Library

(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Bie Lu* [Separate Record])

**[Names]** Wild cat.

Li Shizhen states: According to *Pi Ya*, "Zhi" (a radical for beasts) is in the "Li" (inside) component, hence it derives from "Li," referring to beasts that dwell in burrows and lie in wait. *Erya* records: The young of the Li is called "KT" (pronounced like "Ye"). Its feet have pads, and its tracks are "KT" (pronounced like "Niu," referring to the toe area).

**[Collected Explanations]** Tao Hongjing says: There are many types of Li. Currently, people use Hu Li (Tiger-striped Li), not Mao Li (Cat-like Li), although Mao Li is also good. There are also those with yellow fur and a foul odor; their meat can also treat rat sores.

Su Song says: Li is found everywhere. There are many varieties; those with tiger-like stripes are suitable for use, while those with cat-like spots are inferior. In the south, there is a type called Xiang Li (Fragrant Li); its meat is very fragrant, with a slight musk scent.

Kou Zongshi says: The shape of Li resembles a cat, and its patterns come in two types: one resembling linked coins, the other resembling tiger stripes; both can be used in medicine. The taste of the meat is not far from that of fox. In Jiangxi, there is a type called Niu Wei Li (Ox-tail Li), whose tail resembles an ox. People often pickle it in wine lees for food; it is rarely heard of being used in medicine.

Li Shizhen says: There are several kinds of Li: Those as large as foxes, with mixed yellow and black spotted fur, resembling cats but with round heads and large tails, are called Mao Li. They are adept at stealing chickens and ducks, have a foul odor, and their meat is inedible. Those with stripes like tigers, with pointed heads and square mouths, are called Hu Li. They eat insects, rats, and fruits; their meat is not foul and is edible. Resembling Hu Li but with black and white coin-like patterns on the tail, they are called Jiu Jie Li (Nine-joint Li); their skin can be used for fur collars. The *History of Song* mentions Anlu Prefecture paying tribute to wild cats and flower cats, which refer to these two types. Those with patterns like leopards and emitting a musk scent are called Xiang Li, which is also known as Ling Cat. In the south, there is a white-faced variety with an ox-like tail, called Niu Wei Li, also known as Yu Mian Li (Jade-faced Li). It climbs trees to eat various fruits, becomes extremely fat in winter, and is often pickled in wine lees as a delicacy; it is highly effective in relieving hangovers. Zhang Yi's *Guang Ya* records: Yu Mian Li, when captured and kept by humans, causes rats to cower and dare not emerge. Another type resembles Mao Li but is extremely small, with yellow spots, living in marshes and eating insects, rats, and grass roots, named "KT" (pronounced like "Xun"). Additionally, on islands in Dengzhou, there is Hai Li... (Meat of sea otter/beaver - text implies continuation).

**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Chen Cangqi says: Warm. Do not eat in the first lunar month, as it harms the spirit.

Li Shizhen says: *Li Ji · Nei Ze* records: When eating Li meat, remove the central spine, as it is detrimental to human health. It is incompatible with Veratrum (*Lilu*).

**[Indications]** Various Zhu diseases (from *Bie Lu*). Treats wind-dampness and ghost-toxin vapors, causing sensations like needle pricks in the skin (Li Shizhen, citing *Taiping Yulan*). Made into soup, it treats hemorrhoids and rat sores; within three doses, the effect is excellent.

**[Attached Prescriptions]** Two new prescriptions.

For intestinal wind hemorrhoids and chronic bleeding: *Ru Sheng San* (Sage Powder): Take one wild Li caught in the twelfth lunar month, coiled inside a jar; add half a sheng of stir-fried jujubes, half a jin of Aurantium Fructus (*Zhi Ke*), four taels of Licorice Root (*Gan Cao*), and two taels of Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Pod (*Zhu Ya Zao Jiao*). Place them all in the jar, seal tightly, pierce a hole in a tile cover, and seal with salt mud until dry. Dig a pit, support the jar with cross-shaped tiles, and roast with five piculs of charcoal until black smoke ceases and green smoke appears. Remove, cover with wet soil overnight, then grind into powder. Take two qian each time, washed down with salt water. Another method: Make Li into soup, burn the bones to ash, and take with wine. (From *Yang Shi Jia C Fang*)

For cold-induced lower bleeding and prolapsed anus with pain: One wild Li, placed in a large bottle, sealed with mud, roasted to preserve its nature, taken out and ground fine, mixed with two qian of Musk (*She Xiang*). Take two qian before meals with rice drink. (From *Sheng Hui Fang*)

Paste

**[Indications]** For wounds caused by Mus musculus bites, apply this paste and consume Li meat (Li Shizhen).

Liver

**[Indications]** Ghost malaria (Li Shizhen).

**[Attached Prescription]** One new prescription.

For persistent ghost malaria, recurring or stopping intermittently: One wild cat liver (place in a bottle, soak in hot pig blood, seal, hang to dry and drain blood, take the liver and grind to powder), one liang each of macaque skull bone, tiger skull bone, and dog skull bone, and one fen of Musk. Grind to powder, make pills with vinegar paste the size of Euryale seed (*Qian Shi*). At onset, hold one pill to smell, and tie another wrapped in red silk to the middle finger. (From *Sheng Hui Fang*)

Penis

**[Indications]** For women with amenorrhea and men with genital itching, burn to ash and take with flowing water from the east (from *Bie Lu*).

Bone (Skull bone is best)

**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Sweet, warm, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Wind-Zhu, Corpse-Zhu, Ghost-Zhu, toxic vapors moving in the skin like needle pricks, heart and abdominal pain, wandering pain without fixed location, and rat malignant sores (from *Bie Lu*). Burn to ash and take with wine to treat all wandering winds (from *Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao*). Stir-fry to powder to treat dysphagia and inability to ingest food (from *Yao Xing Lun*). Burn to ash and take with water to treat poisoning from eating wild bird meat. Roast skull bone, grind, or burn to ash, take two qian with wine to treat Corpse-Zhu, evil qi abdominal pain, and hemorrhoids; efficacy seen after ten doses (Meng Shen. Kou Zongshi adds... Li Shizhen supplements).

**[Elucidation]** Su Song says: Hua Tuo treated Corpse-Zhu with Li Bone Powder, using the head.

Li Shizhen says: Li bone and cat bone have similar properties and can be used interchangeably. *Wei Sheng Bao Jian* uses the whole burned Li body in the Shen Ying Dan to treat various winds and heart epilepsy.

**[Attached Prescriptions]** One old, two new.

For scrofula swelling and pain persisting long-term: Use Li head and hoof bones, coat with butter, roast until yellow, and make into powder. Take one qian-bi with rice drink on an empty stomach daily. (From *Sheng Hui*)

For ruptured scrofula: Burn Li head to ash and apply frequently. (From *Qian Jin*)

Feces (Collected and dried in the fifth lunar month)

**[Indications]** Burn to ash, take with water, to treat ghost malaria chills and fever (Meng Shen). Burn to ash, mix with cured pig lard, and apply to infant "ghost-licked" head sores (from *Qian Jin*).