天庭穹窿之地,名赤帝门∶气窝天突穴名肃杀门;眉心一带上下寸地名五将门;胸
膛名炎车门;眼下丝竹泪堂名青阳门;两手掌心名正离门;脐封之处,脾经所注名黄帝
门;两耳窍圈,名玄武门。
夫痘有气血之盛衰,有形色之轻重,形属于气而色属于血也。如初出点,若蚊咬滞
而不起,虽起塌沽皮薄而软斜。若无面唇先肿,小者稠密,大者平陷,此皆气虚形重
也。如小而高耸,根敛圆净,先出先长,日见活动,光间不燥,坚实碍指,头面稀疏,
饮食不减,此皆气旺形轻也。如初见顶,若火刺红而干,枯紫而昏暗,夹斑带疹,白而
枯涩,黑若尘铺,此皆毒滞色重也。如初出淡红,渐觉明亮,四五日间,顶若水白,根
窠红润,此皆血活色轻也。亦有痘色红紫而近黑黑如乌羽,而有沙眼摸过转色者,犹有
血活之势。如无杂症,庶或可救,若黑如炭者,此血死不可治也。形乃气之充,色乃血
之华,形贵疮皮浓硬尖圆起发,若皮薄平塌者,为凶。色贵光明润浑,根窠红活,若惨
暗昏黑者,为危。然形起发而有变者,由色不明润根不红活耳。如色光浑红活,虽平塌
亦可治焉,然犹有圈红、哄红、铺红之别圈红者,以线淡红坚附根下而无散走之势,吉
之兆也。哄红者,血虽已附而色隐隐出部,险之兆也。铺红者,痘色与肉不可分,平铺
散漫、凶之兆也。夫根窠者,血之晕,脓者,血之腐,故六日以前专看根窠。若无根
窠,必无实脓。六日以后,专看脓色,若无脓色必难收靥,此必然之势力。
夫天体圆而清浮,地体方而重浊,然痘潜伏乎?肾体干元以化生,是以得天健运之
功,形圆而高耸,日长一日者顺也。如气不足,则不能逐毒出表,治者复味其理,重用
解肌攻托,乃乘腠理之空虚,以致奔溃,一涌而出一粒化为十粒,十疮合为一疮,既失
圆晕,如天之象,遂成歪斜扁润之形,皆正气不足,人力妄攻之所致也。故贵治者,务
审气风表里虚实所因而调之,正气得力,邪无可容之地矣。荣卫合德,形色各得其正
矣。如以力服众,莫若以德服人也。故《玉髓》云∶上等者,有叠珠形焉。阴阳合辟,
而得化机之正,营卫交养,而无拂逆之忧。有盘珠形者,根窠圆而浑而无牵连胶绎之虞
体,色润泽而有震起鼎峻之势。有流珠形者,形虽细小而气血归附,无交并钧连之
患,体固繁密而真元培聚,绝枭紫灰塌之凶,此三形者,痘中之翘楚也。其次有游蚕
形者,天元散溢而位不归于一,枭毒恣横而形自联于象。有 窠形者,气血勿克以充
裕,而淫毒交结于一处,无大无小,合聚以成其群者也。又有瓜子形者,气虽散而勿离
其位,血虽驰而勿匿于邪也。有箭头形者,形状于尖歪而不联不并,体失其和平,而无
均无槐者是也。又有叠钱形者,元气戕贼于内,枭淫妄参于外,遇隙而奔,倚多为邻者
也。下此而有蛇皮断者,六气色而群枭食于中宫,百邪集而一鹄不知所止,痘之最凶,
而死在旦夕者也。有蚕布种者,密比而无间隙,按之莫得其实,连片而无点数,视之而
不见其形,此名为叶痘而十死一生者也。然包血成形者,气也。故形失尖圆饱满者,当
责之气,附气成晕者,血也。故色不名誉润浑者,当责之图。
The high and vaulted area of the forehead (Tian Ting) is named Chidi Gate; the Tian Tu acupoint (Tiantu, CV22) in the depression of the qi pit is named Susha Gate; the area around the eyebrows, extending up and down about one cun, is named Wujing Gate; the chest region is named Yanche Gate; the areas under the eyes at the Sizhukong acupoint (Sizhukong, TE23) and the tear trough are named Qingyang Gate; the centers of both palms are named Zhengli Gate; the area where the navel is sealed, which is where the Spleen Meridian's Qi and Blood pour in, is named Huangdi Gate; the circular openings of both ears are named Xuanwu Gate.
The variola virus (smallpox) lesions have distinctions in the prosperity or decline of Qi and Blood, as well as in the severity of their form and color. Form belongs to Qi, while color belongs to Blood. For instance, when the lesions first appear, if they resemble mosquito bites that remain stagnant and do not rise, even if they do rise, the pustule skin will be thin, soft, and slanted. If there is no initial swelling of the face and lips, with small lesions being dense and large ones flat and depressed, this all indicates Qi deficiency and heavy form. If the lesions are small but high and prominent, with roots that are gathered, round, and clean, appearing first and growing quickly, showing increased activity daily, with a luster that is not dry, firm texture that feels obstructive to the touch, sparse distribution on the head and face, and normal appetite without decrease, this all indicates vigorous Qi and light form. If upon initial appearance of the vertex, the lesions are red and dry like fire thorns, or withered purple and dim, accompanied by macules and papules, white and withered/astringent, or black like spread dust, this all indicates stagnation of toxin and heavy color. If initially pale red, gradually becoming bright, and between the fourth and fifth days, the vertex appears white like water, with red and vibrant roots, this all indicates active Blood and light color. There are also cases where the lesion color is red-purple approaching black, black like crow feathers, but changes color after being touched, indicating still having the momentum of active Blood. If there are no complicating syndromes, rescue might be possible; however, if the color is black like charcoal, this indicates dead Blood and is incurable. Form is the fullness of Qi, and color is the brilliance of Blood. Form is prized for thick, hard, pointed, round, and raised pustule skin; if the skin is thin and flat/depressed, it is an ominous sign. Color is prized for being bright, moist, and harmonious, with red and vibrant roots; if it is dreary, dark, and dim, it is a critical sign. However, although the form rises and develops, variations occur because the color is not bright/moist and the roots are not red/vibrant. If the color is bright, harmonious, red, and vibrant, even if flat/depressed, it can be treated. Nevertheless, there are distinctions among "circular red," "surging red," and "spread red." Circular red refers to a faint red line firmly attached below the root without a tendency to scatter, which is an auspicious omen. Surging red refers to Blood having attached but the color faintly emerging in parts, which is a dangerous omen. Spread red refers to the lesion color being indistinguishable from the flesh, lying flat and spreading loosely, which is an ominous omen. The so-called "root cup" (Gen Ke) is the halo of Blood; pus is the corruption of Blood. Therefore, before the sixth day, one focuses specifically on observing the root cups. Without root cups, there will certainly be no substantial pus. After the sixth day, one focuses specifically on observing the pus color. Without pus color, healing/scabbing (Shou Ye) will certainly be difficult; this is an inevitable trend.
The celestial body is round and clear/light, while the earthly body is square and heavy/turbid. However, the variola virus lies dormant in the Kidney; the Kidney's essence generates transformation, thus possessing the function of Heaven's vigorous movement. The form is round and high, growing larger each day, which is a favorable progression (Shun). If Qi is insufficient, it cannot drive the toxin out to the exterior. If physicians fail to understand this principle and heavily employ methods to resolve the muscle layer and attack/support, taking advantage of the emptiness of the interstices (Cou Li), it leads to collapse. One lesion bursts into ten, and ten lesions merge into one, losing the round halo, resembling the image of Heaven, thereby forming crooked, flat, and smooth shapes. This is caused by insufficient righteous Qi and reckless human intervention. Therefore, skilled physicians must carefully examine the causes related to Wind, Exterior/Interior, and Deficiency/Excess to regulate them. When righteous Qi is effective, there is no place for pathogenic factors to reside. Ying and Wei harmonize, and form and color each attain their proper state. As subduing multitudes by force is inferior to winning them by virtue, the *Yusui* states: The highest grade has the "stacked pearl" form. Yin and Yang open and close, attaining the correctness of transformation mechanisms; Ying and Wei nourish each other, avoiding rebellion. The "plate pearl" form has round and harmonious root cups without worry of entanglement; the body and color are moist with a momentum of rising majestically. The "flowing pearl" form, though small, has Qi and Blood gathering without worry of intertwining; the body is dense yet true Yuan is cultivated, eliminating the ominous signs of dark purple and gray collapse. These three forms are the outstanding examples among variola lesions. Next is the "wandering silkworm" form, where Heavenly Yuan scatters and positions do not unify, and toxic pathogens run rampant, causing forms to naturally link. The "empty nest" form occurs when Qi and Blood cannot be abundant, and excessive toxins knot together in one place, aggregating regardless of size. The "melon seed" form has Qi that scatters but stays in position, and Blood that moves but does not hide in pathogens. The "arrowhead" form is shaped sharply and crookedly, not linking or merging, losing its peaceful balance and uniformity. The "stacked coin" form has internal damage to Yuan Qi and external intrusion of toxic excess, fleeing through gaps and relying on numbers for neighbors. Below these is the "snake skin break" type, where six qi colors allow groups of toxins to eat in the central palace, hundred evils gather, and the target knows no rest; this is the most ominous of variola, with death imminent. The "silkworm cloth sowing" type is densely packed without gaps, feeling insubstantial upon pressure, forming sheets without distinct points, invisible in shape; this is named "Leaf Variola" and has a mortality rate of nine out of ten. However, Blood forming shape is due to Qi. Therefore, if form loses pointedness, roundness, and fullness, blame should be placed on Qi. Attaching to Qi to form halos is due to Blood. Therefore, if color lacks brightness, moisture, and harmony, blame should be placed on Blood. *(Note: Original text says "blame on 'Tu' [chart/diagram]", which is likely a typo for "Blood" given the context "Color belongs to Blood". Translated as Blood for medical accuracy).*