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(Quoted from *Shu Bencao*)

[Names] Jiali (Domestic Cat).
Li Shizhen stated: The pronunciation of "Mao" (Cat) is similar to "Miao" and "Mao"; the name is derived from its own vocalization. Lu Dian said: Rats damage crop seedlings, while cats catch rats; hence the character includes the radical for "seedling" (Miao). The *Book of Rites* mentions welcoming cats because they eat field mice, which is also plausible. *Ge Gu Lun* states that another name for cat is Wuyuan (Black Circle). Some claim that Menggui is a cat, which is incorrect.

[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: Cats are small beasts that catch mice and are raised everywhere. They come in various colors such as yellow, black, white, and spotted. They have bodies resembling martens and faces resembling tigers, with soft fur and sharp teeth. Those with long tails, short waists, eyes like gold and silver, and multiple ridges on the head are considered superior. It is said that the pupils of their eyes can indicate time: at Zi, Wu, Mao, and You hours, the pupils are like a thin line; at Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai hours, they are like a full moon; at Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei hours, they are like jujube pits. The tip of a cat's nose is usually cold, becoming warm only on the day of Summer Solstice. Cats fear cold but not heat. They can scratch the ground to predict food locations and gnaw on the heads or tails of mice depending on the lunar cycle, all of which align with the characteristics of tigers, fitting the yin category. Pregnancy lasts two months, resulting in multiple kittens per litter, often including instances of cannibalism. Folklore claims that female cats can become pregnant without males by being swept with a bamboo broom several times on their backs. Alternatively, placing a cat under a basin near the stove and striking the basin with a broom while praying to the Stove God can induce pregnancy. This is similar to hatching chicks by praying over eggs at the stove; both defy conventional logic. When sick, cats can be treated effectively by administering Wushui (a specific medicinal liquid). It is rumored that mint intoxicates cats and dead cats attract bamboo growth, which are merely examples of mutual attraction between species.

Meat
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, sour, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Laozhu (chronic consumptive disease), Shulou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), Guduo (gu poison).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: Materia Medica texts annotate cats and martens together. However, marten meat is edible, whereas cat meat is inferior and not used as food, so it is rarely utilized. Hu Qian's *Yijian Fang* states: To prevent gu poison, consuming cat meat from childhood prevents harm from gu. Is this the "cat ghost wild path gu" mentioned in the *Book of Sui*? *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* treats scrofula swelling, whether ulcerated with pus and blood, by cooking cat meat into soup and eating it on an empty stomach, claiming it prevents transmission. Ancients believed scrofula was caused by rat saliva toxin. This actually refers to the saying in *Huainanzi*: marten heads treat rats and rat bites on human wounds. It also says fox eyes and marten brains cause rats to leave their holes. All these utilize the principle of mutual control.

Skull Bone
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Gui zhu gu du (ghost consumption and gu poison), heart and abdominal pain, killing parasites, treating ganji (pediatric malnutrition syndrome), and darkening of smallpox lesions, scrofula, and malignant ulcers (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: Ancient formulas often used martens, while modern people often use cats. Although they are different species, their properties and qi are similar, allowing for interchangeability. Sun Simiao treated inverted smallpox using skull bones from humans, cats, pigs, and dogs; the formula is found under the Human section.

[Attached Formulas] Nine new formulas.
Abdominal mass resembling a turtle (Bie Xia): Burn one black cat head to ash, take with wine, one cun bi (measure) three times daily. (*Shouyu Shenfang*)
Phlegm-fluid retention causing asthma: Burn cat skull bone to ash, take 3 qian with wine to stop asthma immediately. (*Yixue Zhengchuan*)
Cat ghost wild path disease, uncontrollable weeping and laughing: Burn a dead cat head collected in the twelfth lunar month to ash, take 1 qian bi with water twice daily. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Chronic scrofula unhealed: Use one cat head and one bat, sprinkle black soybeans on both, burn until carbonized (preserving nature), grind into powder and apply externally. If dry, mix with oil. Internally administer Wuxiang Lianqiao Tang for efficacy. (*Jiyi Fang*)
Zouma Yagan (noma gangrenous stomatitis): Burn black cat head to ash, take with wine, one cun bi. (*Shouyu Fang*)
Pediatric genital ulcer: Apply burned cat skull bone ash to the lesion for immediate healing.
Rat bite wound pain: Burn cat head to ash, mix with oil and apply until healed. (Zhao's Formula)
Astringent treatment for carbuncles and sores: Crush one cat head, boil ten chicken eggs, remove whites, render yolks into oil, add a little beeswax, mix with ash and apply externally, covering with plaster. Miraculous. (*Yifang Jiangyao*)
Opposite-toxin sore (carbuncle on back of neck): Burn cat skull bone until carbonized, grind fine. Take 3-5 qian with wine. (Wu Qiu, *Bianmin Shiliao Fang*)

Brain (dried in shade on paper)
[Indications] Scrofula and rat sores that have ulcerated. Mix with equal parts of Mangcao (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii) into powder and insert into the orifice (Li Shizhen, from *Qianjin Fang*).

Eyes
[Indications] Scrofula and rat sores. Burn to ash, take one cun bi with well water drawn at dawn (Jinghua Shui) three times daily (from *Qianjin Fang*).

Teeth
[Indications] Pediatric smallpox inverted and dying. Burn human teeth, pig teeth, dog teeth, and cat teeth together into charcoal. Grind into powder, take one zi measure with honey water to promote eruption immediately (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: When smallpox toxins enter the Kidney channel, they turn black. Teeth are the external manifestation of the Kidneys and can enter the Kidneys to expel toxins. Cat teeth within the formula can detoxify and are usable even in heat syndromes.

Tongue
[Indications] Scrofula and rat sores. Sun-dry, grind into powder, and apply externally (*Qianjin Fang*).

Saliva
[Indications] Scrofula. Pierce the lesion and apply (Li Shizhen).

Liver
[Indications] Treats parasitic infections in lao zhai (consumptive disease). Take one fresh black cat liver, sun-dry, grind into powder. Take with wine at the fifth watch (3-5 AM) on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month (Li Shizhen, from *Zhizhi Fang*).

Placenta
[Indications] Regurgitation and vomiting. Burn to ash, mix with a little Cinnabar powder, place under the tongue. Very effective.

Skin and Fur
[Indications] Scrofula, various sores, carbuncles, and ulcers (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Formulas] Six new formulas.
Lactational mastitis with internal ulceration: Collect fur from under a kitten's belly, burn in a crucible until carbonized, add a little Calomel, mix with oil and apply. (*Jisheng Milan*)
Scrofula and rat sores: Grind fresh Shi Changpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) and apply to slightly broken skin. Burn cat skin with fur to ash, mix with sesame oil for external application. Internally take Bai Lian (Radix Angelikae Dahuricae) powder with wine, more is better. Also mash fresh Bai Lian with a little wine and apply externally. Effective. (*Zhengzhi Yaojue*)
Boils on temples: One handful of cat neck fur, one handful of pig neck fur, one mouse feces pellet. Burn, grind, mix with oil and apply. (*Shouyu Shenfang*)
Ghost-licking head sore: Burn kitten fur to ash, mix with ointment and apply. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Nasal abrasion injury: Chop kitten head fur finely, mix with saliva and apply. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Rat bite wound: Burn cat fur to ash, add a little Musk, mix with saliva and seal the wound. Cat whiskers can also be used. (*Jiuji Yi Fang*)

Urine
Rub teeth and nose with ginger or garlic, or insert raw green onion into the nostrils to induce urination.
[Indications] Insects like slugs entering the ear. Drip urine into the ear to expel them (Li Shizhen, from *Rumen Shiqin*).

Feces
[Preparation] Collect in the twelfth lunar month when dry. Seal with mud, burn until carbonized, and store for use.
[Indications] Smallpox inverted and failing to erupt, scrofula ulcers, malignant sores, gu consumption, scorpion stings, and rat bites (Li Shizhen. See "Wujia San" for smallpox under Human section). Burn to ash, take with water. Extremely effective for treating cold-heat ghost malaria with irregular onset (*Tang Ben Cao Zhu*).

[Attached Formulas] One old formula, seven new formulas.
Pediatric malaria: 1 qian black cat feces, 7 peach kernels. Decoct together, drink one cup for immediate cure. (*Wen Jushi Fang*)
Piercing pain in waist and legs causing leg stiffness: Burn cat feces to ash, mix with saliva and apply. (*Yonglei Qianfang*)
Gu consumption abdominal pain: Burn male cat feces to ash, take with water. (*Waitai Mi Yao*)
Scrofula ulcers: Cat feces from the twelfth lunar month. Combine in yin-yang tiles, seal with salt mud, calcine, grind into powder, mix with oil and apply. (*Rumen Shiqin*)
Ghost-licking alopecia: Burn cat feces to ash, mix with lard from the twelfth lunar month, and apply. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Rat bite wound: Rub with cat feces for immediate healing. (*Shouyu Fang*)
Scorpion sting pain: Apply cat feces. Cure in 3-5 applications. (*Xin Jing*)
Asthmatic phlegm cough: Burn cat feces to ash, take 1 qian with brown sugar water. (Ye's *Zhaixuan Fang*)