Acute pathologies, intestinal prolapse, Chinese lithograph

Lithograph from Huitu shajing hebi (Illustrated Compendium of Acute Pathologies), published in 1911 (3rd year of the Xuantong reign period of the Qing dynasty). This is a specialised text dealing with shabing - a category of sudden, acute diseases. It contains descriptions of 44 conditions, each accompanied by an illustration. The condition depicted here is zhuichang sha (acute illness involving intestinal prolapse) is among these. Signs of this are cyanosis, grimacing, painful and pendulous lower abdomen, etc. According to the text, it is treated by acupuncture at locations such as lixia ('below li'), the tip of the lips (chunjian), danzhong (Chest Centre) and zhongwan (Middle Cavity). The illustration shows a man clutching his belly, contorted in agony.

Picture title: Zhuichang sha (acute illness with intestinal prolapse). Other lettering: Needle once 3 fen (1 fen = c. 1/3 cm) below li. Needle the tip of the midpoint of the lips (chun zhongjian). Needle the danzhong (Chest Centre) point below the Heart Envelope, needle zhongwan (Middle Cavity) once.