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The signs of rash eruption are as follows: After the initial fever lasts for one day until the time of the rooster's crowing (Ji Ming) on the next day, the fever subsides, leaving only slight heat in the five centers (palms, soles, and chest). Coughing gradually appears, accompanied by a runny nose with clear mucus, or abdominal pain, and a gradual decrease in appetite. Between Shen and You hours (3 PM to 7 PM), the fever returns. This pattern persists for four days. Touching the hairline reveals intense heat, while the heat on the face decreases slightly by two or three parts. There is continuous coughing, dry skin with red cheeks, excessive tearing in the eyes, frequent sneezing, or sudden epistaxis (nosebleed). By the fifth day, the fever continues without distinction between day and night. On the morning of the sixth day, fine red spots appear on the lower parts of both cheeks. By noon, dense red spots cover the backs of both hands, the area below the waist, and the entire body. On the seventh day, the rash erupts universally. The clear nasal discharge ceases, and sneezing stops. By the evening of the seventh day, the color of the cheeks gradually fades. This is the key method for verifying the process of rash eruption.

Generally, if the fever lasts for six days before the rash appears, this is a fixed rule. If a physician lacks insight and uses medication too early, depleting the Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi), when the rash finally emerges, numerous complications and harms may arise. These include cough transforming into wheezing, the rash disappearing after one or two days, severe diarrhea, or panting with closed eyes. These are all harms caused by inappropriate medication by the physician. Our family's treatment method stipulates that no medication is used within the first five days; we wait until the rash spots are visible before using mild agents to raise and release the exterior. However, there is an order to medication administration. Each decoction must be administered in more than ten small doses. Since the rash is located in the skin and interstices, taking it all at once would cause the medicinal properties to act too urgently, often leading to delirium and restlessness. Therefore, caution is required.

Zhang Jingyue stated: According to Wan Quan's method, physicians fear that using medication too early may deplete the Yuan Qi, hence treatment is delayed until the spots appear. They also fear that single-dose administration might accelerate the process too rapidly, causing harm rather than benefit. This is undoubtedly his empirical wisdom. However, from my humble opinion, physicians vary in skill, and medications vary in suitability. As long as the diagnosis is accurate and the eruption is handled appropriately, pre-eruption treatment—whether via releasing the exterior or tonification—can provide preventive power to secretly dissipate the pathogenic toxins. Post-eruption, there must be appropriate methods for regulation to avoid overly aggressive acceleration. This depends on the physician's competence, not merely on whether the timing is considered too early or not. I have observed that misdiagnoses by mediocre practitioners often result from patients' refusal to take medicine, which ironically aligns with the principle of "Zhong Yi" (moderate/central medicine). Thus, Wan Quan's theory should not be disregarded.

Rashes typically emerge after five to six days of fever. Physicians may find their medications ineffective in dispersing the pathogen; parents may see no improvement; physicians may fail to resolve the fever and cough; or they may treat it according to other disease patterns. Meanwhile, families may change doctors repeatedly. These factors contribute to the high frequency of medical errors in the world.