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Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) mentions Shuigui (Water Turtle), stating under its therapeutic indications that it can prevent thirst and kill chickens and dogs. The text was unaware of its efficacy in treating hemorrhoids, so I hereby supplement this information. Observation shows: Shimǎ (Water Horse) appears on the water surface during the fourth and fifth lunar months; it has a hard body and long legs, and is abundant in ponds and marshes. It has a preference for eating flies. I personally witnessed children in Ou (Wenzhou) catching them for play. They used a fishing rod tied with a string, threaded a fly onto the end of the string, threw it onto the water surface to lure it. Upon smelling it, the insect would swim over, grasp the fly firmly with its four legs, and thus be caught.

Treating Hemorrhoids: Dongyi Baojian (The Precious Mirror of Eastern Medicine) contains Shimǎ San (Water Horse Powder): During the three dog days of summer, collect an insect called Pózi (Grandmother), also known as Shimǎr (Little Water Horse), characterized by high legs jumping on the water surface. Collect thirty specimens, wrap them in three pieces of paper, ten per packet, and hang them in a shady place to dry naturally. Each packet constitutes one dose. Grind into a paste, take orally mixed with wine on an empty stomach, and eat rice after some time. Take three doses consecutively over three days; effectiveness is seen within ten days. For chronic hemorrhoids with pus and blood, twenty to thirty doses can eradicate the root cause.

Commonly known as Chòuchóng (Stink Bug/Cimex), named for its fishy and foul odor touching the nose. It always moves southward, believed to be produced by the humid and filthy qi of the South. Currently, households in the regions north and south of the Yangtze River have many of them; slight uncleanliness leads to their generation. Some are brought home in clothing and bedding from inns or post stations during travel, where they subsequently breed. They reproduce easily, producing ninety-nine offspring in a day and night, similar to Zhōngsī (Katydids). Their shape resembles half a pea; older ones are black, next are red like jujube skin, and newly born ones are yellow and small. Their eggs are white like ant eggs, laid via oviposition, similar to lice. They bite humans immediately upon birth, molt one or two days after birth, growing larger with each molt until aging, turning red then black. Older ones bite more toxically. They hide mostly in straw mats and wall crevices, or between table, stool, and bed joints; their flat bodies allow easy entry. In winter, they hibernate, hiding in mud, sand, mountain caves, and under ancient tree roots. With the arrival of spring, they awaken and enter human dwellings to hide in walls and wood. They fear ants; there is a kind of red ant in mountains that likes to eat them, so near mountains and temple quarters, these insects are scarce. If introduced, they are often carried away by mountain ants. Their biting is cunning and deceitful, distinct from fleas and lice. Ancients stated that summer has five major harms: flies, mosquitoes, lice, fleas, and stink bugs. However, flies and mosquitoes alternate day and night; flies can be swatted, mosquitoes blocked by nets, lice rarely survive bathing naked in summer, and fleas arise from damp soil but are less problematic when summer soil dries. Only stink bugs are most detestable, active day and night, hiding in bedsheets and furniture, adept at sensing human breath, waiting for people to rest to suck their blood. Swellings appear like beads on a string; scratching makes them larger, causing unbearable pain and itching. Children with tender skin suffer greatly, crying incessantly. Some claim these insects emit a white vapor of one or two cun from their mouths, biting through mats and skin to suck blood, yet no evidence can be found. They gather at night and disperse at dawn in bedsheets, leading their kin to feed voraciously when people fall asleep. Ancient methods for repelling them were numerous but ineffective. Placing Lingling Xiangcao (Lingling Fragrant Herb) and Zhangnao (Camphor) under mats can slightly suppress them, but after a day or two, as the medicinal qi fades, their tyranny increases. Only using genuine Yangzhou Anxi Xiang (Benzoin) coated with high-quality Yin Zhu (Vermilion), burning it under the bed, and surrounding it with mats to fumigate thoroughly will kill all Cimex and prevent offspring regeneration. However, the fragrance is harsh and pungent, causing headaches upon inhalation; one must wait one or two days after fumigation before sleeping. How can poor families manage this? The ancients said: "Yin qi of the South generates Duanhu (Short Fox);" this is also generated by感應 (resonance) with humid, fishy, and foul qi. Diligent and clean households rarely have them. Fujian people say that boiling water cannot kill them permanently, only cold water immersion prevents resurrection. Shantang Sikao records: Bixi (Wall Louse) is flat and smelly, cannot jump, bites well, named Jiaozao (Reed Flea) or Banshi (Flat Louse). Wuzazu records: Fujian people call Bixi Musi (Wood Louse), often generated by cedar wood. Treatment involves leaching ash from burnt buckwheat with water. Jiangnan Bixi grow in water; only Yansui region ones grow in soil, everywhere, climbing beds at night to bite, causing ulcers all over the body. Even if moved to tall, spacious rooms and beds hung in mid-air, they fly down from the air. Shiwu Gan Zhu records: Bixi, also called Bituo (Wall Camel), is small and brownish, biting humans. Liushu Gu records: Banshi attaches to cattle and horses to suck blood; those born in straw mats are smaller, bite skin, commonly called Jianpi, also Jiaoshi, now erroneously called Bixi. Although ancients had the name, it was never used in medicine. Bencao Gangmu does not list it. Recently, it has been used in treatment, so I record it to show that nothing in the world is useless.

Odor is fishy, taste slightly salty, nature neutral. Those from soil are toxic. (When using Bixi, place in warm water to exhaust the foul odor before use.)

Treating Pharyngeal/Esophageal Discomfort: Jiting Fang: Use ten lice, add Huahua (Flower Essence/Liquor), soak in Shaojiu (Burning Wine/Shochu), and ingest.

Treating Fan Du (Rice Poison): Baicao Jing: Grind Chouchong (Stink Bug) and apply.

Treating Foul Ulceration: Xiting Yaojing: Mix Chouchong with Shuishuilonggu (Aquatic Dragon Bone), blend with Mahyou (Sesame Oil), apply externally. Drain yellow fluid, heal immediately.

Treating Yan Sheng Touzhen (Stye/Hordeolum): Apply blood of Chouchong to the site, disperses immediately.

Haishang Fang uses Bixi to treat Xiao'er Jingfeng (Pediatric Convulsions).漂 Bixi in clean water to remove odor, bake dry, and incorporate into medicine.

Extracting Ding Sore (Carbuncle): Yangshi Jingyan Fang: Mix Chouchong with rice porridge, apply evenly to the carbuncle; instantly extracts the root outward.

Fish Bone Puncture: Yizong Huibian: Crush Aogu Huixiangye (Aogu Fennel Leaf), Shiyanhua (Salt Flower), and Shaojiu (Shochu) into a paste, apply to wound. If mouth ulcer persists, remove head of Chouchong and apply.