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:
Zuo da shou ('left hand touching' [abscess]) and chuan ju (chain abscesses) belong, in Chinese medicine, to the category of ulcer and abscess diseases (yongju bing). The illustration shows the disease location for both these conditions. Da shou is a type of abscess with a head, or carbuncle, found on the back or in the small of the back, which the patient can reach with a hand. Zuo da shou refers to those occurring on the left-hand side of the body. Chuan ju refers to a series of abscesses which arise in succession, forming a chain.
Left-hand illustration:
Yudu ju (fish belly abscess), xiong ju (chest abscess) and hegu ding (Joining Valley boil) also belong to the category of abscess and ulcer dieases. The illustration shows the disease location for each of these conditions. Xiong ju are abscesses occurring in the thoracic area. Yudu ju are red, painful swellings shaped like the belly of a fish, found on the palms and fingers. Hegu ding are boils occurring at the hegu (Joining Valley) point on the back of the hand, i.e. between the first and second metacarpal bones.