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A person developed sores on the head, which healed but recurred, known as "Thousand-Layer Sores" (Qiān Céng Chuāng), unable to be cured completely. Later, fresh olive pits were burnt to ash and mixed with chicken egg oil (see methods for preparing chicken egg oil in sections on carbuncles and toxins) and applied to the affected area, preventing recurrence forever. Various types of sores and toxins that heal and recur intermittently may also be treatable this way.

Additionally, a person developed sores on both feet, healing in winter and recurring in summer, with foul decay, pain, and inability to cure permanently. A Daoist priest stated it was snake toxin, and used live toads mashed into a paste applied to the site, changed three times daily. Later, a small snake was seen emerging from the sore, removed, and the patient recovered.

Furthermore, sores exuding fluid, healing but recurring, failing to close, might be ant toxin; treat according to the Ant Toxin formula in the section on Carbuncles and Toxins.

Also, sores shaped like honeycombs, which also heal and recur intermittently, should be treated according to the Honeycomb Sore protocol in the section on Carbuncles and Toxins.

This condition is named "Sore Drum" (Chuāng Gǔ), caused by toxic accumulation in the abdomen following fumigation and covering during treatment for sores and scabies. Bathing should be prohibited. Use *Bombyx Batryticatus* (White Stiff Silkworm) and red dates, each 4-5 qian. First, boil the dates in water once or twice, take the date decoction to wash the silkworms clean. Remove skin and pits from the dates, mash the flesh to obtain 2 liang of pure pulp. Dry the silkworms and grind them into powder (2 liang). Pound together to form pills, taken with the date decoction. Complete recovery occurs after finishing the course. If abdominal distension becomes critical and waiting for medication is not feasible, use 4-5 large live crabs (weighing over 1 jin), steam and eat them while drinking wine, then sleep under warm covers. After half a day, sores will erupt more severely on the body, but the abdominal drum-like swelling will completely subside. Subsequently, cure the body sores. "Sore Drum" is a fatal condition, whereas sores are easily curable.

Another prescription: If abdominal distension cannot be cured, refer to the Toad and Croton Seed formula or the Post-Illness Edema Toad formula in Volume 5 under Abdominal Distension, which will surely be effective.

First, apply dried tofu dregs squeezed dry to the affected area to draw out pus and fluid completely. Then, apply this medicine. *Calamina* (Gan Shi) 6 liang, *Lithostrotum Rubrum* (Chi Shi Zhi) 3 liang, white beeswax 2 liang, yellow beeswax 2 liang, *Minium* (Huang Dan) 2 liang 5 fen, *Saopeng* 2 fen 5, alum (Ku Fan) 1 fen 5, *Borneolum Syntheticum* (Shang Si Bing Pian) 5 fen. Grind all into fine powder, store in a porcelain jar sealed with yellow beeswax. For any ulcerated sores and toxins that fail to close after a long time, or constantly discharge pus and fluid, use a small amount of raw lard from a male pig to pound the medicine according to the size of the sore. Spread on oiled paper and apply to the lesion. Decoct equal parts of aged tea, *Flos Lonicerae Japonicae* (Yin Hua), *Mentha Haplocalyx* (Bo He), *Artemisia argyi* (Ai Ye), and *Radix Glycyrrhizae* (Gan Cao) in water. Wash the sore clean with this solution before applying. Check once morning and evening, washing the sore with the medicinal water upon uncovering. If pus is found under the dressing, gently scrape it off, reshape the original medicine to fit the sore size, and reapply. Change the dressing every 1-2 days initially, then every 3-4 days later. If the sore fails to close after 15-20 days of application, add 5 fen pearl boiled for a long time in tofu, and 3 qian crab roe, mix thoroughly, pound with raw male pig lard, and apply as before; recovery will follow. Pre-decoct equal parts of peach kernel, *Flos Carthami Tinctorii* (Hong Hua), *Radix Angelicae Sinensis Cauda* (Gui Wei), *Mentha Haplocalyx*, *Schizonepeta* (Jing Jie), *Saposhnikovia Root* (Fang Feng), cicada slough, *Flos Lonicerae Japonicae*, *Rheum Palmatum* (Da Huang), *Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis* (Huang Bai), *Cortex Scutellariae* (Huang Qin), *Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis* (Huang Zhi Zi), *Forsythia Fruit* (Lian Qiao), *Radix Paeoniae Rubra* (Chi Shao), and *Radix Glycyrrhizae*. Quench the calcined *Calamina*, *Draco Ossis Craniale* (Long Gu), and *Lithostrotum Rubrum* seven times in this decoction.