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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 |