\r象牙\ph400.bmp\r,旧不着所出州郡。《尔雅》云∶南方之美者,有梁山之犀、象焉。
今多出交趾,潮、
循州亦有之。彼人捕得,争食其肉,云肥脆堪作炙。或曰∶象有十二种肉,配十二辰属,惟
鼻是其肉。又胆不附肝,随月在诸肉间。淳化中,上苑一驯象毙,太宗命取胆不获,使问徐
铉
,铉曰∶当在前左足,既而剖足,果得。又问其故,铉曰∶象胆随四时,今其毙在春,故知
左足也。世传荆蛮山中,亦有野象,盖左氏传所谓楚师燧象,以奔吴军,是其事也。然楚粤
之象皆青,惟西竺、弗林、大食诸国乃多白象。樊绰《云南记》、平居诲《于阗行程记》皆
言其事。象牙主诸物刺人肉,刮取屑细研,和水傅疮上,刺立出。咽中刺,则水调饮之。旧
牙梳屑尤佳。齿及肉、目睛等,医方亦或有用者。
\r熊脂\ph401.bmp\r并胆,出雍州山谷,今雍、洛、河东及怀卫山中皆有之。熊形类
犬、豕、而性轻捷,好
攀缘上高木,见人则颠倒自投地而下。冬多入穴而藏蛰,始春而出。脂谓之熊白,十一月取
之,须其背上者。寒月则有,夏月则无。其腹中肪及它处脂,煎炼亦可作药,而不中啖。胆
阴干用,然亦多伪,欲试之,取粟颗许,滴水中一道若线不散者为真。其足蹯,为食珍之贵
,古人最重之,然 之难熟,多食之,令人耐寒;脑髓作油摩头,可去白屑。有痼疾者不可
食熊,令人终身不愈。熊恶盐,食之则死。
Ivory, the place of origin in prefectures and commanderies is not recorded in ancient texts. The *Erya* states: "Among the treasures of the South are the rhinoceros horn and ivory from Liang Mountain." Currently, it is mostly produced in Jiaozhi (modern-day northern Vietnam), and also found in Chaozhou and Xunzhou. Locals who capture elephants compete to eat their meat, claiming it is fat, crisp, and suitable for roasting. Some say that an elephant has twelve types of meat corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches, with only the trunk being considered meat. It is also said that the gallbladder does not attach to the liver but resides among various muscles, changing position with the months. During the Chunhua era, a tamed elephant in the imperial garden died. Emperor Taizong ordered the removal of its gallbladder but failed to find it, so he asked Xu Xuan. Xu Xuan replied, "It should be in the front left foot." Subsequently, upon dissecting the front left foot, it was indeed found. When asked for the reason, Xu Xuan explained, "The elephant's gallbladder moves with the four seasons; since this elephant died in spring, I knew it would be in the left foot." Legends tell of wild elephants in the Jingman mountains, which likely refers to the incident recorded in the *Zuo Zhuan* where Chu soldiers set fire to elephant tails to charge against the Wu army. However, elephants in Chu and Yue regions are greenish, whereas white elephants are common in countries such as Xinzhu (India), Fulín (Byzantium/Rome), and Dasih (Arabia). Both Fan Chuo's *Yunnan Ji* and Ping Juhui's *Yu-tian Xingcheng Ji* record this phenomenon. Ivory mainly treats foreign objects piercing human flesh. Scraped into fine powder and mixed with water, it is applied to wounds, causing the splinter or thorn to emerge immediately. If a splinter is stuck in the throat, it is taken orally with water. Powder from old ivory combs is particularly effective. Teeth, meat, and eyeballs are also occasionally used in medical prescriptions.
Bear fat and bear gallbladder originate from the valleys of Yongzhou. Currently, they are found in the valleys of Yongzhou, Luozhou, Hedong, and Huaiwei mountains. Bears resemble dogs and pigs in shape but are agile and fond of climbing high trees. Upon seeing humans, they often hang upside down and jump down to the ground. In winter, they enter caves to hibernate and emerge in early spring. The fat is called "Xiong Bai" (White Bear Fat) and is harvested in November, specifically from the back. It exists only in cold months and not in summer. The fat in the abdomen and other parts can be refined for medicinal use but is not suitable for consumption. The gallbladder is dried in the shade for use, though counterfeits are common. To test authenticity, take a grain-sized amount and drop it into water; if it forms a thread-like line without dispersing, it is genuine. Bear paws are considered a delicacy and were highly valued by ancients, though difficult to cook thoroughly. Consuming them in excess helps the body resist cold. Oil rendered from brain marrow applied to the head can remove dandruff. Those suffering from chronic diseases should not consume bear meat, as it may cause the illness to persist for life. Bears detest salt; ingestion of salt leads to death.