SAI SEI HO.: TREASURY FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT: The Forty-Nine Prohibitions Again

Osaka 1722, Shurin. Brown stiff wrs., 4 of 5 vols., wanting vol. 4, else complete, ca 16 x 22.6 cm., 20+28+41+38 double- folded leaves, woodblock printed on hand-made mulberry paper covers scuffed, minor old worming, contents stable. RARE ! A very early work, with 2 illustrations. . This work warns and guards against improper use of moxabustion [cautery] which is the burning of mugwort, or known as artemisia vulgaris latifolia. This herb is burned directly on top of the skin, but also on top of thin slabs of garlic, which in turn are placed on top of the proper [acupuncture] "points" for maximum therapeutic affect. . This kind of therapy was derived from ancient Chinese medical practice, heating of the acupuncture "points" was supposed to increase blood flow to the affected areas & thus cause a healing affect. . It was also believed that evil spirits imprisoned within the body would be released by the "opening of the channel" allowing its escape. The same logic applied to the insertion of needles in these "points." . This work advised against certain theories of angiology & splanchnology which postulated some "twelve main channels" or "ducts." . Among the 365 "points" there were many to be avoided. Here in this valuable work points out the list to be avoided by the physician or practitioner. It also outlines information on the use and making of prescriptions. * THE AUTHOR: Terashima Ryoan was also the editor of the famous medical treatise: WAKAN SAN SAI ZUE in some 104 volumes. * THE SET: We have volumes 1,2,3,5, of the 5 volume set only, sold "as is" lacking volume 4. *** CONDITON: The set is uniformly bound in gray stiff wrappers, with title slips. The covers are scuffed, on both sides. There is a small piece missing from the front cover of volume 1, near the stitching. . Vol. 1. A very minor touch of old worming at the lower edge a small amount of text affected, else solid. . Vol. 2. Has four small black ink drops, the contents has a small touch of old worming mostly near the edge, and one in the central text near the top, loss minimal, else solid. . Vol. 3. Has a small spot on the cover, a small worm hold in the text, loss minimal, else solid. . Vol. 5. Has two worm holes, one near the lower edge, another later in the text near the center upper edge. Loss is minimal, else solid. *** REFERENCES: W. Whitney: HISTORY OF MEDICAL PROGRESS IN JAPAN: see pp.481, # 853. * Not listed in the 2 Mestler items below: Mestler, Gordon E. A GALAXY OF OLD JAPANESE MEDICAL BOOKS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON EARLY MEDICINE IN JAPAN * MESTLER, Gordon E. INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN INFLUENCES IN PRE-MEIJI JAPANESE MEDICINE. * Not listed in: KERLEN, H. CATALOGUE OF PRE-MEIJI JAPANESE BOOKS & MAPS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS. * Note: Anyone interested in purchasing the above 2 reference books by Mestler, or any others on Japanese or Chinese medicine, please contact us, we may have the above and several others. stock. * .