[Von Siebold's prescriptions (2)].

Abstract

I have interpreted and explained 20 of von Siebold's prescriptions 4 times. Of the 20 prescriptions, 6 were stored at the Siebold's Memorial Museum (questionable 1 was excluded) and 14 at the Municipal Museum of Ohzu City, Ehime Prefecture. The 20 prescriptions used 39 types of drugs (different forms of the same drug such as crude glycyrrhiza, glycyrrhiza extract, and glycyrrhiza powder were regarded as 3 types). The prescriptions were classified according to the drug form: powders, 6 prescriptions; pills, 3; decoctions 2; confections, 2; eye drops, 2; drugs for internal and external use, 2; applications, 1; solutions (?), 1; and unknown 1. There were 2 prescriptions that use oil-sugars as correctives. The classification of the prescriptions according to drug efficacy and disease was difficult because one drug had various effects, or some diseases could be considered depending on symptoms. However, the following classification was done: digestives, 4 prescriptions; drugs for syphilis-suppuration, 3; drugs for eye diseases, 3; cathartics, 2; alteractives and resolvents, 2; drugs for scrofula, 1; drugs for scabies, 1; antitussives and expectorants, 1; rubefacients, 1; diuretics-antiphlogistic-laxative (niter), 1; and unknown, 1. Siebold's medical activities were performed mainly in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan. Therefore, there may be only a few prescriptions remaining in other countries. Such important cultural heritage should be carefully stored.