典藏书目

Wherever a corpse is found in the mountains, forests, or desolate areas of a neighboring county, decomposed over a long period with no skin or flesh remaining, and the local county has already concluded the inspection as natural death due to illness, but sends an official letter to the neighboring county for re-inspection. This is because the previous inspection was unclear, causing unease, leading to mutual recrimination and demands for re-inspection. In such cases, it is best to directly report: "The corpse currently presents a set of white bones; hands, feet, and head are intact, with no skin, flesh, intestines, or stomach visible. Inspection confirms the body has been deceased for many days; thus, the cause of death cannot be determined." The skeletal remains should not be handed over for burial without authorization; instead, report to the superior authority for further action. Do not allow runners to treat this as an unverified inspection.

When receiving a mandate to conduct a re-inspection in another county, first record the time of receipt and the circumstances of departure, reporting these details to the relevant government office, and arrange for overnight lodging. Upon arrival at the site, sequentially interrogate all involved parties regarding their statements, confirm how many days have passed since death, and then proceed with the inspection. If the body has been lying for a long time and the skin and flesh have indeed rotted to the point of being unfit for examination, produce testimonies from the coroner (Wuzuo), runners, and others stating: "The corpse's head, neck, mouth, eyes, ears, nose, throat, extending down to the chest, heart, navel, lower abdomen, hands, and feet, are all swollen, foul-smelling, and rotting throughout the entire body. Maggots are crawling and feeding on it, making inspection impossible." If there is any possibility of examination, first wash away the surface maggots with water, then carefully inspect according to reason and procedure.

[San Shen Tang (Three Divine Decoction)] Can ward off the aura of death.
Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 2 liang. Soaked in rice washing water for two nights, then dried by baking) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 0.5 liang) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 0.5 liang, honey-fried)
Grind into a fine powder. Take 2 qian per dose, add a little salt, and mix with water for oral administration.

[Bi Hui Dan (Stench-Repelling Pill)] Can ward off foul odors.
Shexiang (Moschus, a small amount) Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 0.5 liang) Gansong (Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang) Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 2 liang)
Grind into a fine powder, form into pills the size of bullet seeds using honey. Aging them for a long time is preferable. Burn one pill each time.

[Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill)] Dissolve one pill in the mouth; it is particularly effective in repelling evil influences.

In cases of hanging (Yisi), if discovered from morning to night, rescue is possible even if the body is cold; if discovered from night to morning, it is more difficult. If the area below the heart remains warm, rescue is still possible after more than one day. Do not cut the rope. Instead, gently embrace and untie the person, laying them flat. Have one person step on their shoulders, pull their hair taut to keep the head extended. Another person should gently massage the throat. Following the method of previously rubbing the chest to loosen tension, have a third person rub and flex the arms and legs. If stiff, gradually force flexion. Press the abdomen. After about the time it takes to eat a meal, breath will exit the mouth, respiration will resume, and eyes will open. Avoid excessive physical exertion. Administer a small amount of Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) and porridge to moisten the throat. Have two people blow air into the ears using a brush tube. If rescued by this method, survival is certain. Another method: tightly cover the mouth with hands to prevent airflow for about two shichen (4 hours); when the person gasps, they will revive.
Alternatively, grind equal parts of Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus) and Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) into powder. Place an amount the size of a soybean into each nostril.

For drowning victims who have been submerged overnight, rescue is still possible. Crush Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus), wrap it in cotton, and insert it into the anus. After a moment, when water is expelled, the victim will revive.
Flex the dead person's legs onto someone's shoulder, place the victim's back against the rescuer's back, and carry them running quickly. When water is vomited out, the victim revives.
First, scrape a patch of mud from a wall and place it on the ground. Lay the victim supine on it, then cover them with earth from the wall, exposing only the mouth and eyes. Naturally, the water vapor will be absorbed into the mud, and the person will revive. When Chancellor Hong was in Poyang, a drowning victim whose body was stiff and breathless was revived using this method.
Alternatively, heat sand and cover the victim's face, burying the body up to the neck, leaving only the anus, ears, and nose exposed. Replace the sand when it becomes cold and wet. After several changes, the victim revives.
Pour half a cup of vinegar into the nostrils. Alternatively, wrap Duanshi (Ferrum Oxidatum) in cotton and insert it into the anus; revival occurs when water is expelled.
Hang the victim upside down, pour good wine into the nostrils and anus. Or, hang upside down, remove clothes, clean the umbilical area, and have two people blow air into the ears using a brush tube. Urgently remove the victim's clothes and moxa-burn the umbilicus for 100 zhuang (units of moxa cones).
If death occurred on a road, immediately dig a hole with a knife or tool, fill it with water, stir, and then administer the muddy liquid to the victim to revive them. For poisoning resulting in unconsciousness, giving cold water causes death. Instead, urgently gather slightly warm ash from the stove and pile it on the body. Then, dip a towel in warm water and apply it as a compress to the abdomen and ribs. After a while, the victim will regain consciousness. Do not give cold substances to eat.

For freezing to death (Dongsǐ), limbs are straight, and teeth are clenched. If there is faint breath, heat soil/ash in a large pot until warm, put it in a bag, and apply to the heart region. Replace when cool. Once eyes open, slowly administer warm wine and clear porridge. If the heart is not warmed first and fire is applied directly, the cold qi will conflict with the heat, leading to death. Wrap the victim in felt or straw mats, tie them, and have two people roll them back and forth by stepping, similar to rolling out a carpet. Revival occurs when limbs become warm. For sleep paralysis death (Yǎnsǐ), do not use lamps or approach closely; call many people urgently. Bite firmly on the heels and sides of the big toes, and spit on the face; revival is certain.

For those unconscious from sleep paralysis, move them slightly and call them slowly to regain consciousness. For nighttime cases, keep existing lights; never introduce new light if none existed. Blow air into both ears using a brush tube. Take 14 strands of the patient's hair, twist into a rope, and insert into the nose. Pour salt water. Grind fresh Jiucai (Allium tuberosum) juice, half a cup, and instill into the nose; roots can be used in winter. Moxa-burn the hairy center of the big toes for 21-30 zhuang. (The hairy center refers to the area where hair grows upward on the toe.) Blow Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus) powder, sized like a soybean, into both nostrils; sneezing indicates airway patency. Cases lasting 3-4 days may still be rescued.

Sudden death due to Evil Qi invasion (Zhòng'è Kěwǔ): Sudden death, whether preceded by illness or occurring suddenly during sleep, is attributed to Evil Qi invasion. Insert the heart of Jiuhuang (Allium tuberosum flower bud) into the left nostril for males or right nostril for females, penetrating 6-7 cun. Revival occurs when blood flows from the eyes. Inspect the inner edge of the upper lip; if a grain-of-millet-sized particle is found, puncture it with a needle. Alternatively, blow Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus) or Sheng Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) powder, sized like a soybean, into both nostrils. Smoke the nostrils with burning sheep dung. Dip cotton in good wine (half a cup), press it to force juice into the nostrils, and lift the arms without startling the patient; revival occurs shortly. Moxa-burn the umbilicus for 100 zhuang. Blow Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus) powder into the nose, or grind Jiucai (Allium tuberosum) juice and instill into the ears. Grind fresh Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), extract one cup of juice, and administer orally.

For traumatic injuries where the membrane is not penetrated: Grind Ruxiang (Boswelliae Resina) and Moyao (Commiphorae Resina), each the size of a Gleditsia seed. Decoct with half a cup of urine and half a cup of good wine. Drink warm. Then apply Huarui Shi San (Flower Mineral Powder), or powder made from Haihegu (Sepiae Endoconcha) or Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi), to the wound to stop bleeding immediately.
Official Song Ding inspected two injury cases where breath had barely ceased. He urgently ordered the Baojia (neighborhood guards) to take scallion whites, stir-fry them in a hot pan, and apply them thoroughly to the wounds. The victims began to groan; upon replacing the scallions, the pain ceased. He shared this with Bao, the magistrate of Leping County. Later, Bao stated: "Scallion whites are excellent. People in Leping often fight and get injured. Whenever injury cases arise, before detailed interrogation, we apply scallion whites to the wounds, saving many lives and reducing capital punishment cases." This comes from Zhang Shengdao's empirical formula.

Threatened miscarriage: For women whose fetus is unsettled due to fighting, experiencing abdominal stabbing pain, distension, and shortness of breath:
Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 1.5 liang) Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 0.5 liang)
Grind into a fine powder. Take 2 qian per dose, decoct in one large cup of wine until reduced to 60%. Add a little fried ginger; this is especially effective.
Alternatively, take a large handful of Zhuma Gen (Boehmeriae Caulis), wash cleanly, add 3-5 slices of ginger, decoct in one large cup of water until reduced to 80%, and mix with porridge/rice for consumption.

Death from fright: Administer one or two cups of warm wine orally; revival occurs immediately.

For the "Five Extremities" (Wujue: childbirth, supernatural attack, hanging, crushing, drowning) and sudden death from falls/beating: Rescue is possible even after a day if the heart region remains warm. First, position the deceased in a fetal-like squat on the ground, like a monk meditating. Have one person hold the hair low. Blow powder of Sheng Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) into the nostrils using a bamboo, paper, or brush tube. If revived, administer fresh Jiangshi (Zingiberis Rhizoma) juice to counteract Banxia toxicity. (Treatment for Wujue: Single herb Banxia alone.)

Sudden death, fall/crush injury, or sleep paralysis death: If the flesh is not yet cold, urgently mix Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill) with wine and force-feed. If swallowed, survival is possible.