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After the smallpox scabs fall off, the infant's Qi and Blood must be deficient. From the initial fever damaging Yin, to the eruption, rising, pustule formation, scabbing, and finally scab shedding, every stage relies on the action of Qi and Blood. Moreover, if the constitution is weak and the rash is dense, leaving no space on the body, if one can successfully push out each lesion to maturity, then the Qi and Blood of the entire body are utilized by the smallpox. Since the Qi and Blood of the entire body are consumed by the smallpox, there will inevitably be depletion and injury. Once Qi and Blood are depleted by the smallpox, it is essential to focus on tonification after the scabs fall off. Even if other symptoms appear, they should be treated as secondary matters, ensuring that Qi and Blood become sufficient and recover, preventing future illnesses. It is like a person fighting a tiger; although the tiger dies, the person's strength is injured. Once a person's strength is injured, there is no one who does not need diet, wine, and meat to recuperate. Why do recent customs ignore this principle? Whenever encountering smallpox, people prefer to administer cooling agents. After the scabs fall off, they recklessly use bitter-cold substances such as Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连) and Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi, 栀子), absurdly calling it "resolving toxicity." This severely damages the generating Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, reduces appetite, leads to emaciation and weakness, making recovery difficult, or even causing other symptoms to arise, resulting in premature death. This is truly sigh-worthy. Alas! Smallpox fails to form pus because Qi and Blood cannot transform and transport it. Once the smallpox forms pus, the toxic vapors have already resolved. If the pus is thick and the scabs dense, the toxic vapors are completely resolved. After the scabs fall off, what residual toxicity remains to be cleared? For those with robust constitutions, blood heat, and purple scars, they might tolerate this error. However, for those with pale red or snow-white scars, taking these drugs will certainly lead to death. Women are ignorant, quacks follow erroneous practices, deeply entrenched in delusion, harming the world significantly. I ponder how to rescue them, hence I do not hesitate to repeat these words to awaken the deaf and blind of the world.

Looking back to ancient times, the people were honest and simple, hearts tranquil, and there was no such disease as smallpox. After the Tang Dynasty, customs became frivolous, human nature crafty, indulging in desires, drinking alcohol, and eating rich foods. The Six Evils (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) invaded externally, while the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Pensiveness, Sadness, Fear, Fright) disturbed internally. Organs and bowels steamed and stagnated, essence and Qi became turbid. When the fetus took shape and received its endowment, the mutual feeling of parents merged into one Qi. Mixed evils were transmitted together at the beginning of embryogenesis, and toxins lay dormant within. After birth, one had to wait for the epidemic Qi of the heavens and earth, or pathogens mixed with external contraction and internal injury, to trigger the onset. Thus, it evolved into a contagious disease, affecting every household, unavoidable for infants. This is the harm caused by parental residual toxins. Added to this, recent doctors lack good skills and prescribe medications incorrectly, leading to dangerous complications and half the deaths. This is the harm caused by quacks. Alas! Parents' love for their children knows no bounds. They toil and nurture, worrying only about illness. Once misled by quacks, where can they cry for help? It may concern the continuation of the family line, relying on this single thread; or a widow risking death to guard this orphan. One mistake brings deeper grievance. Truly, it makes one's heart ache to speak of it and tears to hear of it. Fortunately, in the Song Dynasty, a divine person appeared and established the method of inoculation. Inoculating when the child is healthy, the resulting smallpox is few, not more than a few grains, or at most dozens. And no medication is needed. This is indeed a good method to reverse fate, avoid danger, and ensure safety, infallible in ten thousand attempts.

His Majesty Emperor Gaozong of our dynasty, whose benevolence covers all directions and virtue surpasses millennia, pitied that this good method was not recorded in medical books and feared it would be lost over time. He specially edited "Essential Principles of Smallpox Inoculation" in the "Imperial Collection of Medical Formulas," showing his benevolent grace and deep protection of infants. Yet recently, only children from wealthy families can be inoculated, while poor children still naturally contract smallpox. Does this not greatly betray the original intention of the state and the divine founder? The reason lies in financial inability. Now, I am pleased that the gentlemen of Bo'ai Hall have taken the initiative to hire inoculators and provide food and clothing subsidies, widely inoculating children of poor families. This is indeed a grand act of loving children. I am very happy and thus write a few words, hoping to widely advocate so that everyone imitates these gentlemen, thereby accumulating merit and extending imperial benevolence. How boundless is this merit!

Inoculation is designed to remove danger and walk on flat ground, avoiding peril and seeking safety. It is essential to use the scabs fallen from inoculated smallpox as the "seed" (vaccine material). Its Qi is pure, without mixing with epidemic toxins, external contractions, or internal injuries. The resulting inoculation will naturally be sparse and auspicious, succeeding on time, without deviation. Scabs from natural smallpox outbreaks must absolutely not be used. Among inoculation methods, water-seed method is superior.

After inoculation, care and taboos must be strictly observed. From start to finish, no negligence is allowed. Such as avoiding cold and heat, and being cautious with diet. If the weather is extremely cold, coverings should be warm to prevent cold invasion, which might hinder eruption. But do not use overly heavy cotton mats or heat lamps, causing heat stagnation that prevents eruption. If the weather is mild, coverings should be moderate to prevent external heat combining with toxin, increasing irritability. Do not wear thin clothes or expose the body, allowing wind-cold to invade and obstruct generating Qi. Thus, balancing cold and heat is crucial. Sleeping areas should be draft-free, lights kept on at night, and relatives constantly watching. All food and drink should be prepared in advance for emergencies. If sudden storms occur, secure curtains, add coverings, and burn aromatic incense to dispel abnormal Qi. Regarding diet, human Qi and Blood rely on it for generation; the course of smallpox depends entirely on it. If diet is insufficient, where does Qi and Blood come from? But excess is also bad. Overdrinking causes fluid retention failing to transform into Jin-Ye; overeating causes food stagnation blocking Qi mechanism. Infants breastfeeding should not be overfed nor underfed. Children eating solid food should avoid raw, cold, sticky, hard foods, spicy, hot, roasted foods, excessive tea/water, and cool beverages. Eat until full but not stuffed, hungry but not starving. Thus, balancing diet is crucial. Besides cold/heat and diet, behavior should not be spoiled nor overly restricted. Caregivers must patiently manage the child's temperament, diligently protecting them. Caution is needed not only after inoculation but before; not only when seeds appear but after scabs fall. Inoculators should earnestly warn, detailing everything, so patients understand the gravity, remain cautious, and follow regulations for safety. Taboos are also vital. Rooms must be clean, bright, not dark. No scolding, shouting, panic, combing hair nearby, scratching nearby, drinking alcohol, or singing. Avoid foul odors: sexual fluids, menstrual blood, armpit odor, sweat from long walks, burnt hair smell, burnt fish bone smell, extinguished candle smoke, sulfur/mosquito coil/wood smoke, fried/roasted smells, garlic/onion/alcohol breath, ditch sewage smell, moldy dampness smell, toilet bucket smell, sick person's filth smell, fresh funeral corpse smell. Strictly observe all above. Negligence leading to violation brings blame upon oneself. Guard doors, keep strangers, monks, nuns, and mourners out. Print this, give one copy to each person, so everyone remains cautious.