Chinese woodcut: Prognosis by finger inspection

Woodcut illustrating the 17th century Chinese medical text Yangyi daquan (Great Compendium of The Medicine of Sores) Gu Shicheng, from an edition published in 1901 (27th year of the Guangxu reign period of the Qing dynasty). It is a chart for interpreting or predicting the outcome of conditions involving sores and ulcers by observing changes in the fingers. If the thumb faces outwards, this is a favourable sign for male patients, but unfavourable for female patients. If it is contracted inwards, it is favourable for females but unfavourable for males. If it is curved inwards, any disease will prove serious.

PICTURE TITLE: Chart for diagnosing favourable and unfavourable outcomes by inspection of the fingers. OTHER LETTERING: If the thumb faces outwards, this is favourable for men but adverse for women. If the thumb is contracted inwards, it is favourable for women but adverse for men. If the thumb curves inwards, any disease will prove serious.