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Those without whiskers and those that turn white when boiled should not be eaten. According to records: The small ones grow in rice fields and ditches, possessing slight toxicity. For children suffering from red and white wandering swelling (Chi Bai You Zhong), crush it and apply externally. The internal parts are highly toxic. [Newly observed by Meng Shen] Chen Cangqi states: Consumption mainly treats five types of "wild pheasant disease" (Wu Ye Ji Bing). For children with red and white wandering rash (Chi Bai You Zhen), crush and apply externally. When cooked to a true red color, if consumed by children, chickens, or dogs, it causes the legs to bend and become immobile. Those in rivers and lakes are slightly larger and turn white when boiled. Tao Hongjing claimed that white ones kill people, which is incorrect. There are larger ones in the sea. Already listed in the "Shi Yi" (Supplementary Records) section. If placed in a sealed container with hot rice and eaten, it can cause fatal poisoning. *Shi Liao* (Dietary Therapy) states it is neutral. It stirs wind and induces sores and scabies.

Ranshe (Python) Gallbladder
Sweet and bitter in taste, cold in nature, slightly toxic. Mainly treats heart and abdominal pain, lower body ulcers, and swollen and painful eyes.
Paste: Neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Mainly treats skin wind-toxicity and residual postpartum abdominal pain in women.
Tao Yinju stated: This snake originates from Jin'an. Large ones have a girth of three or two chi. Those that do not raise their heads while moving on the ground are genuine; those that raise their heads are not genuine. Their appearances are mostly similar, and locals distinguish them this way. The paste and gallbladder are also easily confused. Genuine paste clusters like pear seeds, whereas paste from other snakes is as large as plums or apricots. The genuine gallbladder is narrow, long, black throughout, with extremely thin membranes; it tastes sweet and bitter when licked, and when water is added, it sinks and does not disperse; fake ones do not behave this way. This substance is difficult to obtain authentically; genuine paste is often used in medicine and is said to treat bovine plague (Boniu Ji). *Tang Ben Cao Zhu* notes: The gallbladder, when extracted to the size of millet grains, floats and swims in circles on clean water if genuine; if too much is added, it sinks and disperses. If it sinks immediately even in small amounts, it is likely blood from other gallbladders. Tao's descriptions of authenticity and falsity are noted. Currently found south of Gui and Guang provinces, especially in Gao and He prefectures. The meat is sliced raw and considered a delicacy. It is hard to kill, resembling a crocodile; eating a cut piece is possible. Its shape resembles an Ophicephalus (snakehead fish), with a head like a crocodile, a round tail without scales, and some say it transforms from a snakehead fish.臣 Yuxi et al. note according to *Shu Ben Tu Jing*: Originates from Jiao and Guang provinces, various states in Lingnan. Large ones are one chi in diameter and up to ten chi long, resembling a snake but thicker and shorter. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Ranshe gallbladder, subjects traveling south of the Five Ranges who consume this raw meat are protected from miasma toxins, as everyone knows. The gallbladder treats lower body parasites and kills five types of childhood malnutrition (Gan Ji). Meng Shen says: Ranshe paste treats toxic gases between skin and flesh. Eating sliced raw meat removes Gan sores, childhood brain heat; soaked in water and dripped into the nose. For exposed tooth roots, mix with musk powder and apply. The gallbladder is hard to identify, often substituted with others. Cut finely in water; if it moves, it is genuine. Also, pig and tiger gallbladders move but slower than this one. Chen Cangqi says: Besides its original functions, the gallbladder breaks blood, stops bloody dysentery, treats gu poison bleeding, childhood heat carbuncles, mouth sores, and gan dysentery. Meat treats flying corpse syndrome and wandering gu. If there is an object in the throat that cannot be swallowed or expelled, eat it as raw slices dipped in vinegar; the slice will curl around chopsticks. If using reed chopsticks, it becomes stuck and very hard to remove. It is extremely hard to kill. Even after opening the rib side to remove the gallbladder and releasing it, it may survive for three to five years. Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu* states: Ranshe snakes are ten zhang long, once swallowed a deer; after the deer was fully digested, bones were excreted wrapped around a tree. When raising them for sores, the fat is delicious; throwing women's clothes into the enclosure makes them coil and remain still. The position of the gallbladder changes: near the head in the first ten days, near the heart in the middle ten days, and near the tail in the last ten days.
*TU Jing* states: *Ben Jing* does not record the origin of Ranshe gallbladder. Tao Yinju said it comes from Jin'an; Su Gong said it comes from south of Gui and Guang, Gao and He prefectures. Now available in all Lingnan prefectures. This snake is very large; locals eat its meat and use its gallbladder and paste for medicine. *Ling Biao Lu Yi* states: In Leizhou, there are snake farmers who carry Ranshe snakes to the government office on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to extract the gallbladder. Each snake is carried by two people in a large basket lined with soft grass. To extract, place on ground, press belly with multiple forks to immobilize, measure carefully, incise abdomen to remove liver and gallbladder. The gallbladder is duck-egg sized. After extraction, put liver back, suture wound, and the snake revives. Released back into rivers. Dried gallbladder is offered as local tribute. Some say if a snake sees the catcher after having its gallbladder removed, it exposes its abdominal wound to show it has no gallbladder, thus escaping capture. Others say it is extremely hard to kill and can live three more years after gallbladder removal, though this is unverified. Counterfeits are common. To test authenticity, extract millet-sized pieces; if they float and swim in circles on clean water, it is genuine. If they sink immediately, it is blood from other gallbladders. Do not test with too much, as it will sink anyway. Genuine paste clusters like pear seeds; other snake pastes are plum-sized. The next entry mentions Viper gallbladder. This snake is yellow-black, with a yellow chin and pointed mouth, and is extremely venomous. Its gallbladder is used for malignant sores. Meat fermented in wine treats leprosy and severe wind-sores, ulcerations, scrofula, and skin numbness. However, this method is rarely used today. These snakes often live in houses, eating mice and chicks. If the belly is distended, open it, dry the mouse, and use it to treat rat fistula. Chen Cangqi says: Among snakes, this one gives birth to live young, has a short body, reversed nostrils, and brocade patterns. Its venom is fierce; contact with hands causes amputation, same for feet, otherwise the whole body rots. Vipers are most venomous in July and August, often biting wood to vent poison, killing the wood. They also spit foam on plants, causing sores on humans called "She Mo," which are hard to treat. The treatment is similar to other snakes. Under the Snake Molt entry: Grows in Jingzhou valleys and fields. Best collected on the 5th and 15th of the 5th lunar month. Now common in southern wooden/stone structures and houses. Used frequently in ancient and modern formulas. Some say molting occurs anytime dirt adheres. Many ancient and modern formulas treat snake venom. Ge Hong and Zhang Wenzhong describe the shape. Wenzhong says: Vipers are not long, with flat heads and pointed mouths, spotted heads, red bodies with patterns, sometimes blue-black. If bitten, the head and feet adhere to the wound. Common in eastern mountains; be careful when walking in grass. Another type is short like a viper but has four legs, jumps to bite, called "Thousand-Year Viper" by easterners; bites are fatal. After biting, it jumps to trees making sounds. If it says "Zhuo Mu" (Chopping Wood), it is incurable. If it says "Bo Shu," urgent treatment is possible. Formula: Equal parts Asari Radix and Realgar, powdered, applied to wound, changed 3-4 times daily. Also treats bites from other snakes and tigers. Another formula: Cinnamon and Trichosanthes fruit powder in a tube, worn tightly; apply urgently if bitten, otherwise rescue is delayed. Ge Shi says: Green snakes, colored like surroundings, climb trees and bamboo, max 4-5 chi long, tail 3-4 cun. Different colors are called "Different-Tail Snakes," most venomous. If bitten, moxibustion 3-5 cones on the wound stops toxin spread. Also use Realgar and dried ginger powder mixed with Hennyroot (She Wang) to apply. Another recipe to repel snakes: Although many herbs repel snakes, Wudu Realgar is best. Wear a piece weighing five liang at the elbow; snakes dare not approach. If others are bitten, grind it for treatment. Also wear "Five Huang Pill" because it contains centipedes. Formula passed down. Can also burn centipede alone, powder, and apply to wounds; effective.
*Hai Yao* states: According to Xu Biao's *Nan Zhou Ji*, grows in Lingnan. *Zheng Jing* states: From Jin'an and Gao/He prefectures, locally bred. Very cold and toxic. Treats eight types of childhood epilepsy and male lower body issues. To distinguish authenticity, cut the gallbladder; if fine millet-like particles float and move in water, it is genuine; sinking and dispersing is fake. *Shi Liao* states: Gallbladder treats sores, eye swelling/pain, and gan. Meat treats epidemic qi. Can be eaten raw. Do not eat if healthy or in the fourth month. Paste treats skin toxic gases. Childhood gan dysentery: drip gallbladder into nose and lower body. *Sheng Hui Fang* treats acute childhood gan sores: Grind Ranshe gallbladder finely, mix with water, apply. Yang Shi's *Chan Ru* treats persistent warm dysentery, emaciation, lethargy, closed eyes when sitting, and dental gan that cannot be cured. A boy gave a cupful to hold in the mouth. Upon opening, it was Ranshe gallbladder. The boy left, transformed into a green bird. The sister-in-law's eyes healed. *Chao Ye Qian Zai*: Lu Yuanqin of Quanzhou suffered from leprosy, only his nose remained intact. On the 5th day of the 5th month, he took Ranshe gallbladder to administer. Some said meat treats wind. He ate a piece of snake meat. Within 3-5 days, he felt gradual improvement, and recovered in 100 days.