（《拾遗》）
【释名】活师（《山海经》）、活东（《尔雅》）
子
时珍曰∶蝌斗，一作蛞斗（音阔）。按∶罗愿《尔雅翼》云∶其状如鱼，其尾如针，又
并
【集解】藏器曰∶活师即蛤蟆儿，生水中，有尾如
时珍曰∶蝌斗生水中，蛤蟆、青蛙之子也。二、三月蛙、蟆曳肠于水际草上，缠缴如索
，日见黑点渐深，至春水时，鸣以聒之，则蝌斗皆出，谓之聒子，所谓“蛤蟆声抱”是矣。
蝌
未必然。陆农师云∶月大尽则先生前两足，小尽则先生后两足。
【主治】火飙热疮及疥疮，并捣碎敷之。又染髭发，取青胡桃子上皮，和捣为泥染之，
一染
【发明】时珍曰∶俚俗三月三日，皆取小蝌斗以水吞之，云不生疮，亦解毒治疮之意也。
按∶危氏《得效》方∶染髭发，用蝌斗、黑桑椹各半斤，瓶密封，悬屋
发，永黑如漆也。又《岣嵝神书》云∶三月三日，取蝌斗一合阴干，候椹熟时取汁一升浸，
埋东壁下，
卵
【主治】明目（藏器）。
（《拾遗》）
【集解】
藏器曰∶溪狗生南方溪涧中。状似蛤蟆，尾长三、四寸。
【气味】有小毒。
【主治】溪毒及游蛊，烧末，水服一、二钱匕（藏器）。
（宋《图经》）
【校正】原附蛤蟆下，今分出。
【集解】
颂曰∶山蛤在山石中藏蛰，似蛤蟆而大，黄色。能吞气，饮风露，不食杂虫。山人亦食
之。
【主治】小儿劳瘦，及疳疾，最良（苏颂）。
(From *Bencao Shiyi* [Supplement to Materia Medica])
**[Names]** Huoshi (Living Master, from *Shanhai Jing* [Classic of Mountains and Seas]); Huodong (Living East, from *Erya* [Elegant Explanations]).
**Offspring**
Li Shizhen stated: Kedou (Tadpole), also written as Kudou (pronounced "kuo"). According to Luo Yuan's *Eryayi* [Explanatory Notes on Erya]: Its shape resembles a fish, its tail is like a needle, and it...
**[Collected Explanations]** Chen Zangqi stated: Huoshi refers to the offspring of the toad, living in water, with a tail like...
Li Shizhen stated: Kedou grows in water; they are the offspring of toads and frogs. In the second and third lunar months, frogs and toads lay intestinal-shaped egg masses on grasses by the water, winding and coiling like ropes. Daily observation shows black spots gradually deepening. When spring waters rise, calling out to disturb them causes tadpoles to emerge; this is called "Guozi" [Noise Children], which corresponds to the phenomenon known as "toad voice embrace." Whether this is invariably true is uncertain. Lu Nongshi stated: In a large month (30 days), the front two legs appear first; in a small month (29 days), the rear two legs appear first.
Kedou
**[Therapeutic Actions]** For fire-blowing hot sores and scabies, crush and apply externally. Additionally, for dyeing beard and hair, take the skin of green walnuts, mix with crushed Kedou to form a paste for dyeing. One application...
**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen stated: Folk custom dictates that on the third day of the third lunar month, people swallow small tadpoles with water, claiming it prevents sores, reflecting the intent to detoxify and treat skin lesions. According to Wei Shi's *Dexiao Fang* [Effective Formulas]: To dye beard and hair, use half a jin each of Kedou and black mulberries, seal tightly in a bottle, and hang under the house... Hair will remain permanently black as lacquer. Furthermore, *Goulou Shenshu* [Divine Book of Goulou] states: On the third day of the third lunar month, take one he of Kedou, dry in shade, and when mulberries ripen, extract one sheng of juice to soak them, burying them under the east wall,
Eggs
**[Therapeutic Actions]** Brighten the eyes (Chen Zangqi).
(From *Bencao Shiyi* [Supplement to Materia Medica])
**[Collected Explanations]**
Chen Zangqi stated: Xigou [Stream Dog] lives in streams and ravines in the southern regions. It resembles a toad, with a tail three to four cun long.
**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Slightly toxic.
**[Therapeutic Actions]** For "stream poison" [toxins acquired from mountain streams] and wandering gu [poison magic], burn into powder, and administer with water, one or two qianbi (coin-sized doses) (Chen Zangqi).
(From Song Dynasty *Tujing Bencao* [Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica])
**[Correction]** Originally appended under the entry for Toad, now separated.
**[Collected Explanations]**
Su Song stated: Shanhe [Mountain Toad] hibernates hidden among mountain rocks. It resembles a toad but is larger and yellowish. It can swallow air, drink wind and dew, and does not eat miscellaneous insects. Mountain dwellers also consume it.
**[Therapeutic Actions]** Most effective for pediatric consumptive emaciation and gan disease [childhood malnutrition syndrome] (Su Song).