Juyaku Shinsho 十藥神書 [in Chinese: Shi yao shen shu; Ten Proven Prescriptions for Pulmonary Tuberculosis]

Twelve full-page woodcuts & numerous woodcuts in the text. 36 folding leaves. Two parts in one vol. 8vo, orig. blue wrappers (wrappers rubbed & somewhat wormed), orig. block-printed title label on upper cover no longer present, modern stitching. "Ichijo-dori" [a street in Kyoto]: Tomikura Tahei, 1690.

First edition of this early and rare book providing prescriptions for treatments in the different stages of tuberculosis. The author describes ten drugs made from vegetables that give miraculous results in treating the disease. The second part, entitled "Mujo Gengen santen shinden gyokudo shoshi chiden shirochu soho," describes the parasitic worms said to grow in the stomach and intestinal system of patients suffering from tuberculosis. The text illustrations depict many of these parasites.

The text is Chinese with Japanese reading marks, presumably compiled in the 14th century by Ge (1305-53), a Yuan dynasty physician and writer. He came from a family of hereditary physicians and wrote a number of books. The Japanese reading marks have been provided by Shuhaku Asai (1643-1705), who was a fellow student with Ippo Okamoto of the prominent doctor Sanpaku Ajioka.

There are substantial sections on acupuncture and moxibustion (several of the full-page woodcuts depict pressure points).

Very good copy. Minor marginal worming towards end.