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1. When the smallpox progresses beyond ten days, the blood transforms and the toxin resolves; the pus will gradually dry up, taking on a color resembling pale wax or grapes. The lesions begin to retract from the sides of the face around the mouth and nose, progressing downward to the chest and abdomen. Finally, the forehead and the dorsum of the feet crust over and fall off simultaneously. In the absence of internal symptoms, with normal diet and bowel/bladder functions, or if retraction begins first at the palms/soles, fingertips, or genitalia, these are all auspicious signs.

2. If the smallpox has crusted over with a pale wax-like appearance but the body retains a slight fever, this is a sign of burning scars (burning sensation in the scar tissue). Provided the diet remains normal, no treatment is necessary.

3. During the crusting stage, if the entire body becomes foul and putrid, and the eyes lack spirit/luster, death is certain.

4. During the crusting stage, if the whole body itches intensely, scratching reveals no pus, and the skin curls and dries like bean pods, death is certain.

5. During the crusting stage, if there is no pus accompanied by rapid breathing and hoarseness, trembling of the limbs, severe chills with teeth grinding, abdominal distension with phlegm rales, coldness of the feet extending above the knees, oliguria with frequent stools, these are all fatal conditions.

6. During the crusting stage, if both cheeks are dry and hard, feeling like stone upon palpation, death is certain.

7. At the stage of lesion retraction/crusting, if the patient cannot eat and feels as though food is constantly moving in the mouth, death is certain.

8. If the lesions on the face and chest/abdomen have not yet crusted, but those on the feet have crusted first, the condition is critical due to Yin overcoming Yang.

9. If the entire body has crusted except for a few remaining lesions internally that do not crust, this can still be fatal. It is akin to a snake shedding its skin: if one segment is damaged and cannot shed completely, the snake dies. Similarly, if crusting stops at the neck or chest and medication proves ineffective, death ensues.

10. If the smallpox lesions suddenly turn scorched and purplous before the appropriate time for crusting, death is certain.

11. When the smallpox should be crusting, if no pus has formed on the body, but the lesions around the upper and lower lips turn yellow and mature first, this indicates the toxin attacking the Spleen internally; this is ominous.

12. Smallpox lesions that form pus and crust are auspicious signs. Conversely, if retraction/crusting occurs without pus formation, danger is immediately apparent.

13. If the smallpox has not yet retracted/crusted, but the lips are rotting and white patches spread to the tongue, the condition is critical.

14. If red or purple blisters appear during the retraction/crusting phase, the condition is untreatable.

1. After the smallpox has crusted, if the scabs detach naturally in sequence, and the thick scabs fall off slowly without adhering tightly to the flesh, this is auspicious.

2. If the patient eats their own scabs, they will not die even if other symptoms are present.

3. Although the scabs have fallen off, if the resulting scars are snow-white with no blood color, this indicates complete exhaustion of Qi and Blood. If Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is not urgently tonified, death will follow after some time.

4. After the scabs fall off, if the patient frequently experiences fright/startle responses with a sense of mental rootlessness, this indicates the exhaustion of Heart Qi; the condition is critical.

5. After the scabs fall off, if there is trembling of the limbs, teeth grinding with jaw clenching, closed eyes with abdominal distension, and cold feet extending above the knees, the condition is untreatable.

6. If the original smallpox lesions were dry with scanty, non-filling pus, and although they crusted and shed scabs leaving white scars, or if residual heat persists, death will occur even if more than a month passes.