头、胫与脊背入药。肉微咸。陈藏器所注乙骨之事,反射之目光堕地如白石之说,必
得之于人,终不免其所诬也。人或问曰∶风从虎何也?风,木也,虎,金也,木受金制,焉
得不从?故呼啸则风生,自然之道也。所以治风挛急,屈伸不得,走疰,癫疾,惊痫,骨节
风毒等,乃此义尔。
毛赤黄,其纹黑如钱而中空,比比相次。此兽猛捷过虎,故能安五脏,补绝伤,轻身
。又有土豹,毛更无纹,色亦不赤,其形亦小。此各自有种,非能变为虎也,圣人假喻而已
。恐医家未喻,故书之。
形类猫,其纹有二,一如连钱者,一如虎纹者。此二色狸,皆可入药。其肉味与狐不
相远,江西一种牛尾狸,其尾如牛,人多糟食,未闻入药。孟诜云∶“骨理痔病,作羹 食
之。”然则骨如何羹 (音郝,肉羹也?)炙骨和麝香、雄黄为丸服,治痔及 疮甚效。
有白毛者,全得金之气也,入药尤功。余兔至秋深时则可食,金气全也。才至春夏,其
味变。取四脚肘后毛为逐食,饲雕鹰,至次日吐出。其意欲腹中逐尽脂肥,使饥急捕逐速尔
。然作酱必使五味。即患豌豆疮,又食此,则发毒太甚,恐斑烂损人。
经中不言性味,惟是于难产通用药中云∶ 鼠,微温,毛赤黑色,长尾,人捕
得取皮为暖帽。但向下飞则可,亦不能致远。今关西山中甚有,毛极密,人谓之飞生者是也
。《注》中又引水马,首如马,身如虾,背伛偻,身有竹节纹,长二三寸,今谓之海马。
The skull, tibia, and vertebral column of the tiger are used as medicine. The meat is slightly salty. The matter concerning the "Yi bone" (a legendary bone) noted by Chen Cangqi, and the theory that its reflected gaze turns fallen objects into white stone, must have originated from human fabrication; ultimately, it cannot avoid being regarded as false accusations. Someone might ask: "Why does wind follow the tiger?" Wind belongs to Wood, and the tiger belongs to Metal. Since Wood is controlled by Metal, how can it not follow? Therefore, when the tiger roars, wind arises; this is the way of nature. Thus, tiger bone is used to treat conditions such as wind-induced spasms and tightness, inability to flex or extend limbs, wandering pain (Zou Zhu), epilepsy, convulsive disorders, and bone-joint wind toxicity, based on this principle.
The fur is reddish-yellow, with black patterns resembling coins that are hollow in the center, arranged closely in sequence. This beast is fiercer and more agile than the tiger; therefore, it can calm the five Zang organs, tonify severe injuries, and lighten the body. There is also a "local leopard," whose fur has no patterns, is not red in color, and is smaller in size. These are distinct species and cannot transform into tigers; sages merely used them as metaphors. Fearing that medical practitioners might not understand, I have recorded this.
The form resembles a cat, with two types of patterns: one like linked coins, and the other like tiger stripes. Both colors of civet cats can be used as medicine. Their meat taste is not far from that of foxes. In Jiangxi, there is a type called "ox-tail civet," whose tail resembles an ox's tail; people often pickle and eat it, but it is rarely heard of being used as medicine. Meng Shen said: "Use civet bone to treat hemorrhoids, prepared as a soup." Then how should the bone be made into soup? Roasted civet bone combined with Musk (Moschus) and Realgar (Realgar) formed into pills and taken orally is very effective for treating hemorrhoids and sores.
Rabbits with white fur fully possess the Qi of Metal and are especially efficacious when used as medicine. Other rabbits can be eaten only in late autumn, when the Metal Qi is complete. When spring and summer arrive, their taste changes. The hair from behind the four elbows is taken to feed eagles and hawks; the next day, they vomit up the food. The intention is to clear all fat from the bird's stomach, making it hungry and eager to hunt swiftly. However, when making rabbit paste, the five flavors must be balanced. If one suffers from smallpox/chickenpox (Wandou Chuang) and eats rabbit meat, the toxin may flare up severely, potentially causing disfiguring skin lesions.
The classics do not state the nature and flavor of rats. It is only mentioned in general medicines for difficult labor that rat is slightly warm, has reddish-black fur, and a long tail; humans catch them and use the skin to make warm hats. They can fly downwards but cannot travel far. They are abundant in the mountains west of the pass, with extremely dense fur; people call them "Feisheng" (Flying Life). The commentary also cites "Shuima" (Water Horse), which has a head like a horse, a body like a shrimp, a hunched back, and bamboo-joint-like patterns on its body, measuring two or three cun in length; it is now known as Seahorse (Hai Ma).