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When reading the works of predecessors, one must understand their intent in establishing theories. If one reads the books without understanding their intent, it is impossible to apply them effectively in practice. Regarding the discussion on variola (smallpox), Qian Yi (Qian Shi) was the most detailed. He enumerated the origins, progression, and meridians of the disease, clearly distinguishing between exterior/interior and deficiency/excess, and expounded upon treatment methods, further substantiating them with argumentative discourse. This approach deeply embodies the standard of writing for instruction. For students who read and apply these works, it is like seeking squares and circles using a compass and set square, or judging straightness using a plumb line; by extending and applying this knowledge, one can achieve infinite applications.

People nowadays do not understand the causes of disease nor seek the rationale behind prescriptions. In emergencies, they consult formulas based on symptoms and try them indiscriminately. If the treatment fails, they discard both the formula and the book, which is extremely lacking in thought. Recently, due to the long-standing influence of the *Jufang* (Formulas of the Bureau of People's Welfare and Health) and the neglect of studies on the *Suwen* (Basic Questions of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), those discussing medicine while ill tend to prefer warming and tonifying agents while rejecting cooling and resolving/discharging agents. Upon encountering Chen Shi's (Chen Yan's) formulas, which consist entirely of drying, hot, and tonifying preparations, characterized by precise language and concise text, they joyfully adopt and uniformly trust them, concluding that Qian Yi falls far short of Chen Shi.

Someone might ask: "Do you consider Chen Shi's formulas inadequate?" I reply: "Chen Shi's formulas indeed represent a biased theory. Nevertheless, he can be said to have been good at discerning the condition of the disease. His general intent focuses heavily on the Taiyin meridians (Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian). The Hand-Taiyin belongs to the Lung, which governs the skin and hair; the Foot-Taiyin belongs to the Spleen, which governs the muscles. Metal of the Lung dislikes cold and is prone to external contraction; Earth of the Spleen and Stomach dislikes dampness and accepts all things. Observing his use of Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos, Clove) and Guigui (Cinnamomi Ramulus, Cinnamon Twig), these are used to treat cold in the Lung; the use of Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, Prepared Root of Chinese Aconite), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Rhizoma of Atractylodes), and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, Pinellia Tuber) is to treat dampness in the Spleen. If the Lung truly has cold, and the Spleen truly has dampness accompanied by deficiency, then measuring the dosage and administering it, stopping when the illness is cured, what harm would there be?

However, this is not the case today. They merely see patients with delayed eruption of sores, fever, diarrhea, palpitations, rapid breathing, and thirst with desire to drink. Regardless of whether it is cold or heat, excess or deficiency, they indiscriminately administer Muxiang San (Aucklandiae Powder) and Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder). Occasionally, there are coincidental successes where effects are achieved immediately. But if misapplied, disaster ensues instantly. Why? Ancient practitioners, when compounding medicines and formulating prescriptions, employed guiding drugs (directors), supervising drugs, counteracting drugs, and drugs used according to specific indications. Although Qian Shi's formulas did not abandon Xixin (Asari Radix, Asarum Root), Dingxiang, Baizhu, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Root), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Licorice Root), they invariably included supervising and assisting herbs, rather than focusing solely on warming and tonifying! However, he used more cooling and cold-natured herbs, and only began to explore the method of assistance, without delving deep. One cannot speak of dreams before fools; Qian Shi's considerations were thorough, intending for enlightened individuals to expand and apply them.

Although the use of warming herbs for thirst and tonifying herbs for itching and collapse originated with Chen Shi, surpassing predecessors, his frequent use of Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi, and Dingxiang, which are drying and hot, may not be appropriate. Why? Guizhi, Fuzi, and Dingxiang are indeed appropriate when there is cold and deficiency. But for cases of deficiency without cold, what harm could result? When Chen Shi formulated his prescriptions, there must have been cases of smallpox complicated by cold, making the use of drying, hot, and tonifying herbs suitable. Today, however, using such a biased formula for cases without cold complication, is it not excessively hot? I have synthesized the essence of various schools, sought their underlying principles, and applied them. I dare not rely blindly on established formulas. Let me cite a couple of examples to prove this.

My nephew, aged six or seven, suffered from smallpox with fever, slight thirst, and spontaneous diarrhea. A physician named Xiao Fangmai examined him and prescribed Muxiang San, adding ten grains of Dingxiang per dose. I harbored serious doubts. Observing the delayed eruption, it was indeed due to qi deficiency caused by diarrhea. Examining his excrement, it consisted of foul, stagnant, old accumulations, indicating downward flow due to steaming heat in the intestines and stomach. It was likely not cold and deficiency. Thus, I urgently stopped the medication after one dose had already been taken. Subsequently, I administered Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Coptis Decoction for Detoxification) with added Baizhu, giving ten doses to resolve the heat of Dingxiang. The diarrhea ceased, and the sores erupted. Afterwards, his skin often had slight heat, and boils and furuncles appeared on his hands and feet. After over a month of treatment with cooling and tonifying agents, he recovered.

Another male patient, aged sixteen or seventeen, presented with fever and coma, blindness, deafness, and pulses that were hollow, large, and slightly rapid in both hands. I knew this was due to labor injury (exhaustion). At that time, smallpox was prevalent in the village. Although unconscious, he drank medicine and ate porridge when offered. I instructed him to take a large decoction of Renshen, Gancao, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Dong Quai Root), Baizhu, and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Tangerine Peel). After drinking more than thirty doses, the sores finally erupted. After another twenty-plus doses, pustules formed, leaving no intact skin on his body. Someone asked: "The condition is terrifying; why not use Chen Shi's complete formula?" I replied: "This is merely deficiency, without cold. Stick to the previous prescription." After dozens more doses, he recovered. Later inquiry into the cause revealed that four or five days prior, fearing the onset of smallpox, he had exerted himself greatly in gathering firewood, sweating profusely for consecutive days. Had Chen Shi's complete formula been used, would it not have led to regret?

In the spring of Jiashen year of the Zhizheng era, yang qi moved early. In the first lunar month, smallpox cases in the county were limited to one family. Suddenly, Chen Shi's formula was administered, resulting in the death of over a hundred children. Although this may be attributed to heavenly fate, I fear that human efforts were not fully exhausted either.