芒硝注中陶云∶取石脾为硝石。以水煮之一斛，得三斗，正白如雪，以石投中则消，
故名硝石。按石脾、芒硝、硝石，并生西戎卤地。咸水结成，所生次类相似。
有毒。生金有大毒。药人至死。生岭南夷獠洞穴山中。如赤黑碎石，金铁屎之类。南
人云∶毒蛇齿脱在石中。又云∶蛇着石上。又鸩屎着石上皆碎，取毒处为生金，以此为雌黄
，有毒；雄黄亦有毒。生金皆同此类。人中金药毒者，用蛇解之。其候法在金蛇条中。《本
经》云∶黄金有毒，误甚也。生金与彼金全别也。
无毒。主食鱼脍腹中胀满成瘕痛闷，饮食不下，日渐瘦，取水中石子数十枚，火
烧赤投五升水中，各七遍，即热饮之。如此三、五度，当利出瘕也。
堪燃烛膏半缸如漆，不可食，此物水石之精，固应有所主疗，检诸方，见有说《博
物志》酒泉南山石出水，其如肥肉汁，取着器中如凝脂，正黑，与膏无异，彼方人为之石
漆
。今
检不见其方，深所恨也。
令赤投水中，纳盐数合。主风瘙瘾疹，及洗之。又取石如鹅卵大，猛火烧令赤，纳醋
中十余度。至石碎尽取屑曝干，和醋涂肿上。出北齐书，医人马嗣明、发背及诸恶肿，皆愈
。此并是寻常石也。
味苦，寒，无毒。主折伤内损，瘀血，止烦闷欲死者，酒消服之，南方俚人，以敷毒
箭镞，及深山大蝮中人，速取病者当顶上十字厘之。令皮断出血，以药末疮上，并敷所伤处
，其毒必攻上，下泄之，当出黄汁数升，则闷解。俚人重之，带于腰，以防毒箭。亦主恶疮
，热毒痈肿，赤白游， 蚀等疮。北人呼肿名之曰游，并水
和敷之。出贺州石上山内，似碎石、 砂之类，土人以竹筒盛之。
陶弘景在注释芒硝时提到：将石脾当作硝石来使用。用水煮一斛（hú，古代容量单位）的石脾，能得到三斗的产物，颜色纯白如雪，投入石头就会溶解，因此得名硝石。据考证，石脾、芒硝、硝石都产于西域的盐碱之地。它们由咸水凝结而成，产地和形态类别相似。
具有毒性。产自金矿的具有大毒，服用者会致死。产自岭南少数民族洞穴山中的，形状像赤黑色的碎石，类似金铁屎之类的物质。南方人说：毒蛇脱落的牙齿在石头中；又说：蛇附着在石头上；还有鸩鸟的粪便落在石头上都会碎裂，取有毒的地方作为“生金”，这被视为雌黄，是有毒的；雄黄也有毒。产自金矿的都属于这一类。人中了金药的毒，用蛇来解毒。其症状判断方法在金蛇条中有记载。《神农本草经》说黄金有毒，这是极大的错误。“生金”与那里的黄金完全不同。
无毒。主治食用生冷鱼脍后腹中胀满形成瘕聚疼痛闷塞，饮食无法下咽，身体日渐消瘦。取水中的石子数十枚，烧红后投入五升水中，反复七次，然后趁热饮用。如此进行三到五次，应当能排出瘕聚。
这种物质可以燃烧，半缸烛膏像漆一样，不可食用。这是水石中的精华，本来应该有所主治功效。查阅各方书，见到有说法称《博物志》中记载酒泉南山出的石脂水，状如肥肉汁液，取出来放在容器中像凝固的油脂，纯正黑色，与膏无异，当地人称它为石漆。如今查检不到相关方剂，深感遗憾。
将其烧红投入水中，加入几合盐。主治风瘙瘾疹，也可用来清洗患处。又取像鹅卵大小的石头，猛火烧至通红，放入醋中十余次。直到石头完全碎裂，取出药屑晒干，调和醋涂抹在肿胀处。出自《北齐书》，医生马嗣明治疗发背及各类恶肿，都能治愈。这些都是寻常的石头。
味苦，性寒，无毒。主治跌打损伤内损，瘀血，以及止住烦闷欲死的情况，用酒化开服用。南方俚人用它敷涂毒箭箭头，以及被深山巨蝮咬伤的人，迅速取患者头顶部的头发划成十字形，使皮肤断裂出血，将药末撒在疮口上，并敷涂受伤处，毒素必然向上攻，向下排泄，应当流出数升黄色汁液，则闷痛解除。俚人重视它，佩戴在腰间，以防毒箭。也主治恶疮，热毒痈肿，赤白游风，蚀疮等。北方人将肿胀称为游风，并用水调匀敷涂。出自贺州石上山内部，形状像碎石、砂之类，当地人用竹筒盛装。
Tao Hongjing, in his annotation on Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), stated: "Use Shipi (Stonespleen) as Xiaoshi (Saltpeter). Boil one hu (a unit of capacity) of Shipi in water to obtain three dou (a unit of capacity) of product, pure white like snow. When a stone is thrown into it, it dissolves; hence the name Xiaoshi." According to research, Shipi, Mangxiao, and Xiaoshi all grow in the saline lands of the Western Regions. They are formed from the crystallization of brine, and their origins and similar categories are alike.
It is toxic. The variety produced in gold mines has severe toxicity; ingestion can lead to death. The variety found in the caves of mountains inhabited by ethnic minorities in Lingnan resembles fragmented red-black stones, similar to "Jintieshi" (Gold-Iron Excrement). People in the south say that shed teeth of venomous snakes are found in stones; also, snakes adhere to stones. Furthermore, feces of Zhen birds (mythical poisonous birds) falling on stones cause them to shatter. The toxic parts are collected as "Shengjin" (Raw Gold), which is considered as Xihuang (Realgar), possessing toxicity; Xionghuang (Orpiment) is also toxic. Those produced in gold mines belong to this same category. For humans poisoned by gold medicine, snake antidotes are used. The method for identifying symptoms is detailed in the section on Jin She (Gold Snake). The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that Huangjin (Gold) is toxic, which is a grave error. "Shengjin" is entirely different from the gold mentioned there.
Non-toxic. It treats abdominal distension forming Jia masses (abdominal lumps), pain, and stifling sensation after consuming raw fish sashimi, where food and drink cannot be swallowed, leading to gradual emaciation. Take dozens of river stones, heat them until red-hot, and immerse them five sheng (a unit of volume) of water seven times. Drink the hot water immediately. Repeat this process three to five times; the Jia mass should be discharged through defecation.
This substance can burn candle grease; half a vat of candle grease becomes lacquer-like. It is inedible. This is the essence of water and stone, and naturally should have specific therapeutic effects. Checking various prescriptions, I found references stating that the *Bowuzhi* (Records of Various Things) mentions stone fat-water from the southern mountains of Jiuquan, resembling juice of fatty meat. When taken into vessels, it congeals like fat, appearing pure black, indistinguishable from ointment. Local people call it Shiqi (Stone Lacquer). However, I cannot find relevant prescriptions now, which deeply regrets me.
Heat it until red-hot and immerse in water, adding several ge (a small unit of volume) of salt. It treats Feng Sao Yin Zhen (wind-induced hives/urticaria) and can also be used for washing. Additionally, take stones the size of goose eggs, heat them fiercely until red-hot, and immerse them in vinegar more than ten times. Until the stones completely fragment, collect the powder, dry it in the sun, mix with vinegar, and apply to swollen areas. This comes from the *Book of Northern Qi*; the physician Ma Siming cured Fa Bei (carbuncles on the back) and various malignant swellings. These are all common stones.
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. It treats traumatic injuries and internal damage, blood stasis, and relieves severe stifling and restlessness bordering on death. Dissolve it in wine and ingest. People in the southern regions use it to apply to poison arrowheads, and for bites from large vipers in deep mountains. Quickly, part the hair on the top of the patient's head in a cross shape to induce bleeding. Apply the powdered medicine to the wound and cover the injured area. The toxin will necessarily attack upwards and drain downwards; several sheng of yellow fluid should be excreted, relieving the stifling sensation. Locals value it highly, wearing it around the waist to prevent poisoning from arrows. It also treats malignant sores, heat-toxin carbuncles and swellings, Chi Bai You Feng (red and white wandering wind/erysipelas), and Shi Chuang (eroding sores). Northerners refer to swelling as You Feng (Wandering Wind) and apply it mixed with water. It originates from inside Shishang Mountain in Hezhou, resembling fragmented stones or sand. Locals store it in bamboo tubes.