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The flavor is sweet and bitter, the nature is cold, with slight toxicity. It primarily treats pain in the heart and abdomen (Note: "KT" in original text is likely a corruption for "stinging pain" or general pain), sores in the lower part (referring to the genital area), and swelling and pain of the eyes. The gallbladder paste is neutral in nature, with slight toxicity; it primarily treats wind-toxin on the skin and postpartum abdominal pain and other residual ailments in women.

This snake originates from Jin'an. Those measuring two or three *cun* (approx. 6-10 cm) in girth are large. When moving on the ground without raising its head, it is genuine; if it raises its head, it is not genuine. Their shapes are mostly similar, and local people distinguish them by this trait. The paste and gallbladder are also easily confused. Genuine paste forms clusters like pear seeds attached together, whereas paste from other snakes is as large as plums or apricots. A genuine gallbladder is narrow, long, entirely black, with extremely thin membranes; it tastes sweet and bitter when licked, and when rubbed with water, it sinks immediately without dispersing. Counterfeit ones do not behave this way. This substance is hardest to obtain genuinely; genuine paste is often used in medicine, and it is also said to treat bovine plague (Bo Niu Ji).

[Respectful Note] This gallbladder, when extracted, is the size of millet grains. Placed in clean water, those that float and swim in circles are genuine; if placed in large quantities, they will sink and disperse. Those that sink directly when placed in small amounts are common to the blood of all gallbladders. Regarding Tao Hongjing's description of authenticity and falsity, in regions south of Guizhou and Guangzhou, locals slice the meat thinly and eat it raw as a delicacy. Although dead, it resembles an alligator; some cut and eat it slightly. Its shape resembles a snakehead fish (*Channa argus*), with a head like an alligator's, a round tail without scales, and some say it is a transformation of the snakehead fish.

The flavor is bitter, the nature is slightly cold, with toxicity. It primarily treats sores in the lower part. The meat, fermented into wine, treats leprosy-like diseases (Lai Ji), various [missing character, likely 'wind' or specific symptoms], abdominal pain, stagnation of Qi in the lower jiao, and removes gu poison. The mice swallowed in its belly have slight toxicity and can be used to treat mouse-related diseases [or use toxic to counteract].

The Viper (*Fushe*) is yellow-black, has a yellow chin and pointed mouth, and possesses the most potent venom. The Hui snake (*Huishe*) is short and flat in shape, with toxicity no less than the Viper. If bitten persons do not receive immediate treatment, death is common. There are many types of snakes; only these two species and the Green Snake are fierce. There are separate prescriptions for treating bites from them. Snakes have feet. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, take one, heat the ground, pour wine upon it, place the snake in the center, and its feet will emerge. Alchemists/Daoist practitioners use the Red-banded Snake (Chi Lian) and Yellow-chinned Snake, which are often found near human dwellings, swallowing mice and bird chicks. When a large one is seen, it is broken open, taken out, and dried. [The following text appears to contain mixed entries or textual errors regarding: malignant sores, bone abscesses; shed skin treats body itching, [missing character], scabies, tinea, etc. The Viper takes the color of the ground, has upturned nostrils, a long mouth, short body, and similar head and tail. It is highly toxic, also known as [missing character] Snake, and there is no distinction between two types. They are abundant in the region between the Han and Mian rivers in Southern Shanxi.]