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The disease of *Baihou* (Diphtheria) is caused by contracting the malignant qi (pathogenic evil qi) of heaven and earth, representing a variant syndrome of epidemic febrile diseases prevalent in the season. It is most common in the southern regions, and recently has also frequently occurred in the north. Physicians often have not encountered this syndrome before, making it highly prone to misdiagnosis and mistreatment; if treated improperly, it invariably leads to death.

Initially, the syndrome presents with aversion to cold and fever, or headache and back distension, or pain throughout the body's joints, along with stifling and obstruction in the chest and heart region. Inside the throat, there may be extreme pain, slight pain, no pain, or a slight hardness where it feels like something is stuck but is not truly obstructed. Some cases show gradual swelling followed immediately by small white spots; others appear red-purple first, then develop small white spots. In some instances, whiteness appears as soon as the disease starts; in others, it does not appear until the second or third day. The white spots or streaks may grow into white patches, gradually covering the entire throat, which constitutes an extremely dangerous and severe syndrome. When the toxin is severe, the white spots enlarge most easily, leading to death within five or six days due to the complete blockage of the throat by these white patches. Although the onset manifestations vary, the treatment methods are identical.

Whenever encountering symptoms resembling a common cold, such as aversion to cold and fever, one must ask if there is throat pain and must first inspect whether the throat is red and swollen. One must absolutely avoid using dispersing and releasing exterior agents (surface-releasing formulas) immediately. If mistaken for a simple exterior syndrome and surface-releasing medicines are used for severe *Baihou*, mild cases will become severe, and severe cases will become incurable. It is essential to have the patient sit in a well-lit area, supported by someone, while the physician uses a tongue depressor or a bamboo chopstick to flatten the tongue for detailed inspection. If a white membrane is confirmed, for mild cases, use *Yuanzhu Dan* (Pearl Pill/Preparation) blown continuously into the affected area using a small bamboo tube to induce the expulsion of phlegm and saliva. Subsequently, administer decoctions of *Chuwen Huadu San* (Plague-Dispelling and Toxin-Transforming Powder) or *Shengong Pixie San* (Divine Efficacy Evil-Expelling Powder), adjusted according to the specific condition, for one or two doses, resulting in immediate recovery.

In cases of severe *Baihou*, if the white patches continue to grow larger within a short time, and emergency treatment is not initiated, once the throat is completely filled with white patches compounded by congested phlegm and saliva, causing swelling and blockage that prevents even water intake, even immortal pills would be ineffective. Therefore, during the initial stage of *Baihou*, negligence must be avoided at all costs; emergency treatment involving medicated powder insufflation and oral medication is imperative without delay. During insufflation, the root of the tongue must be flattened, and the affected area clearly identified. The medicated powder must be aimed precisely at the lesion; if missed, it should be reapplied until effective. One must never treat this casually or treat human life as a game. If performed in darkness, with the patient's mouth not fully open and the tongue not flattened, random insufflation will result in the medicine remaining in the mouth or on the tongue rather than entering the throat. Upon expectoration of phlegm, the medicine will be expelled along with it, rendering it ineffective.

For severe *Baihou*, administering three to four doses of medicine per day is indispensable. If the patient spits out half and swallows half, or takes only one or half a dose daily, efficacy cannot be expected. The difficulty in treating throat diseases often stems from this; people merely claim that the medicine lacks efficacy, unaware that the fault lies entirely in negligence. Even if the administration of medicine and insufflation follows the prescription, if done hesitantly or slowly, it remains futile because the severity of the disease outweighs the strength of the medicine. The toxic vapors attack internally, causing the white patches to multiply and worsen day by day. Eventually, the trachea becomes blocked, phlegm and saliva congest, and a sawing sound is heard from the throat, indicating an incurable state. This error results from delaying treatment for too long. If emergency treatment is implemented promptly, applying *Yuanzhu Dan* (also referred to as *Yuanzhu Dan*) to the affected area continuously, and carefully observing—checking the number of white spots on the left and right sides—one may see the white spots gradually shrink, the white patches diminish, the whiteness become sparse, the layer thin out, or the color turn yellow. In such cases, there is no cause for alarm, and the condition will inevitably resolve completely over time.