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The room for variolation must be the cleanest possible, strictly avoiding any violation of taboos. Brightness is preferred; darkness should be avoided. One should select an experienced and reliable person who has previously cared for children with smallpox to attend to them, never leaving their side. All prohibitions must be strictly observed. Do not scold or shout, do not speak in a panicked manner, do not comb hair in front of the child, do not scratch oneself in front of the child, do not indulge in alcohol, and do not sing or play music. One must avoid all odors present in the room, such as those from vaginal discharge, menstrual blood, axillary osmidrosis (fox odor), sweat from long-distance walking, burnt hair, burnt fish bones, extinguished lamp wicks, smoke from burning sulfur and firewood, fumes from onions, garlic, and intoxication, and foul air from ditches. Furthermore, one must instruct those around to remain calm during sudden thunderstorms, fierce winds, or heavy rain, ensuring the infant is not frightened. The mosquito net should be handled with care, and coverings should be tight; violent movements that generate wind must be strictly avoided. Incense for repelling filth should be burned regularly to ward off occasional evil qi. A guard should be posted at the door to prevent strangers from entering, and monks, Taoist priests, teachers, shamans, and mourners wearing mourning clothes are also prohibited from entering the room. If these taboos are observed one by one, good fortune will ensue; even slight negligence often leads to failure. Those performing variolation must earnestly warn against this.

Repelling Filth Incense: Rhizoma Atractylodis Chinensis (Nan Cangzhu, 南苍术) - half jin (approx. 250g); Rhizoma Rhei (Chuan Dahuang, 川大黄) - four liang (approx. 125g). Cut the herbs into fine slices and burn them in a stove without interruption.

If the infant's face is ruddy, with spirit bright and penetrating, and there is no bluish-dark discoloration at the Yintang (between eyebrows), Shangen (root of nose), Nianshou (bridge of nose), under the eyes, or at the corners of the mouth. The whites and pupils of both eyes are distinct, gaze is steady and upright, becoming more spirited and luminous the longer one looks. The fontanelle is neither sunken nor bulging. The skull sutures have not separated (jiechu). The nostrils are of normal size. The breath is clear and not turbid. The voice is clear and resonant. The Tianzhu bone (neck vertebrae) is straight, and the neck is not crooked. Flesh and bone are proportionate, the body is well-supported; if fat, flesh does not sag; if thin, bones are not prominent. Urination is distant and prolonged. The scrotum is tight and small, slightly purplish-black like the shell of a lychee. There are no eczema, tinea, sores, or scabies on the body. There are no tubercles in the neck. There are no accumulations in the abdomen. Form and qi are substantial. Spirit is robust. Zang-fu organs are harmonious and smooth. Pulse is peaceful. In such cases, variolation may be performed.