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In the initial stage, if the pulse is floating, deficient, and fine, the body is not hot, there is cough with sputum, and breathing is regular and smooth, it is a favorable condition (Shun). When the abscess has formed, if the pulse is floating and slightly rapid, pus-like sputum is expectorated, the color and shape are bright and distinct, and the voice is clear, it is an auspicious sign. After ulceration, if pus-like sputum is spat out, occasional fresh blood is expelled, symptoms come and go, and the sense of taste in food remains, it is a favorable condition.

If the discharged pus gradually decreases, the chest and hypochondrium are not painful, the complexion is slightly yellowish, and stool is regular but foul; or if in the initial stage the pulse is surging, wiry, and rapid, the body is hot with significant aversion to cold, chest pain and panting occur, the face is red with profuse sweating, this indicates damage to longevity. When the abscess has formed, if pus-like sputum is expectorated with a foul odor, yellow sputum is sticky and fixed, and the lips invert, death will eventually ensue. If white blood/pus is also expectorated along with rapid breathing and irritability, and the fingernails are purple and curved, death is inevitable. If the palms are dry like dead wood, the malar region is brightly red, there is sore throat with hoarseness resembling a duck's quack, and nasal flaring occurs, death is final.

In the initial stage, when wind-cold pathogens invade, causing dizziness and aversion to cold, and cough with a heavy voice, methods for dispersing wind pathogens should be used. If there is sweating with aversion to wind, cough with rapid breathing, nasal congestion, neck stiffness, and hidden pain in the chest and diaphragm, methods for consolidating the exterior and clearing the lungs should be used. If there is aversion to cold during the day, preferring to wrap in clothes and blankets, fever at night, irritability leading to removing covers, methods for nourishing yin and tonifying the lungs should be used. If there is dry mouth, panting and fullness, sore throat with cough and thirst, cough with body heat, and a wiry-rapid pulse, methods for descending fire and suppressing yin should be used. If there is chest fullness, rapid panting, expectoration of pus-like sputum, body heat with coarse breathing, and inability to lie down comfortably, methods for calming the lungs and draining pus should be used. If heat recedes and the body cools, the pulse becomes short and choppy, spirit diminishes, spontaneous sweating and night sweats occur, methods for tonifying the lungs and strengthening the spleen should be used.

A righteous official, while supervising river works in mid-winter, frequently called out facing the wind, injuring his lungs, which later led to this disease. Initially, alternating chills and fever occurred, with heavy coughing, rapid breathing, and phlegm production. He consulted internal medicine physicians, but the condition worsened. I then examined him, finding a floating and rapid pulse, and a shiny, lustrous complexion, diagnosing Lung Abscess (Fei Yong). Observing that his sputum indeed had the nature of pus and was sticky, he took two doses of Jiegeng Tang (Platycodon Decoction), after which the cough subsided slightly; he took four doses of Painong San (Pus-Draining Powder), after which the pus increased gradually. However, chest and diaphragmatic pain persisted, and the pulse showed a Kou (hollow) quality, indicating blood stasis in the chest. Therefore, Sishun San (Four-Compliant Powder) was administered with Honghua (Carthamus Flower) and Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) for two doses, resulting in the expectoration of about one bowl of purple blood, after which the diaphragmatic pain gradually ceased. Subsequently, Jinli Tang (Golden Carp Decoction) and Renshen Wuweizi Tang (Ginseng and Schisandra Decoction) were taken alternately, and he recovered after more than a month.

A man suffered from persistent chronic cough, expectorating pus-like sputum, with a pale complexion and mental fatigue, and hidden pain in the chest. His pulse was floating, slight, and rapid, indicating insufficient Lung Qi with residual fire. After several doses of Zhimu Fuling Tang (Anemarrhena and Poria Decoction), the pus decreased gradually, and he recovered after taking Qingjin Ningfei Wan (Clear Metal and Calm Lung Pill).

A man suffered from continuous cough due to labor injury, with severe body heat at night. Over time, he expectorated pus and blood. His pulse was wiry and rapid, indicating false symptoms of deficiency fire. First, he drank Boyzi Xiaoye (Child Urine) three to four times daily, and took several doses of Ziwan Rong Tang (Aster Root Decoction), after which night fever ceased. He then took Jinli Tang (Golden Carp Decoction) intermittently, recovering gradually over a month. This was not merely due to child urine, but because the deficient fire retreated. I have treated patients with non-resolving deficiency heat from sores using this method with great efficacy.

A man was depressed and dissatisfied, suffering from cough for half a year, occasionally expectorating pus and blood, with emaciation and reduced appetite. His pulse was slight and rapid, and his voice was becoming hoarse/feminine; only his face was not red. The disease was progressing toward Lung Flaccidity (Fei Fei), but was still treatable. After more than ten doses of Qingjin Ermu Tang (Clear Metal and Two Mothers Decoction), cough and expectoration halved. He then took Jinli Tang (Golden Carp Decoction) and Renshen Wuweizi Tang (Ginseng and Schisandra Decoction) alternately, drinking human milk in the morning and child urine in the evening, each one cup, and stabilized after more than a hundred days of regulation.

A man who enjoyed drinking developed dry mouth and thirst, leading to lung obstruction, heat accumulation, and abscess formation, with expectoration of pus-like sputum, panting, fullness, and inability to lie down. After two doses of Tingli San (Descurainia Seed Powder), panting stopped and sleep improved. After more than ten doses of Ziwan Rong Tang (Aster Root Decoction) added with Gan Ge (Kudzu Root) and Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Root), pus-like sputum decreased. He took Jiaban Bawei Wan (Modified Eight Flavor Pill) in the morning and Qingjin Ningfei Wan (Clear Metal and Calm Lung Pill) at noon, taken alternately, and recovered in two months.

A man over fifty years old, accustomed to indulging in sexual activity and rich/greasy foods, developed cough, fever, and expectoration of fishy-smelling sputum. His palms were dry and rough, his face was faintly red, sputum contained white blood, and his pulse was fine, slight, and rapid. These are contraindicated signs for Lung Abscess (Fei Yong). I declined to treat him. Later physicians insisted on treatment, but medication failed, and he died. Someone asked, "Why did this happen?" I said, "Dry palms indicate blood depletion and earth injury, failing to generate metal (lung); faint red face indicates ministerial fire activation; white blood in sputum indicates injury to healthy lung qi; fine and rapid pulse indicates exhaustion of true qi. Anyone with Lung Abscess presenting these signs cannot survive." After stating this, people accepted it.