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The manifestation of smallpox (or variola) involves the shaking of the five zang organs and all bones and muscles, with no part not affected, and qi and blood becoming universally deficient. Therefore, miscellaneous diseases often follow sequentially, making it most advisable to avoid harsh treatments.

Miscellaneous diseases have no fixed duration for recovery, whereas the days for smallpox pustules to crust and fall off are predetermined. If one spends time treating the miscellaneous disease, the recovery of smallpox will be delayed significantly; if the miscellaneous disease is not cured, the patient may die from smallpox first. Thus, regarding smallpox treatment, one can allow for a longer timeframe but must urgently address the branch symptoms (complications) while slowly treating the root cause (smallpox toxin). If the smallpox toxin is not resolved, one illness remains; once the smallpox toxin is resolved, hundred illnesses naturally heal. The effort must lie in addressing the root, so why focus on a single branch symptom? However, if there are critical miscellaneous diseases, they will also harm the smallpox condition. The physician must understand the primary and secondary aspects and their severity to determine the urgency of treatment, which is the correct approach. If the smallpox condition is severe and the miscellaneous disease is mild, the medicine for the miscellaneous disease should be added to the smallpox medicine; this is "treating the root when the condition is slow." If the miscellaneous disease is severe, one should first eliminate the miscellaneous disease and then regulate the smallpox condition; this is "treating the branch when the condition is urgent."

Nevertheless, medication must be appropriate, and nursing care is especially important. If cooling measures are not applied during intense summer heat, or warming measures are not used in severe winter cold, those with ulceration will ulcerate further, and those with ice-like stagnation (cold pathogen condensation) will remain stagnant. Therefore, all prescriptions and nursing adjustments should conform to the four seasons, harmonizing with nature's timing to create a spring-like warmth, allowing qi and blood to flow smoothly so that toxins are naturally released. Regarding prolonged rainy seasons causing dampness, where heavenly qi is blocked and human qi is also blocked; prolonged sunny droughts where heavenly qi dissipates and human qi also dissipates; excessive yang after long rains, or excessive yin after long droughts, leading to qi and blood pathology—all these require adaptation to the specific time and climate.

When qi and blood are weak, they cannot carry the toxin, making it difficult for smallpox lesions to form; this is the fault of the deficiency in the root of qi and blood. Why fail to comprehend this principle and forcibly administer toxic substances such as fishy meats, insect-derived products, or even toxic animal parts like cow horns or human teeth to stimulate the middle jiao qi? Alas! The principle of "using toxicity to combat toxicity" rarely achieves mutual victory. Furthermore, since smallpox is triggered by seasonal pathogens, these substances merely facilitate its eruption. It is unknown that toxic medicines damage the body's primordial qi (Yuan Qi). Once primordial qi is depleted, the toxin becomes more fierce. Qi loses the ability to expel the toxin, and blood loses the power to transport it. Left to attack freely, the toxin is forced out into the interstices (cou li), multiplying its effects: one lesion becomes ten, failing to form proper vesicles, resembling scabies or rashes. When the middle qi recovers slightly and the external surge of qi and blood subsides, and the medicinal force rests, the fierce toxin turns violent again, attacking inwardly. Moreover, at the initial stage when eruption is desired, chicken comb blood, chicken head, chicken brain, sheep head, and sheep brain may be used. During the suppuration stage when tonification and support are needed, tender lamb meat and rooster fried in lamb fat may be eaten. Among common foods, there are naturally the most suitable flavors. Even if something benefits the condition and nourishes qi and blood, why rely on such abominable substances?