Huitu zhenjiu yixue (Illustrated Acupuncture Made Easy), by Li Shouxian, was composed in 1798 (3rd year of the Jiaqing reign period of the Qing dynasty). It comprises two volumes (juan), plus a supplementary volume containing illustrations of the 'Seventy-two fan'.
The 'Seventy-two fan' are not mentioned in any other early Chinese medical sources. Judging from the accounts given in this text, fan must be a generic term for a category of acute illness of unexplained origin. The word fan is qualified by names of animals and insects to characterise the external manifestations of these illnesses.
This illustration shows the manifestations of Phoenix Spreads its Wings fan, Black Gauze(?) (wusha) fan and Puffing (tuqi) fan.
According to the captions, the signs of these conditions are as follows:
In Phoenix Spreads its Wings fan, the limbs wave and flail about. This is treated by striking the soles of the feet and the small of the back with a shoe sole, and then administering a draught of realgar (xionghuang).
In Black Gauze fan, the patient feels nauseous and vomits froth, and suffers from aches and pains in the whole body. This can be treated by needling the quchi (Pool at the Crook) point on both sides of the body, and then administering a draught of realgar (xionghuang).
In Puffing fan, the patient puffs and pants constantly, and is distressed and agitated. It can be treated by needling tianmen (the Celestial Portal) once. If there is no improvement, both shoulders and the front and back heart area should be needled once each.
