痘,豆也,形似也。豆为肾之谷,而痘之根源,亦起于肾,义同也。人之结胎,由父精母血而成,是交感
之淫火,为痘之根源,藏于肾者。人之成形,先有两肾,犹瓜实果种之两叶。痘之出也,有循行之脉道,从脉
道而出为顺,不从脉道而出为逆。脉道者何?心包络是也。心包之络,主血、主脉,遍行周身。其毒从阴出阳,
由下而上,冲击心包,从心包而走经脉,从经脉而出皮肤,夫冲击心包,故必先发惊搐;从经脉而出皮肤,故
续出而不骤;从心包而走经脉,故化血以成浆。如是,痘虽稠密,亦必收功。如不从心包之脉道而出,则随三
焦之气,以走肌腠,从肌腠而出皮肤,为逆而险矣。夫心包主脉,脉者,阴血也;三焦主气,气者,阳气也。
随心包血脉而出,则出之有渐,化血为脓,顺之证也;从三焦气分而出,则出之无渐,不能化血为脓,必至肉
肿而痘不肿,气至而血不随,根窠不敛,界限不分,或扁大空仓,或碎杂紫艳,或阴寒灰白,则为逆矣。盖毒
走经脉,则三焦和,而为胃外之然,自能进食;如毒走三焦,则三焦病,而不能为胃外之然,自不能进食。
故痘出顺逆,有一定循行之道,医者当静以观之,不可妄投以药。若
与药,盒饭泄肾毒而通经脉,毒盛则先泄之,毒不盛则导之引之,使从经脉而出。此为治之之法也,苟不知
此,而处方投剂,落方书之窠白,大攻、大凉,非所以治之,适所以害之也。余为此言,乃一定不易之理,
无甚奇也。医者不知人身经脉气血之道,阴阳交会之理,见惊悸,则曰心经痘;咳嗽,则曰肺经痘;扁大,
则曰脾经痘;红润圆绽,则曰肝经痘;灰紫不起,则曰肾经痘∶于是攻发虚其肌表,寒凉乱其经脉。常见
痘之密而顺者,遇儿医而必重,重则危,危则死矣。未闻痘之逆者,遇儿医而能收功者也。尝观乡村穷谷
之中,医药少有,痘之生者常多;省会城市之内,医药最多,痘之死者大半。岂非治而致死之明验欤!
Dou (Smallpox/Chickenpox), meaning "bean," is named for its shape resembling a bean. Beans are the grain associated with the Kidney, and the root cause of Dou also originates from the Kidney; the principle is the same. The formation of a fetus in humans results from the union of the father's essence and the mother's blood. This "Yin Fire" (referring to the physiological fire or pathological deficiency fire involved in conception) serves as the root cause of Dou and resides within the Kidney. When the human form takes shape, the two Kidneys appear first, analogous to the two cotyledons of a melon or fruit seed. When Dou erupts, it follows specific meridians (Meridians). Eruption via these meridians constitutes a favorable condition (Shun), while eruption outside them constitutes an unfavorable condition (Ni). What are these meridians? They refer to the Pericardium Luo (Collaterals of the Pericardium). The collaterals of the Pericardium govern blood and vessels, circulating throughout the body. The pathogenic toxin moves from the Yin aspect to the Yang aspect, ascending from below, impacting the Pericardium, entering the meridians from the Pericardium, and finally emerging onto the skin from the meridians. Because it impacts the Pericardium, convulsions and fright (Jing Chu) must occur first; because it emerges from the meridants onto the skin, the eruptions appear gradually rather than suddenly; because it travels from the Pericardium into the meridians, it transforms blood into pus (Jiang). In such cases, even if the eruptions are dense, recovery will be achieved. If it does not emerge via the Pericardium's meridians but instead follows the Qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) to travel through the muscle-couli (Muscle Intercellular Spaces), emerging from the couli onto the skin, this is an unfavorable and dangerous condition. The Pericardium governs the vessels, and vessels constitute Yin Blood; the Sanjiao governs Qi, and Qi constitutes Yang Qi. Emerging via the Pericardium's blood vessels allows for a gradual emergence, transforming blood into pus, which characterizes a favorable syndrome. Emerging via the Qi aspect of the Sanjiao results in no gradual process, inability to transform blood into pus, leading inevitably to swollen flesh but non-swollen eruptions, where Qi arrives but Blood does not follow, the roots do not contract, and boundaries are indistinct. The eruptions may become flat and wide like an empty granary, fragmented and mixed with purple brilliance, or grayish-white due to Yin Cold; these are all unfavorable conditions. Generally, when the toxin travels through the meridians, the Sanjiao harmonizes, enabling the stomach's external digestive function (Ran Gu), allowing natural appetite; if the toxin travels through the Sanjiao, the Sanjiao becomes diseased, failing to support the stomach's digestive function, resulting in loss of appetite. Therefore, the favorable or unfavorable nature of Dou eruption follows a fixed pathway. Physicians should observe calmly and must not administer medication recklessly. If medication is used, it should drain Kidney toxins and unblock the meridians. If the toxin is abundant, it should be purged first; if not abundant, it should be guided and directed to emerge via the meridians. This is the method of treatment. Ignoring this and prescribing blindly, falling into the clichés of medical texts by using heavy purgatives or heavy cooling agents, is not treatment but harm. These words I speak represent immutable truths, nothing extraordinary. Physicians who do not understand the pathways of meridians, Qi, and Blood, nor the principles of Yin-Yang intersection, will diagnose: if there is fright and palpitations, it is Heart Meridian Dou; if coughing, Lung Meridian Dou; if flat and wide, Spleen Meridian Dou; if red, round, and blooming, Liver Meridian Dou; if gray-purple and depressed, Kidney Meridian Dou. Consequently, they use attacking and releasing methods that weaken the muscular exterior and use cold-cooling methods that disrupt the meridians. It is common to see that children with dense yet favorable Dou, when treated by pediatric specialists, suffer worsening conditions; worsening leads to danger, and danger leads to death. It has never been heard that children with unfavorable Dou can recover when treated by pediatric specialists. Observing rural valleys where medicine is scarce, many with Dou survive; whereas in provincial capitals where medicine is most abundant, the majority of those with Dou die. Is this not clear evidence that treatment leads to death!