Woodblock illustration of surgical instruments/instruments of external medicine from Waike tushuo (Pictorial Manual of External Medicine), published in 1856 (6th year of the Xianfeng reign period of the Qing dynasty). It shows the jiajian (tongs, tweezers), tuo dao (dragging knife), zhua jian (claw scissors), chang zhen (long needle) and sanfeng zhen (three-edged needle). The long needle and three-edged needle were primarily acupuncture instruments, though they could also be used in external medicine, to lance and drain ulcers and abscesses, etc. The remaining three are specialised implements, shaped for ease of use.
