Chinese woodcut: Various abscesses

Woodcut illustrating the 17th century text Xu Ping waike zhengzong (Orthodox Manual of External Medicine with Commentary by Xu Dachun), from an edition published in 1860 (10th year of the Xianfeng reign period of the Qing dynasty).

Right-hand illustration:

Chun ju (abscess on the lips), bin ju (abscess at the temples) and liu zhu (drifting [abscess], deep multiple abscesses) belong, in Chinese medicine, to the category of abscess and ulcer dieases (yongju zheng). The illustration shows the disease location for each of these conditions. Chun ju and bin ju are named according to their location. Liu zhu refers to a deep-seated, systemic suppurative condition, which may manifest itself in various places. As the illustration shows, it can extend from the top of the thorax down to the navel.

Left-hand illustration:

You da shou ('right hand touching' [abscess]) and chuan ju (chain abscess) also belong to the category of abscess and ulcer dieases. The illustration shows the disease location for each of these conditions. Da shou refers to abscesses with a head, or carbuncles, found on the back or in the small of the back which the patient can reach with his or her hand. If they occur on the right side of the body, they are known as you da shou. Chuan ju refers to a series of abscesses which arise in succession, forming a chain.

RIGHT-HAND ILLUSTRATION: Chun ju (abscess on the lips); bin ju (abscess at the temples). Chun ju arise on the lips, they have a head. They occur in conjunction with alternating fever and chills. They are caused by an accumulation of toxins in the stomach channel. Liu zhu arise when alternating fever and chills go untreated, when Qi and blood coagulate. LEFT-HAND ILLUSTRATION: You da shou ('right hand touching' [abscess]); chuan (chain [abscess]). Xu states: The chun type is that which arises in one place and then another.