New Engraved Graphic Pillow for External Surgery

Author: Anonymous/Yang Bixia (ed.)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-03-01
Features: This book was printed in the seventh year of the Daoguang reign (1847), 166 years ago. The preface states: "The book 'Zhen Cang Wai Ke' (A Collection of External Medicine) was passed down without knowing its author. Yet, those who followed its prescriptions for treatment often achieved recovery, initially believing it to be mere coincidence. However, patients with various skin conditions all experienced remarkable effects, leading to admiration for the book's efficacy and miraculous nature." Thus, the author of the book remains unknown, but the knowledge it contains has been tested through practice and proven correct in theory, with exceptionally effective methods. The preface also mentions: "If this book were kept secret in private, it would be a waste of its potential. This book may have been widely circulated by ordinary herbalists, seemingly without being published." This indicates that the book was originally a handwritten manuscript among the people, never printed for public distribution. Even the Li family's edition of 1847 was "financed for engraving" and not publicly sold. During my leisure reading, I found this book to be an excellent specialized work on skin and wound conditions. It bases its exploration of causes and treatment on meridians and internal organs, employing a diagnostic approach. For the same meridian location, different causes lead to varied symptoms and distinct treatment methods, supplemented by illustrations—a new feature in the style of medical books. The entire book contains 80 illustrations, covering nearly 300 diseases, making it a truly magnificent work in the field of skin and wound medicine! Human knowledge always builds upon the foundations laid by predecessors, and for modern scholars, there is always a process of re-evaluation and improvement. Only through re-evaluation can new developments be achieved on existing knowledge. 'Newly Engraved Illustrated Zhen Cang Wai Ke' provides us with a more comprehensive and solid foundation for re-evaluating and innovating in the field of skin and wound medicine, undoubtedly making a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of traditional Chinese medicine.