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Salty, neutral, slightly toxic. Its toxicity lies in the eyes; wash with wine, remove the head, feet, scales, and claws, roast with suet (animal fat), and grind for use. Only those capable of running a hundred paces before panting are genuine.

Guo Peilan stated: It is born in the waters of Guangnan, dwelling on banyan trees at night. Its shape resembles a gecko (Shou Gong), with a tail equal in length to its body. Males and females follow each other; the medicinal efficacy resides in the tail, and this specimen is male. The male is called "Ge," with rough skin and a large mouth.

Salty and sweet, neutral, toxic. Those white as silver are superior; avoid those that are greenish-yellow or grayish. Wash clean with soap pod water and dry, or soak in wine, vinegar, or honey, then roast until yellow for use. Alternatively, preserve with salt mud to retain its nature. It fears magnetite and wine; pregnant women should avoid it.

Salty and sweet, warm, toxic. When using the flower snake, soak it in changed wine for three nights in spring and autumn, one night in summer, and five nights in winter. Remove and roast over charcoal fire three times. Place in a clay jar, bury in the ground overnight to eliminate fire qi, remove skin and bones, and use the meat.

Guo Peilan stated: Although found everywhere, only those from Qizhou are taken. The snake has a dragon-like head and tiger-like mouth, black background with white flowers, and twenty-four square patterns on its flanks. The abdomen has bead-like markings. The head and tail can be removed up to one chi, leaving no more than four liang of pure meat. Remove three cun from both head and tail, taking only the middle section. While most snakes close their eyes upon death, this snake's eyes do not sink. Remove three cun from the head and tail, take the middle section, yielding no more than four liang of pure meat. Soak in wine for one to two nights, roast over fire to remove all skin and bones, and store in a clay jar. The bones must be discarded far away; their toxicity causing injury is the same as that of the living snake.

Sweet, neutral, slightly toxic. Its efficacy is similar to that of Baihua She, but its nature is gentle and it does not bite. It is black as lacquer, has three ridges on its back like a sword spine, its eyes are withered and do not sink, and its thin tail is best for medicinal use. This snake is becoming rare; market specimens often use other snakes smoked black to deceive.

Bitter, cold. Collect in the twelfth lunar month, hang on walls, and dry in the shade.

According to the *Tu Jing*: Qing Yu lives in rivers and lakes, resembling a grass carp but with a distinctly green back. People in the south often use it to make... [text missing]. The occipital bone in its head is steamed until vapor penetrates, then sun-dried for use.

This refers to the cuttlebone of the cuttlefish (Hai Piao Xiao). Salty, slightly warm. Roast until yellow, grind finely, and process by levigation (water flying). It is light, crisp, and white. It is incompatible with Baitjie, Bailian, and Fuzi, and can fix/shrink silver.