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Wu Youke claimed that "wen" (warmth) is the same as "wen" (pestilence), and even asserted that ancient texts do not contain the character for "pestilence." He was unaware that there were indeed ancient books on warm diseases. Zhang Zhongjing, our revered master, has three chapters on warm diseases in his work (Upper, Middle, and Lower). Later, Liu Wansu's *Yuan Bing Shi* (Original Formulas of Diseases) largely discusses warm diseases. There are countless other treatises on warm conditions, and an unenumerable number of formulas for treating them. The term "wen" generally refers to the six exogenous pathogenic factors; when humans contract these, they transform into warm-heat seasonal pathogens. However, regarding pestilence, there was no specialized monograph. Wu Youke lived during a time of war and famine, where pestilence spread contagiously. He wished to write a new book to save lives, which certainly could have contributed to medicine. Regrettably, he conflated "wen" (warmth) with "wen" (pestilence), making the semantic meaning unclear. His intent was to discuss pestilence, but his discourse focused on warmth. Only his theory of "urgent purgation" aligns with warm conditions; his other discussions merely confuse seasonal warm diseases with pestilence, mixing seasonal pathogens with pestilential ones, causing significant harm. Seasonal pathogens exist at all times, whereas pestilence is rarely seen. If it is truly a pestilence, foul odor strikes people from the onset; if it is a seasonal pathogen, this is not the case initially. It takes several days to transmit to the Yangming Fu syndrome (Yangming organ syndrome), where odors might appear, but these are only putrid smells, not the smell of decaying corpses. When pestilence first erupts, it emits the smell of decaying corpses; mildly, it fills the bed area; severely, it fills the room. Urgent purgation is indeed necessary. If it is a seasonal pathogen, whether caused by wind-cold, summerheat-dampness, or dryness-fire, entering via the Taiyang channel or the mouth and nose, treatment should still follow channel differentiation. How can one cover all cases with the single concept of "purgation"? Later, Dai Linjiao's *Yan Yi Ming Bian* (Clarification of Pestilence) was superior to Wu Youke's arguments, though it overemphasized purgation. The book contains two sentences: "For Shanghan (Cold Damage), purgation is never too late; for seasonal pathogens, purgation is never too early." This contains a major logical flaw. If changed to "For pestilence, purgation is never too early," it would be correct. As for Wu Youke's formula, Da Yuan Yin (Reach the Membrane Source Decoction), it is most confused and mixed. If the condition belongs to cold, why use Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma)? If it belongs to heat, why use Caoguo (Tsaoko Fructus) and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex)? His intention was clearly to treat heat, intending to purge the heat downward, so why assist the heat? The cooling nature of Huangqin, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Zhimu may hardly counteract the drying and acrid nature of Caoguo and Houpo. If one claims these are necessary to reach the membrane source, the membrane source is close to the Stomach channel of Foot-Yangming. Many drugs can reach the membrane source. Since the goal is to urgently purge heat, why use such drying and acrid drugs to reach it? Moreover, it is unheard of that Caoguo and Houpo are herbs that reach the membrane source. Wu Youke's book is shallow and unworthy of discussion; it could have been ignored. However, those misled by it have made it a custom, harming people without remorse. Is this not the toxic legacy of the Wu school! Therefore, I must clearly distinguish and deeply condemn it.

Wu Youke's book consists of two volumes. One section addresses naming conventions. Because he used "Wen" in "Wen Yi" (Warm Pestilence) instead of "Wen" (Pestilence), he believed later generations added characters and that it should simply be called "Yi" (Pestilence). He did not realize that "Wen" and "Yi" have distinct meanings. "Wen" (Pestilence) belongs to Yang Toxicity, while "Yi" belongs to Yin Toxicity; thus, they cannot be broadly classified as heat syndromes. In the fifth year of Daoguang, a severe epidemic prevailed. Patients survived only if given strongly heating medicines; otherwise, they died. Commonly called "Ma Jiao Wen" (Numb-Foot Pestilence), it was actually a Cold Syndrome, belonging to Yin Toxicity. In the twelfth year, a widespread plague occurred. Patients suffered extreme high fever immediately upon infection, confusion, delirium, and even madness. Slightly using drying/acrid medicines led to fatal consequences, but treatment with Xijiao Dihuang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) resulted in recovery. This was a "Wen" (Plague) syndrome, belonging to Yang Toxicity. During these two years, none of the formulas from *Wen Yi Lun* (Treatise on Warm Pestilence) were applicable. Thus, I say: Wu Youke's book is rough in principle and lacks precision. Can it be true that clinically observed cases were entirely warm pestilence, with cold damage being one in a hundred? If warm pestilence is considered a heat syndrome and San Chengqi Tang (Three Adjuvant Decoctions) is the main treatment, why use Da Yuan Yin first? The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: "If harmed by cold in winter, warmth disease will occur in spring." And again: "If essence is not stored in winter, warmth disease will occur in spring." Both internal and external causes can produce warm syndromes. They can be called "Wen" (Warmth), but not "Wen" (Plague). Therefore, the "Wen" in "Wen Yi" cannot be called "Wen" (Warmth).

One might ask: Do seasonal pathogens not include plague-like symptoms, such as Big Head Plague or Mumps? Are these not types of pestilence? However, these plague-like symptoms ultimately belong to seasonal pathogens, differing from the situation after war and famine, where continuous death leads to corpse qi transforming into malignant qi to cause pestilence. Their treatment relies on Li Dongyuan's Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Rescue Detoxification Decoction). If Wu Youke encountered this, could he use Da Yuan Yin? Could he use San Chengqi Tang to purge?

Another question: During the peak of seasonal pathogens, there is person-to-person transmission, resembling pestilence. Yet, it remains the six exogenous factors, not the malignant qi of post-war/famine eras requiring immediate purgation. *Jing Yue Quan Shu* (Complete Works of Jingyue) also has a section on pestilence, but its treatments are identical to those for seasonal pathogens. Other books discussing pestilence also treat it like seasonal pathogens. If a skilled physician were to categorize: outside of Shanghan, define a category for seasonal pathogens; outside of seasonal pathogens, define a sub-category for pestilential seasonal pathogens; and outside of that, define a separate category for true pestilence caused by heaven and earth's malignant qi. By classifying thus and treating according to symptoms, errors could be avoided. Unfortunately, ancient texts lacked such classification, leading Wu to confuse pestilence with Shanghan, claiming he only saw pestilence and no Shanghan. Little did he know that Shanghan and pestilence are as unrelated as horses and oxen; how can they be compared?