Library

(Appended in Song Dynasty's *Kaibao Bencao*. Also includes Silver Snake)

**[Names]** Venus Earth Eel (from *Tujing Bencao*), Silver Snake (also known as Tin Snake).
Li Shizhen stated: Gold, silver, and tin are named after their color and efficacy. The "Venus Earth Eel" is named after its shape.

**[Collection of Explanations]**
Su Song said: The Golden Snake is produced in Binzhou and Chengzhou. It is as thick as a middle finger and about one chi long. It often climbs trees to drink dew, its body exhibits a golden color, and it shines in the sunlight. The white ones are toxic.
Li Shizhen stated: According to Liu Xun's *Lingbiao Luyi*, the Golden Snake is also called the Earth Eel; the white variety is called the Tin Snake and is produced in Qinzhou. The Golden Snake from Guizhou is as thick as a thumb and about one chi long, with gold and silver patterns on its scales. Its detoxifying efficacy is no less than that of Jili [a specific herb or regional reference]. Based on this, the Earth Eel is the Golden Snake, not two different species.

**[Odor and Flavor]** Salty, neutral, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Resolves toxicity from ingested gold medicines, which causes the skin to crack like chicken feet; if one holds a silver object in the mouth at night and it turns golden by morning, this snake's efficacy is demonstrated. Take four cun of snake meat, roast until yellow, boil in water, and drink the decoction frequently until cured. The Silver Snake resolves toxicity from ingested silver medicines (*Kaibao Bencao*). Treats chronic dysentery (added by Li Shizhen).

**[Elucidation]**
Chen Zangqi said: There are many toxins in Lingnan; medicinal herbs sufficient for detoxification include the Golden Snake and Baiyao.
Li Shizhen said: In *Shengji Zonglu* for treating persistent chronic dysentery, there is a formula called Venus Earth Eel Powder: Use Venus Earth Eel (roasted with vinegar), Lead Carbonate (Qian Dan), and Alum (Bai Fan) (each 5 qian, ground into powder). Take 2 qian per dose, washed down with rice water, twice daily.

(Above from *Bencao Gangmu*)

**[Names]** Male Oyster Snake.

**[Collection of Explanations]**
Li Shizhen said: Water Snakes are found everywhere, living in water. They are as thick as eels, yellowish-black in color, with net-like patterns, and their bite is not very toxic. Tao Hongjing stated that the Male Oyster Snake can transform into black carp (Li), referring to this snake. There is another type of mud snake in the water, black in color, living in burrows in groups. Its bite is toxic, differing from the Water Snake.

**[Odor and Flavor]** Sweet, salty, cold, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Treats Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome/diabetes-related symptoms), vexatious heat, and toxic dysentery (added by Li Shizhen).

**[Attached Formulas]** New Formula 1.
*Taiping Shenghui Fang* Water Snake Pill: Treats wasting-thirst syndrome and vexatious heat in the four limbs.
Take 50 snails (soaked in water for five days to extract the mucus), add powder of Trichosanthis Radix (Tianguafen), and decoct until thick. Form into pills, taken with ginger soup.

**[Indications]** (Water Snake Skin) Burned to ash and mixed with oil, applied to sores of pediatric osteomyelitis with unceasing pus and blood. Also treats "Heavenly Snake" toxic sores on fingers (added by Li Shizhen).

**[Attached Formulas]** New Formula 2.
Pediatric Bone Sores: A poem from *Haishang Fang* states: "The pain in children's bones is unbearable, bleeding and flowing pus is truly pitiable. Seek one piece of water snake skin, burn to ash..."
Take one snake, remove the head and tail, take the middle section as long as a finger, dissect away the flesh and bones. Do not let the patient see it. Wrap the finger with the snake skin, binding it naturally tight, and wrap paper around the outside. One will instantly feel coolness throughout the body, and the disease will be cured. After several days, unwrap and inspect; there will be a groove on the finger like a small rope, and inside the snake skin, there will be a complete snake, with head and eyes intact.