凡膏药中。鲜有不用虢丹。其货卖者多用硝与盐杂和在内。重秤若干。不飞过而用。反
有害。熬药法于后。方始用虢丹即黄丹。先以冷水漂过。去其盐硝水。再用漂再去其水。澄
干微火炒紫赤色。将纸摊在地上。出火毒。秤净用。再研细无声。用乳香没药须用灯心同于
乳钵内研细。不然难为研细。候熬药成膏。提起药铫。仍搅无烟起去灯心。却下此二味。入
油内不住手搅匀。熬药用磁器或铜铁铫盛。油浸药一宿。慢火煎熬。诸药黑色。生绢帛滤去
滓。留下一两重药油。复将所滤油于慢火上再熬。却将黄丹入油内。用长条槐柳枝不住手搅。
候有微烟起。即提起药铫。就柳条点药油。滴在水中面上。凝结成珠。不散方成膏矣。如油
尚散。不成珠。再熬直待成膏提起药铫。搅无烟出。却入乳香、没药搅匀。倾出瓷器内。将
前留下油洗铫。一并收拾器内。用新汲水一日一换。将药器放水内三日出火毒。方可用。如
膏药硬。酌量加黄蜡清油。入膏内搅匀得所。其黄蜡等油。减半用之。故熬膏极难于火候。
须耐烦看火紧慢。火猛则药中火发。不特失药性。又燎伤制药人面目。
如疮有脓血不净。痂瘢闭碍。须用药水洗净。如法拭干。候片时水气干醒。却用膏贴。
贴后有黄水及脓血流出。用纸揩擦。从侧畔出。一日一换膏。黄水脓血上两日一换、或三日
一换。至愈。
In all plasters, it is rare not to use Guodan (Huangdan, Lead Tetroxide). Those sold in the market often mix Nixiao (Saltpeter) and Yan (Salt) inside. If weighed without being refined (Feiguo, a process to remove impurities by heating), it is harmful. The method for decocting herbs is as follows:
When using Guodan (i.e., Huangdan/Lead Tetroxide) first, rinse it with cold water to remove saline nitre water. Rinse again and drain the water. Clarify and dry, then stir-fry over mild fire until it turns purple-red. Spread paper on the ground to eliminate "fire toxicity" (residual heat properties). Weigh the purified substance and grind it finely until no sound is produced. If using Ruxiang (Frankincense) and Moyao (Myrrh), they must be ground finely together with Dengxin (Juncus effusus pith) in a mortar; otherwise, they are difficult to grind finely. Wait until the herbal paste is prepared, lift the medicine ladle, continue stirring until no smoke rises, remove the Juncus effusus pith, then add these two ingredients into the oil, stirring constantly until uniform.
Decocting should be done in porcelain or copper/iron ladles. Soak the herbs in oil overnight, then simmer over slow fire until the herbs turn black. Filter out the dregs using raw silk gauze, retaining one tael of medicated oil. Re-simmer the filtered oil over slow fire, then add Huangdan (Lead Tetroxide) into the oil, stirring constantly with long strips of locust or willow branches. When slight smoke rises, lift the ladle and test by dripping the oil into water. If it congeals into a bead that does not disperse, the plaster is formed. If the oil still disperses and does not form beads, continue simmering until the plaster is ready. Lift the ladle, stir until no smoke emerges, then add Ruxiang (Frankincense) and Moyao (Myrrh), stirring evenly. Pour into a porcelain vessel. Use the reserved oil to wash the ladle and collect it in the same vessel. Change with fresh well water daily. Submerge the vessel in water for three days to eliminate "fire toxicity" before use. If the plaster is too hard, add an appropriate amount of Huangla (Yellow Beeswax) and Qingyou (Clear Oil) into the plaster, stirring until well mixed. Use half the usual amount of beeswax and oils. Therefore, controlling the fire temperature when making plasters is extremely difficult; one must patiently monitor the intensity. Excessive heat causes the medicinal properties to dissipate and may burn the maker's face.
If the wound has unclean pus and blood, or if scabs obstruct healing, wash thoroughly with medicinal water, wipe dry according to proper methods. Wait for the moisture to evaporate, then apply the plaster. After application, if yellow fluid, pus, or blood flows out, wipe it away with paper from the side. Change the plaster once daily; if there is yellow fluid or pus, change every two or three days until healed.