seriously ill,he sighed and said，" regret having killed Hua Tuo.Otherwise,my child would be saved."