Paediatric finger diagnosis chart: 'Curled Worm' vein 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 'Curled Worm' (quchong) vein pattern. This pattern often indicates the presence of malnutrition with accumulation (ganji), caused either by lungs disease, or by kidney water affecting the heart. Although it is considered to respond well to treatment, care is required to effect a complete cure.

PICTURE TITLE: Curled Worm (quchong) pattern