（《纲目》）
【释名】煤炭、石墨、铁炭、乌金石（《纲目》）、焦石。
时珍曰∶石炭即乌金石，上古以书字，谓之石墨，今俗呼为煤炭，煤、墨音相近也。《
拾遗记》言焦石如炭，《岭表录》言康州有焦石穴，即此也。
【集解】时珍曰∶石炭南北诸山产处亦多，昔人不用，故识之者少。今则人以代薪炊爨，
炼铁石，大为民利。土人皆凿山为穴，横入十余丈取之。有大块如石而光者，有疏散如炭
末者，俱作硫黄气，以酒喷之则解。入药用坚块如石者。昔人言夷陵黑土为劫灰者，即此疏
散者也。《孝经·援神契》云∶王者德至山陵，则出黑丹。《水经》言∶石炭可书，燃之难尽，
烟气中人。《酉阳杂俎》云∶无劳县出石墨，爨之弥年不消。《夷坚志》云∶彰德南郭村井
中产石墨。宜阳县有石墨山， 阳县有石墨洞。燕之西山，楚之荆州、兴国州，江西之庐山、
袁州、丰城、赣州，皆产石炭，可以炊爨。并此石也。又有一种石墨，舐之粘舌，可书字画
眉，名画眉石者，即黑石脂也。见石脂下。
【气味】甘、辛，温，有毒。
时珍曰∶人有中瓦斯毒者，昏瞀至死，惟饮冷水即解。
独孤滔曰∶去锡晕，制三黄、 砂、硝石。
【主治】妇人血气痛，及诸疮毒，金疮出血，小儿痰痫（时珍）。
【附方】新五。
金疮出血∶急以石炭末浓敷之。疮深不宜速合者，加滑石。（《医学集成》）
误吞金银及钱，在腹中不下者。光明石炭一杏核大，硫黄一皂子大。为末，酒下。（《普
济方》）腹中积滞∶乌金石（即铁炭也）三两，自然铜（为末醋熬）一两，当归一两，大黄
（童尿
浸晒）一两。为末。每服二钱，红花酒一盏，童尿半盏，同调，食前服，日二服。（张子和
《儒
门事亲》）月经不通∶巴豆去油，如绿豆大三丸，以乌金石末一钱，调汤送下，即通。（《卫
生易简方》）产后儿枕刺痛∶黑白散∶用乌金石（烧酒淬七次）、寒水石（ 为末）等分。每
用
粥饮服一钱半，即止，未止再服。（洁古《保命集》）
【附录】然石 时珍曰∶曹叔雅《异物志》云∶豫章有石，黄色，如理疏，以水灌之便
热，可以烹鼎，冷则再灌。张华谓之然石。高安亦有之。
(From *Bencao Gangmu*)
[Names] Meitan (Coal), Shimo (Graphite), Tie Tan (Iron Charcoal), Wujinshi (Black Gold Stone) (*Bencao Gangmu*), Jiaoshi (Burnt Stone).
Li Shizhen stated: Shitan is the same as Wujinshi. In ancient times, it was used for writing and called Shimo. Currently, it is commonly referred to as Meitan; the pronunciation of "Mei" (coal) and "Mo" (ink) are similar. *Shiyi Ji* mentions that Jiaoshi resembles charcoal. *Lingbiao Lu* states that Kangzhou has a Jiaoshi cave, referring to this substance.
[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: Shitan is produced in many mountains across the north and south. In the past, people did not use it, so few were familiar with it. Now, people use it as a substitute for firewood for cooking and for smelting iron stones, bringing great benefit to the people. Locals dig caves into the mountains, entering horizontally for more than ten zhang to extract it. Some pieces are large like stones and smooth; others are loose like charcoal powder. Both emit a sulfur odor and disperse when sprayed with wine. For medicinal use, the hard, stone-like blocks are employed. In the past, some said that the black soil in Yiling was "jie hui" (ashes of kalpa), referring to this loose material. *Xiao Jing · Yuan Shen Qi* states: "When the virtue of a king reaches the hills and tombs, black dan emerges." *Shui Jing Zhu* states: "Shitan can be used for writing; when burned, it does not easily consume, and its smoke is harmful to humans." *Youyang Zazu* states: "Wulao County produces Shimo, which does not burn up even after a year of cooking." *Yijian Zhi* states: "Shimo is produced in wells in Nanguo Village, Zhangde." Yixian County has Shimo Mountain, and [County Name] has Shimo Cave. The Western Mountains of Yan, Jingzhou and Xingguo Prefecture in Chu, Lushan, Yuanzhou, Fengcheng, and Ganzhou in Jiangxi all produce Shitan, which can be used for cooking. These are all this type of stone. Additionally, there is another type of Shimo that sticks to the tongue when licked and can be used for writing, drawing, or painting eyebrows, named Huameishi (Eyebrow Painting Stone), which is Heishizhi (Black Stone Grease). See the entry under Shizhi.
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, Acrid, Warm, Toxic.
Li Shizhen stated: Those who suffer from gas poisoning may fall into a coma or die; drinking cold water immediately resolves the toxicity.
Dugu Tao stated: To remove tin spots (tin oxide stains), one can use Sanhuang (Three Yellows: Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex), Pisha (Realgar/Orpiment), and Xiaoshi (Niter) to counteract it.
[Indications] Pain due to blood and qi stagnation in women, various sores and toxins, bleeding from metal wounds, and pediatric phlegm-epilepsy (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Five new prescriptions.
Metal wound bleeding: Immediately apply a thick layer of Shitan powder to the wound. If the wound is deep and should not heal quickly, add Huashi (Talcum). (*Yixue Jicheng*)
Swallowed gold, silver, or coins that remain stuck in the abdomen: Guangming Shitan the size of an apricot kernel, Huangliu (Sulfur) the size of a soap bean. Grind into powder and take with wine. (*Puji Fang*)
Abdominal accumulation/stagnation: Wujinshi (i.e., Tie Tan) 3 liang, Ziran Tong (Natural Copper, ground to powder and boiled with vinegar) 1 liang, Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) 1 liang, Dahuang (Rhubarb Root, soaked in child's urine and dried) 1 liang. Grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time, mixed with 1 zhhan of Honghua (Carthamus) wine and half a zhhan of child's urine. Take before meals, twice daily. (Zhang Zihe, *Rumen Shiqin*)
Amenorrhea (Menstrual obstruction): Remove oil from Badou (Croton Seed), form three pills the size of mung beans. Mix with 1 qian of Wujinshi powder and take with soup to induce menstruation. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Postpartum severe pain from "Erzhen" (afterbirth retention): Heibai San (Black and White Powder): Use Wujinshi (quenched seven times in wine) and Hanshui Shi (Calcitum) in equal parts. Take 1.5 qian each time with rice gruel water to stop pain. If not stopped, take again. (Jiegu, *Baoming Ji*)
[Appendix] Ran Shi Li Shizhen stated: Cao Shuya's *Yiwu Zhi* says: "In Yuzhang, there is a stone, yellow in color, with loose texture. When watered, it becomes hot and can be used to cook in tripods; when cool, water it again." Zhang Hua called it Ran Shi. It is also found in Gao'an.