ACUPUNCTURATION.
The method of performing the operation of acupuncturation is simple and easy, requiring neither practice to give dexterity, nor adroitness that it may be done with propriety. Anatomical knowledge of the human body is, however, necessary; as an imprudent application of it, by an operator ignorant of the structure of the part into which he introduces his needle, might be productive of bad consequences. To a surgeon, however, properly qualified, (and no other ought to perform this or any operation) no danger can arise; as the cautions are but few, and no risk is incurred, if they are attended to. It is only necessary that the operator, in introducing the needle, should avoid the course of large vessels, of nervous trunks, and of the tendons of muscles. It is not, however, proved, that the latter sustain injury from the puncture of the needle; but it is as well to avoid the possibility of mischief, by such a cautious mode of introducing the instrument, as shall be divested of risk. I cannot better familiarize my subject to the reader, than by a sketch of it in its native state; and as an excellent description of the operation, as performed by the Japonese natives, is given in the ninth volume of the “Modern part of an Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time,” I shall extract it, as containing all that is known of its original practice.
“The place made choice of for the puncture, is commonly at a middle distance between the navel and the pit of the stomach, but often as much nearer to, or farther from either as the operator, after a due scrutiny, thinks most proper; and in this, and the judging rightly how deep the needle must be thrust below the skin, so as to reach the seat of the morbific matter, and giving it a proper vent, consists the main skill of the artist, and the success of the operation is said to depend. Each row hath its particular name, which carries with it a kind of direction, with regard to the depth of each puncture, and the distance of the holes from each other, which last, seldom exceeds half an inch in grown persons, in the perpendicular rows, though something more in those which are made across the body, thus,
. . .
. . .
. . .
The needles which perform the operation are made, as was hinted at first, either of the finest gold, or silver, and without the least dross or alloy. They must be exquisitely slender, finely polished, and carry a curious point, and with some degree of hardness, which is given by the maker by tempering, and not by any mixture, in order to facilitate their entrance, and penetrating the skin. But, though the country abounds with expert artists, able to make them in the highest perfection, yet none are allowed, but such as are licensed by the emperor.
“These needles are of two sorts with respect to their structure, as well as materials; the one, either of gold or silver indifferently, and about four inches long, very slender, and ending in a sharp point, and have at the other end a small twisted handle, which serves to turn them round with the extremity of the middle finger and thumb, in order to sink them into the flesh with greater ease and safety; the other is chiefly of silver, and much like the first in length and shape, but exceedingly small towards the point, with a short thick handle, channelled for the same end of turning them about, and to prevent their going in too deep; and for the same reason, some of them are cased in a kind of copper tube, of the bigness of a goose quill, which serves as a sort of guage, and lets the point in, just so far as the operator hath determined it. The best sort of needles are carefully kept in a case made of bull’s horn, lined with some soft downy stuff. This case is shaped somewhat like a hammer, having on the striking side a piece of lead, to give it a sufficient weight, and on the outside a compressed round piece of leather to prevent a recoil, and with this they strike the needle through the thickness of the skin; after which they keep turning the handle about with the hand, till it is sunk to the depth they design it, that is, till it is thought to have reached the seat of the morbific virus, which in grown persons is seldom less than half, or more than a whole inch: this done, he draws it out, and compresses the part, in order to force the morbific vapour or spirit out.
“The directions and nice rules for the performing of this curious operation are many, and require great skill and attention in the operator; and when duly performed, may be of excellent use, not only against the excruciating distemper, called Senki, but against many other topical ones, which are most commonly cured by the Indian Moxa, and other caustics. On the other hand, these last are often tried against the distemper above mentioned, by applying the caustic to the belly, on each side of the navel, and about two inches from it, but mostly without any success, it being very unlikely that such an application should reach the seat of the distemper; whereas, the benefit which has accrued from the acupuncture, in that one disease, hath encouraged others to apply it indifferently to other parts of the body, where the moxa is used, and by a due care and precaution not to prick any nerves, tendons, or other considerable blood vessels, have cured their patients by it, without putting them to the excruciating torture which attends that of the Moxa, or other caustics.”
From the little we have learned of the practice of this operation amongst the Asiatics, it would seem, that it was chiefly diseases of the abdominal cavity and viscera, which afforded opportunities for its performance, such as Colic, Tympany, &c. It is not in such diseases, however, that I have any experience of its use, but it is questionable, whether it might not be beneficial, particularly in the latter, and I would beg to recommend it as a matter of interesting experiment, to be tried in this malady; such an opportunity, should it fall in my own practice, I shall take advantage of.