鹑有雌雄,从卵生,何言化生?其说甚容易。尝于田野屡得其卵,初生谓之罗鹑,至初
秋谓之旦秋,中秋以后谓之白唐。然一物四名,当悉书之。小儿患疳及下痢五色,旦旦食之
,有效。
《嘉 本草》石蜜收虫鱼部中,又见果部。新聿取苏恭说,直将石字不用。石蜜既
自
有本条,煎炼亦自有法。今人谓之乳糖,则虫部石蜜自是差误,不当更言石蜜也。《本经》
以谓白如膏者良,由是知石蜜字,乃白蜜字无疑。去古既远,亦文本传写之误,故今人尚言
白沙蜜。盖经久则陈白而沙,新收者惟稀而黄。次条蜜蜡,故须别立目。盖是蜜之房,攻治
亦别。至如白蜡,又附于蜜蜡之下,此又误矣。本是续上文,叙蜜蜡之用及注所出州土,不
当更分之为二。何者?白蜡本条中盖不言性味,只是言其色白尔。既有黄白二色,今只言白
蜡,是取蜡之精英者,其黄蜡只置而不言。黄则蜡陈,白则蜡新,亦是蜜取陈,蜡取新也。
《唐注》云∶除蜜字为佳。今详之∶蜜字不可除,除之即不显蜡自何处来。山蜜多石中或古
木中有,经二三年或一得而取之,气味醇浓。人家窠槛中蓄养者,则一岁春秋二取之。取之
既数,则蜜居房中日少,气味不足,所以不逮陈白者日月足也。虽收之,才过夏亦酸坏。若
龛于井中近水处,则免。汤火伤,涂之痛止,仍捣薤白相和,虽无毒,多食亦生诸风。
Quail (Chun) has male and female distinctions and is born from eggs; how can it be said to be generated by transformation? This theory is easy to explain. I have frequently found quail eggs in the fields. Newly hatched ones are called *Luoqun* (Luó Chún), those at early autumn are called *Danqiu* (Dàn Qiū), and those after mid-autumn are called *Baitang* (Bái Táng). However, one species having four names should all be recorded. For children suffering from *Gan* disease (a childhood disorder characterized by malnutrition and wasting) and dysentery with five-colored stools, eating them daily is effective.
The *Jia You Ben Cao* (Compendium of Materia Medica of the Jiayou Era) included *Shimi* (Rock Honey) in the Insect and Fish section, yet also listed it in the Fruit section. The newly compiled work adopted Su Gong’s view, directly omitting the character "Shi" (Rock). Since *Shimi* already has its own dedicated entry and specific refining methods, and since people now call it *Rutang* (Milk Sugar), the *Shimi* in the Insect section is clearly erroneous and should not be referred to as *Shimi*. The *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that the best quality is white like paste; thus, it is undeniable that the term "Shimi" was originally a scribal error for "Baimi" (White Honey). Due to the great distance from antiquity, this resulted from textual transmission errors, which is why people today still refer to it as *Baishami* (White Sand Honey). Generally, honey stored for a long time becomes aged, white, and sandy, whereas freshly collected honey is thin and yellow. The subsequent entry on *Milaxie* (Honeycomb Wax) requires a separate heading because it is the structure of the bee hive, and its therapeutic applications differ. As for *Bai La* (White Beeswax), attaching it under *Milaxie* is another error. It originally served to continue the preceding text, describing the uses of honeycomb wax and noting its place of origin, and should not be split into two entries. Why? Because the entry for White Beeswax does not discuss its nature and flavor, only stating that its color is white. Given there are both yellow and white varieties, mentioning only White Beeswax implies selecting the essence of the wax, while Yellow Beeswax is omitted. Yellow indicates aged wax, while white indicates fresh wax; this aligns with the principle that honey is preferred when aged, but wax is preferred when fresh. The *Tang Zhu* (Tang Commentary) suggests: "It is better to remove the character 'Mi' (Honey)." Upon detailed examination: the character "Mi" cannot be removed, for doing so obscures the origin of the wax. Mountain honey is often found in rocks or ancient trees, taking two or three years to accumulate, or occasionally obtained in one go; its aroma is mellow and strong. Beehives kept in domestic enclosures are harvested twice a year, in spring and autumn. Frequent harvesting reduces the time honey spends in the cells, resulting in weaker aroma, inferior to the well-aged white honey which has sufficient maturation time. Even if stored, honey will turn sour and spoil after summer unless kept in a jar near water in a well. Applied to burns and scalds, it stops pain; it can also be crushed and mixed with *Xiebai* (Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus). Although non-toxic, excessive consumption may induce various wind diseases.