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[Wan Quan's Discussion] All sores and ulcers are attributed to Heart Fire. The external flourishing of the Heart manifests on the face. Regarding the signs of smallpox and measles, one can deduce most of the prognosis by observing the facial regions. Moreover, smallpox and measles belong to Yang Toxicity; all Yang Qi gathers in the face, making auspicious or ominous outcomes particularly visible.

The forehead belongs to Heart Fire. If red spots appear first at the positions between Yin Tang (Yintang, EX-HN3) above and the hairline below, extending horizontally to the Sun Yue Jiao (Sun Yue Jiao, a point near the temple), followed by suppuration and then scabbing, this is an ominous sign. Since the Heart is the Sovereign Monarch, if toxicity erupts from the Heart, it appears first in its corresponding region. If the Sovereign is endangered, the twelve organs are all endangered, leading to rapid death.

The left cheek belongs to Liver Wood, and the right cheek belongs to Lung Metal. If red spots appear first on both cheeks and are distinct and scattered, it is auspicious. If they cluster into masses with hard and swollen flesh, it indicates death. This is because the Liver stores the Hun (Ethereal Soul) and the Lung stores the Po (Corporeal Soul); when vitality is extinguished, the souls are about to depart, rendering it untreatable.

The chin belongs to the Kidney. Cheng Jiang (Chengjiang, CV24) extends horizontally to the bilateral mandibular angles. If red spots appear first here, erupt first, and scab first, it is auspicious. Although this region belongs to the Kidney, the meridians of the Three Yin and Three Yang all converge here; thus, Yin and Yang are harmonious, making it treatable.

The nose belongs to Spleen Earth. If the tip of the nose (Zhun Tou) shows lesions first and scabs first, it is inauspicious. Because the Spleen belongs to Earth, and the other four Zang organs receive their commands from the Spleen, if toxicity erupts from the Spleen and Earth fails, the four organs will follow in failure. Consequently, the disease lingers for a long time before causing death.

The opening of the Kidney is in the ears. It is also said that the Heart opens into the ears. Both the Heart and Kidney belong to Shaoyin Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire). Additionally, the meridians of Shaoyang Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire) run anterior and posterior to the ears. If red spots appear first on the earlobe, it is inauspicious. This is because both Jun Huo and Xiang Huo are active, creating a blazing intensity that is difficult to extinguish.

Only the area surrounding the lips, where lesions appear, rise, and scab first, is highly auspicious. This is because the Yangming Meridians flank the mouth and encircle the lips, governed by the Stomach and Large Intestine, which accept everything without rejection.

In the study of smallpox, there are classifications of Eight Gates (Ba Men), Five Pivots (Wu Shu), Three Passes (San Guan), Two Sha (Two Evil Spirits), and Five Axes (Wu Zhou). The Heart is the Chi Di Gate (Red Emperor Gate) (accompanied by the Pericardium Luo); the bilateral zygomatic bones are the Heart Pivot. The Liver is the Qing Yang Gate (Green Yang Gate) (accompanied by the Gallbladder); the bilateral eye sockets are the Liver Pivot. The Spleen is the Huang Yang Gate (Yellow Center Gate) (accompanied by the Stomach); the bilateral cheeks and mandibular angles are the Spleen Pivot. The Lung is the Su Sha Gate (Austere Killing Gate); the prominent throat (Adam's apple) is the Lung Pivot. The Kidney is the Xuan Wu Gate (Black Tortoise Gate); the bilateral earlobes are the Kidney Pivot. The chest and nipple area constitute the Heart Pass. The umbilicus constitutes the Spleen Pass. The genitalia (Yang Qiu) constitute the Kidney Pass.

The Bai Di Sha Gate (White Emperor Evil Gate) is located at the right temporalis region and the suprasternal fossa. The Qing Di Sha Gate (Green Emperor Evil Gate) is located at the left temporalis region and the eye socket. The zygomatic prominence, chest, and nipples form the Heart Axis. The left temporalis, left hypochondrium, eyelids, and bilateral buttocks form the Liver Axis. The right temporalis, right hypochondrium, neck, and throat protrusion form the Lung Axis. The cheeks, Zhong Ting (Middle Court), corners of the mouth, abdomen, hands, and feet form the Spleen Axis. The chin (Di Ge), back of the neck, post-auricular fossa, back Shu points, lumbar spine, and genitalia form the Kidney Axis.

Yuan’s method of reading smallpox emphasizes the characters "Gate," "Lan" (Barrier), "Fu" (Assistant), and "Zhou" (Axis). If the Gate is affected, verify the Lan; if the Lan is affected, verify the Fu; if the Fu is affected, verify the Zhou. By the time the Zhou is reached, all variations of the disease have manifested. There are eight Gates, eighteen Lans, eighteen Fus, and 154 Zous, each verified according to their respective meridians.

The high ground of the Tian Ting (Heavenly Court/Forehead) is named the Chi Di Gate. The chest is named the Yan Che Gate (Flame Chariot Gate). The centers of both palms are named the Zheng Li Gate (Correct Li Gate) (not belonging to the Heart but to the Yangming Meridian; if Yangming is thorough, the nose forms first and the palm second; if Yangming is swift and violent, the palm forms first and the nose second. Manifestation on the nose is favorable; manifestation on the palm is unfavorable). The area around the Mei Xin (Glabella), spanning upper and lower cun, is called the Wu Jiang Gate (Five Generals Gate). The areas under the eyes at Si Zhu Kong (Sizhukong, GB23) and the tear trough are named the Qing Yang Gate. The Qi Wo (Suprasternal Fossa) and Tiantu (Tiantu, CV22) acupoint is named the Su Sha Gate. The circular openings of both ears are the Xuan Wu Gate. The area of the umbilicus, where the Spleen Meridian pours qi, is named the Huang Di Gate (Yellow Emperor Gate). These eight gates differ slightly from the previous ones. As for the Lan, Fu, and Zhou, the differences are even greater. The diagrams and rhymes are complex and vulgar, irrelevant to treatment, and thus are not adopted here.