Chen Ziming, born in a family of physicians
for generations, was good at obstetrics and gynecology. He believed that
gynecopathy was the hardest to cure, especially many obstetrical diseases were
very dangerous, and compiled the 24-volume Complete Dictionary of Effective
Prescriptions for Women based on the merits of other schools of medical
theories and the proved recipes in his family.
The book is in 24 volumes,and is divided into 8
categories, containing more than 260 articles. Xue Ji made either augment or
abridgement when he compiled Jiaozhu Furen Liangfang (Notes to Effective
Prescriptions for Women). The book is divided into 10 categories, with a note
under each piece of writing, and there are cured cases and new prescriptions
attached in most parts. The book quotes many kinds of medical books, and
expounds such cases in detail as the development of the fetus, diagnosis of
pregnancy, pregnant hygiene, pregnant women's contraindications, special
diseases during the pregnancy period, all kinds of dystocia, puerperal care and
diseases after delivery. The book is a summing-up of predecessors'
accomplishments and the author's clinical experience. It has rich contents and
forms a complete system both in theory and in practice, having high academic
value and practical value as well. It can be regarded as the first sophisticated
monographic works on obstetrics and gynecology in China. Its popularization has
greatly promoted the development of gynecology of traditional Chinese
medicine.