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The diseases of infants and children are a hundred times more difficult to diagnose than those of adults. Because they suffer from itching and pain but cannot speak for themselves, and others cannot speak on their behalf, the diagnosis relies entirely on the physician's deduction. If the deduction is incorrect, causing death is as easy as turning over one's hand. Even if the deduction is correct, given that infants possess a "Pure Yang" constitution (a physiological state characterized by vigorous growth and metabolic activity), their conditions easily shift from deficiency to excess or vice versa. If medication is administered excessively or inappropriately, the condition may change in myriad ways. Therefore, only those who are exceptionally intelligent, diligent in learning, deep in thought, and capable of intuitively grasping the underlying principles can胜任 (be competent) for this task. As for parents' excessive cherishing and indulgence, leading to improper feeding and warmth, unrestricted consumption of fruits, abandoning treatment due to fear of medicine, or seeking quick fixes by indiscriminate medication, these are not the faults of the physician. However, the method of deduction involves nothing more than distinguishing between exterior and interior, deficiency and excess, cold and heat. The methods are no different from adult pulse diagnosis, and the symptoms are also the same; diseases found in adults are equally present in children. Thus, one who does not understand pediatrics might be able to treat adult diseases, but one who cannot treat adult diseases certainly cannot treat pediatric diseases.

On the third day after birth, Sanhuang Tang (Three Yellows Decoction) should be used to resolve fetal toxins. After taking it for three to four days, Jinyinhua Tang (Honeysuckle Decoction) should be administered daily until the end of the first month (full moon). This can ensure fewer smallpox lesions and reduce the risk of sores and rashes. If born in winter months, or if the infant has a cold constitution and thin physique, using Jinyinhua Tang exclusively is also acceptable. During the first month, if the infant cries with a straight voice, experiences convulsions, shows signs of mouth puckering (Cuokou) or umbilical wind (Qifeng), this is Fetal Wind (Taifeng), commonly known as Abdominal Startle (Fulijing). This occurs because the mother's Liver Qi was previously stagnant, which the fetus inherited, combined with external wind entering during bathing or umbilical cord cutting, thereby stirring internal wind. If this condition manifests too early, with the infant unable to cry out or crying without tears, it is difficult to treat. For cases with abundant phlegm, treat the phlegm first, clear fire first, or use Yihuang San (Benefit the Spleen Powder). Observe if there are blisters on the gums; if so, urgently wipe them open with a finger wrapped in cotton, and apply a little Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) and Bingpian (Borneol) inside the mouth, which is excellent. Before the age of three, the infant's physical structure is weak, and there is no reliable pulse to depend on; one should merely observe the strength, weakness, slowness, or rapidity of the pulse. Furthermore, observe the index finger, specifically the Yin, Mao, and Chen gates (three sections of the finger vein). For boys, check the left hand; for girls, the right hand. The section closest to the palm is the Yin Gate, the middle section is the Mao Gate, and the upper section is the Chen Gate. Whenever a child is ill, a vein pattern will inevitably appear. If the vein appears only at the Yin Gate and does not exceed the Mao Gate, it is easy to treat; if it exceeds the Mao Gate, it is difficult to treat; if it exceeds the Chen Gate, it is even more difficult to treat. If a single vein line penetrates directly from the Yin Gate to the Chen Gate, death is certain. A blue-green color indicates Wind, purple indicates diarrhea/dysentery, blue-green mixed indicates Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth, and red indicates Heat. Combined with the lips, tongue, and facial complexion, one can grasp the general situation. After the age of three, a pulse rate of 4-5 beats per breath cycle is normal (Ping Mai), 6-7 beats indicate Cold, 9-10 beats indicate a critical/struggling pulse (Kun Mai), wiry and rapid indicates Disharmony of Qi, deep and slow indicates Food Stagnation, hurried and rapid indicates Deficiency Startle, floating indicates Wind, deep and fine indicates Cold, and a chaotic pulse indicates untreatability.