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To drain pus and remove the knife, a "xiangtong" (resonant copper) blade should be used. During the procedure, use the thumb and index finger of the right hand to pinch the blade edge, piercing upwards obliquely so as not to injure healthy flesh. The incision site should follow the natural downward flow of pus, with depth determined by judgment. If a larger opening is desired, the blade should exit obliquely; if a smaller opening is desired, the blade should exit vertically. Draining deep pus with a shallow incision will fail to expel internal pus and instead cause leakage of healthy blood. Draining shallow pus with a deep incision may expel internal pus but will damage healthy tissue. Light pressure on the affected area causing pain and skin heat indicates shallow, thick pus in severe cases. Pain only upon heavy pressure with slightly warm skin indicates deep, thin pus. Palpating the entire lesion, if there is one soft, depressed spot that does not rise, or if the entire area is hard and painless, the pus is not yet mature, or there is blood stasis. Incising too early will inevitably damage Qi and Blood, making pus formation difficult. If the area is soft and rises immediately upon pressure, or is entirely soft and painless, the pus is mature, or it is fluid accumulation. Failure to incise then will lead to deep rotting and difficulty in wound healing. Swelling that is high and soft originates in the muscle; incision should be shallow. Swelling that is low and hard originates in the sinews and vessels; incision should be deep. Swelling that is flat with unchanged skin color indicates toxin adhering to the bone; fire needle cauterization should be used. For those with weak constitution, tonification should precede incision. Some cases show pus after one or two days despite normal skin color. Others show purple-black skin after ten-plus days without pus. Some cases last months and still require incision. There are also cases where death occurs before incision can be performed. Therefore, the use of knives and needles must be cautious.

The areas above and below both breasts, the center depression at the Danzhong (CV17) acupoint, and above the navel are critical pathways for the ascending and descending of Qi and vessels. External sores here are difficult to heal after ulceration and pus drainage because essence and blood cannot easily stay to promote repair.

In the human neck, there are two tubes. If severed by suicide or knife injury, severing the anterior tube (esophagus) is treatable. First, stop the bleeding, apply flesh-regenerating medicine, cover with a plaster, and bind tightly with cloth strips. Keep the patient lying supine, quiet, with the head elevated, ensuring the wound edges remain approximated. Change dressing every three days. Feed fine rice flour balls orally daily; do not drink liquids or chew solid food. Recovery takes about a month. Severing the posterior tube (trachea) results in immediate death.