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Pediatrics is the medical specialty dedicated to treating diseases in children. Newborns are called "infants" (ying'er), three-year-olds are called "children" (xiao'er), and ten-year-olds are called "young boys/girls" (tongzi). Children vary in age, and illnesses differ in depth and severity, as well as in physical appearance, complexion, voice, and pulse. If one can thoroughly investigate these aspects through the four diagnostic methods of Inspection (Wang), Auscultation and Olfaction (Wen), Inquiry (Wen), and Palpation (Qie), one may be considered a master physician possessing divine skill and dexterity.

Inspection involves observing facial features to discern complexion. For instance, the left cheek corresponds to the Liver, the right cheek to the Lungs, the forehead to the Heart, the nose to the Spleen, and the chin to the Kidneys. Liver disease manifests with a bluish complexion; Lung disease with a white complexion; Heart disease with a red complexion; Spleen disease with a yellow complexion; and Kidney disease with a black complexion. This is how illness is known through inspection.

Auscultation and Olfaction involve listening to sounds to identify symptoms. For example, Liver disease presents with a mournful voice; Lung disease with rapid breathing/shortness of breath; Heart disease with a loud and vigorous voice; Spleen disease with a slow voice; and Kidney disease with a deep voice. These correspond to the Zang organs. Furthermore, Large Intestine disease presents with a long voice; Small Intestine disease with a short voice; Stomach disease with a fast speech rate; Gallbladder disease with a clear voice; and Bladder disease with a faint voice. These correspond to the Fu organs. This is how illness is known through auscultation.

Inquiry involves asking about the illness to investigate its origin. For example, a craving for sour foods indicates Liver disease; a craving for pungent/spicy foods indicates Lung disease; a craving for bitter foods indicates Heart disease; a craving for sweet foods indicates Spleen disease; and a craving for salty foods indicates Kidney disease. A preference for hot foods suggests internal Cold; a preference for cold foods suggests internal Heat. This is how illness is known through inquiry.

Palpation involves feeling the pulse to examine the disease. For children under three years old, one must inspect the "Three Passages" (San Guan) on the Tiger's Mouth area of the hand, specifically looking from the side of the second finger. The first segment is named the Wind Passage (Feng Guan), the second the Qi Passage (Qi Guan), and the third the Life Passage (Ming Guan). One must distinguish the color of the vein: purple indicates Heat; red indicates Cold Damage (Shang Han); green/blue indicates Convulsion due to Fright (Jing Feng); white indicates Malnutrition disease (Gan Bing); black indicates Evil Strike (Zhong E); and yellow indicates Spleen deficiency or stagnation. If the vein appears only at the Wind Passage, the condition is mild; at the Qi Passage, it is severe; if it extends beyond the Life Passage, it is difficult to treat. For children over three years old, palpate the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions on the radial artery with one finger. The normal rate is typically six to seven beats per cycle (or breath). An increased rate indicates Heat; a decreased rate indicates Cold. A floating and surging pulse indicates excess Wind; a rapid pulse indicates frequent fright; a deep and slow pulse indicates Deficiency; a deep and forceful pulse indicates Accumulation. This is how illness is known through pulse diagnosis.

Generally, most pediatric diseases stem from fetal toxins (Tai Du), while fewer result from dietary injuries. External contraction of Wind-Cold accounts for only about one-tenth. While in the womb, if the mother is hungry, the fetus is hungry; if the mother is full, the fetus is full. If the mother consumes spicy and palatable foods, the fetal Qi follows the heat. If the mother experiences emotional arousal or desire, the fetal respiration becomes restless. If the mother eats excessive fried or roasted foods, indulges in pungent and sour flavors, lacks restraint in desires, or suffers from irregular emotions, all these can harm the fetus. If mothers fail to exercise caution during pregnancy and proper care after birth, seeking only comfort and failing to prevent problems early, issues arise. Giving salty or sour foods before 100 days, or rich and sweet foods before one year of age, generates various diseases.

The Spleen and Stomach of children are naturally delicate and prone to injury from food stagnation. For instance, if milk and food injure the Stomach, vomiting occurs; if they injure the Spleen, diarrhea ensues. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea lead to Slow Convulsion (Man Jing) or develop into Malnutrition disease (Gan Bing). Food stagnation produces Damp-Phlegm; Phlegm transforms into Fire. When Phlegm and Fire interact, Acute Convulsion (Ji Jing) or Throat Bi (Hou Bi) may occur. Phlegm-Fire obstruction leads to Epileptic convulsions (Xian Diao) or wheezing and coughing.

Fetal Heat and Cold are conditions inherited from the mother. Umbilical wind and mouth closure (Qi Feng Cuo Kou) result from toxic fetal origins. Goose-mouth sores (E Kou Chuang) indicate Damp-Heat in the Stomach. Double tongue or wooden tongue indicate Excess Fire in the Spleen channel. Running horse gum rot (Zou Ma Ya Gan) indicates Qi deficiency with Damp-Heat. Craving dirt indicates Spleen malnutrition. Fetal fright and night crying indicate pathogenic Heat affecting the Heart. Transformation fever (Bian Fa Re) indicates the dispersal of fetal toxin. Erysipelas (Dan Du) indicates Fire circulating externally. Accumulated Heat indicates Fire accumulating internally. Evil strike indicates external pathogens invading. Sleep fright indicates internal Fire stirring. Throat Bi indicates Heat toxicity. Eye pain indicates Excess Fire. Suppurative otitis (Nong Er) indicates Kidney Qi rushing upward. Nasal congestion results from Wind pathogen invasion. Head sores indicate Heat toxicity attacking. Umbilical sores indicate Wind-Damp invasion. Coccyx pain indicates Yin deficiency with Phlegm. Worm-related pain indicates Stomach Qi injury. Scrotal swelling and hernia indicate Cold stagnation. Intestinal colic pain indicates Cold contraction. Rectal prolapse indicates Large Intestine deficiency and slipping. Enuresis indicates Cold weakness of the Bladder. Turid urine indicates Damp stagnation in the Spleen and Stomach. Hematochezia indicates Heat transmitting to the Heart and Lungs. Dysuria indicates Bladder stagnant Heat. Hematemesis indicates rebellion of Ying and Wei Qi. Obstruction of urination has Yin and Yang distinctions; constipation has Deficiency and Excess distinctions. Open fontanelle and crane joints indicate incomplete fetal origin. Delayed walking and speaking indicate insufficient Qi and Blood. Crane chest indicates Lung Heat and distension. Crane back indicates Wind pathogen entering the spine. Delayed speech indicates pathogen affecting the Heart. Delayed teething indicates Kidney insufficiency. Malaria indicates Phlegm knotting above the diaphragm. Dysentery indicates food accumulation in the abdomen. Cough indicates Lung injury by Wind. Wheezing and urgency indicate abundant Phlegm-Qi. Heart pain indicates biting by parasites. Abdominal pain indicates injury by food. Internal injury fever presents with bitter taste and dry tongue; external contraction fever presents with nasal congestion and heavy voice. Abdominal distension indicates Spleen-Stomach weakness; edema indicates Earth deficiency and Water excess; jaundice indicates Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat; rashes indicate Yin-Yang toxic vapors; spontaneous sweating indicates Qi deficiency. Ji (Accumulation) refers to fixed, tangible blood stasis; Ju (Gathering) refers to mobile, intangible Qi stagnation. The Stomach governs reception; the Spleen governs transformation and transportation. Regulating the Spleen and Stomach is the royal way of medicine; regulating diet is the good prescription for dispelling disease. Fright, malnutrition, accumulation, and heat are common pediatric diseases. Inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation are the major methods of physicians. As for prescribing medication to treat diseases, it is like shooting an arrow; hitting the heart of a wild goose requires intuitive understanding that cannot be fully conveyed by words. As Mencius said, "Carpenters and wheelwrights can teach others the rules but cannot make them skillful." This statement is apt.