Early C20 Chinese Lithograph: 'Fan' diseases

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 Mental Confusion (hunnao) fan, Tormenting Itch (naoyang) fan, Monkey's Waist (houyao) fan. According to the captions, the signs of these conditions are as follows: Mental Confusion fan is characterised by head pain. It is treated by dipping a shoe sole in a decoction of black soybeans, and striking the top of the head (dingmen, Crown Portal) with this. In Tormenting Itch fan, the entire body feels itchy, and boils develop underneath the tongue. It can be treated by lancing the boils with a needle so as to draw blood. In Monkey's Waist fan, the patient staggers about clutching at his or her heart. There is fever and vomiting, and purple blisters develop on the inner aspect of the hands and arms. It is treated by lancing the blisters with a needle.

TITLE: Mental Confusion (hunnao) fan; Tormenting Itch (naoyang) fan; Monkey's Waist (houyao) fan. CAPTIONS: See 'Description of Image Content'