\r桃花石\ph44.bmp\r,《本经》不载所出州土,注云∶出申州钟山县,今信州亦有之,
形块似赤石脂、紫
石英辈。其色似桃花,光润而体重,以舐之不着舌者,为佳。采无时。陶隐居解赤石脂云∶
用
然则功用亦不相远矣。
\r花蕊石\ph45.bmp\r,出陕州阌乡县。体至坚重,色如硫黄,形块有极大者,人用琢
器,古方未有用者。
近世以合硫黄同 ,研末,敷金疮,其效如神。又人仓猝中金刃,不及 合,但刮石上,取
细末敷之,亦效。采无时。
\r珊瑚\ph46.bmp\r,生南海。注云∶又从波斯国及师子国来。今广州亦有,云生海底,
作枝柯状,明润如
红玉,中多有孔,亦有无孔者,枝柯多者更难得。采无时。谨按《海中经》曰∶取珊瑚,先
作铁网沉水底,珊瑚贯中而生,岁高三、二尺,有枝无叶,因绞网出之,皆摧折在网中,故
难得完好者,不知今之取者果尔否?汉积翠池中,有珊瑚高一丈二尺,一本三柯,上有四百
六十三条,云是南越王赵佗所献,夜有光影。晋·石崇家有珊瑚,高六、七尺。今并不闻有
此高硕者。
\r石蟹\ph47.bmp\r,出南海,今岭南近海州郡皆有之。体质石也,而都与蟹相似。或
云是海蟹多年水沫相
着,化而为石,每海潮风飘出,为人所得。又一种入洞穴,年深者亦然。醋磨敷痈肿,亦解
金石毒。采无时。
桃花石,在《神农本草经》中未记载其出产的州县,注释说:产于申州钟山县,如今信州也有出产。形状块状类似赤石脂、紫石英这一类药材。它的颜色像桃花,光泽润泽且质地沉重,用舌头舔它而不粘舌的,是佳品。采集没有固定时间。陶弘景解释赤石脂时说:“(桃花石)既然性质相似,那么功效也不会相差太远。”
花蕊石,产于陕州阌乡县。质地非常坚硬沉重,颜色像硫黄,块状有极大的,人们用来雕琢器物,古代医方中未曾有人使用。近代将其与硫黄一同煅烧,研磨成粉末,外敷于金疮(金属利器造成的创伤),效果神奇。另外,有人仓促间被金刃所伤,来不及配合其他药物,只需刮取石上的细末敷在伤口上,也有效。采集没有固定时间。
珊瑚,生长于南海。注释说:又从波斯国及狮子国输入。如今广州也有,据说生长在海底,呈树枝状,明亮润泽如同红玉,中间多有孔洞,也有无孔的,枝条多的更加难得。采集没有固定时间。谨按《海中经》记载:获取珊瑚,先制作铁网沉入水底,珊瑚生长在网中,每年长高三四尺,有枝无叶,因此绞动网将其取出时,都在网中折断,所以难以得到完好的珊瑚,不知道现在的人获取珊瑚是否真的如此?汉代积翠池中,有一株高一丈二尺的珊瑚,一根主干三个分枝,上面有四百六十三条小枝,说是南越王赵佗进献的,夜晚有光影。晋代石崇家中也有珊瑚,高六七尺。如今已听不到有这么高大的珊瑚了。
石蟹,产于南海,如今岭南沿海各州郡都有。体质如石头,但整体都与螃蟹相似。有人说它是海蟹多年后海水泡沫附着,化而为石,每当海潮风吹出,被人所得。又有一种进入洞穴,年代久了也是如此。用醋磨碎外敷痈肿,也能解除金石毒。采集没有固定时间。
Taohua Shi (Peach Blossom Stone), not recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (*Classic of Materia Medica*) regarding its place of origin, notes state: it is produced in Zhongshan County, Shenzhou; currently, it is also found in Xinzhou. Its shape is block-like, resembling Chishizhi (Red Kaolin) and Zi Shiying (Fluorite). Its color resembles peach blossoms, lustrous and moist, with a heavy texture; those that do not adhere to the tongue when licked are considered superior. It can be harvested at any time. Tao Hongjing explained Chishizhi (Red Kaolin): "Since their properties are similar, their therapeutic effects will not differ significantly."
Huarui Shi (Flower Stamen Stone), produced in Wenxiang County, Shanzhou. Its body is extremely hard and heavy, its color like sulfur. The blocks can be very large; people use them to carve vessels, but ancient prescriptions did not use this herb. In recent times, it has been calcined together with Liuhuang (Sulfur), ground into powder, and applied externally to metal wounds (*Jinchuang*), with miraculous efficacy. Furthermore, if someone is suddenly injured by a blade and cannot prepare other medicines, simply scraping fine powder from the stone and applying it to the wound is also effective. It can be harvested at any time.
Shanhu (Coral), grows in the South Sea. Notes state: it also comes from Persia and Simzi Country (Lion Country/Sri Lanka). Currently, it is also available in Guangzhou, said to grow on the seabed, branching like trees, bright and lustrous like red jade, mostly hollow with many pores, though some are non-porous; those with more branches are even harder to obtain. It can be harvested at any time. According to the *Haizhong Jing* (*Book of the Sea*), to harvest coral, an iron net is first sunk to the bottom of the water. Coral grows through the net, growing three or two chi tall per year, having branches but no leaves. When the net is hauled up, they are all broken within the net, hence complete specimens are rare. It is unknown if current harvesting methods are indeed as described. In the Jicui Pool of the Han Dynasty, there was a coral one zhang two chi high, with one main stem and three branches, bearing 463 smaller twigs, said to have been presented by Zhao Tuo, King of Nanyue, emitting light and shadows at night. In the Jin Dynasty, Shi Chong's home had coral six or seven chi high. Today, such large specimens are no longer heard of.
Shixie (Stone Crab), produced in the South Sea; currently, it is found in coastal prefectures of Lingnan. Its texture is stony, yet it resembles a crab entirely. Some say it is sea crabs whose foam adheres over many years, transforming into stone, often washed out by tides and winds, where it is collected by humans. Another type enters caves, and after many years, transforms similarly. Ground with vinegar and applied externally to carbuncles and swellings, it can also resolve toxicity from metals and stones. It can be harvested at any time.