Paediatric finger diagnosis chart: Suspended needle pattern

Paediatric finger diagnosis chart, from Youyou xin shu (New Book of Paediatrics) by the Song (960-1279) writer Liu Fang, in an edition dated '14th year of the Wanli reign period of the Ming dynasty, bingxu year' [i.e. 1586]. It illustrates the 'suspended needle' (xuanzhen) vein pattern. This pattern is a sign that malignance (xie) has affected the heart. Diarrhoea or convulsions may be present. If the pattern runs through all three Passes of the finger, it is often considered to be an indication of critical or incurable illness.

PICTURE TITLE: 'Suspended needle' (xuanzhen) pattern