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AI, Gakuen.
GANKA ZENSHO:TREATISE & MANUAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL DISEASES.
AN EARLY OPHTHALMOLOGCAL & ILLUSTRATED TREATISE
The first edition of this work was published in 1688 in 3
volumes, again in 1791 and greatly enlarged, or doubled in
the current edition of 5 volumes, with additional illustrat-
ions of eyes with disease. An amazing work, contains thera-
peutics, operations, use of Moxa in ocular disorders. The
use of & application of medicine, pharmacopoeia, what plants
to use, how to use them, application of fish oils and other
salves and washes. The profuse illustrations, each show a
different eye disease or problem. Each is identified, named,
discussed, with the remedy & prescription. During this time,
the Majima School of Ophthalmology flourished & was import-
ant to the end of the Edo period [1604-1867], they taught
anatomy and pathology of the eye, & therapy through drugs
& operations. The beginning of this text discusses the anat-
omy and illustrates its parts with proper names cited. This
text was part of that "secret" knowledge supplemented by
word of mouth, or dictated to others, but not allowed to
be seen or copied into books or in their entirety. See
G. Mestler: GALAXY OF OLD JAPANESE MEDICAL BOOKS, p.328
et al for citation of this work and more on the Majima
Opthalmology School. This work was originally taken from a
Chinese manual of diseases of the eye by Ai, thus the text
is still in Chinese, or Kambun in Japanese, with the Furi-
gana grammatical marks for Japanese to read and understand.
Also cited in Yu. Fujikawa; JAPANESE MEDICINE Clio Medica
Series 1934, p.58: "First knowledge of European ophthalmo-
ology came to Japan with the translation of von Plenck's
work by Kinchoo Sugita published 1815 with the title
GANKA SHINSHO A NEW WORK ON OPHTHALMOLOGY." cited in S.Kure:
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL EXHIBITION 1925, p.46. A very bright
copy, with a minor bit of old worming, text barely affected
else clean, solid & complete as originally issued. Books of
this subject interest were highly coveted and protected by
Japanese physicians and practitioners, used widely by physi-
ians and Rangakusha [Dutch learning scholars] & not commonly
available to the general public. Contained in a blue Chitsu
cloth covered folding case, ivory pegs. Scans can be sent by
email.
Click for available editions