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When the heaven has abnormal qi out of season, humans will suffer from diseases out of season. Those with strong constitution can still overcome it with their Yuan Qi (Original Qi), but only Measles and Smallpox are unavoidable for everyone, often occurring in infants, thus becoming a common disease throughout the world. Examining the writings of ancient sages, they detailed the discussion on Smallpox but were brief on Measles, likely because Measles emerges from the Six Fu Organs, differing from Smallpox which emerges from the Five Zang Organs. If the treatment method is correct, key points can be grasped with few words. Later learners who do not understand this meaning often claim that treating Smallpox is difficult while treating Measles is easy. Through superficial attempts and light trials, many have treated human lives as if they were worthless grass, which is truly sorrowful. In the Renzi year (1852), from spring extending to summer and autumn, in both large villages and small settlements, the number of children who died prematurely was countless. Although it is said to be determined by fate, half of it is due to the physicians in charge not having grasped the essential keys. Yancheng compiled "Measles Beiyao" (Essential Preparation for Measles), collecting the refined words and good methods of the ancients, which can be used with those who understand principles to verify the source of heart-mind in treating young children. Recently, because my father acted as the printer for the book "Shenjiu Jinglun" (Classic of Divine Moxibustion), I requested to print it afterwards, and thus wrote a few words at the beginning of the volume. The time is the mid-summer month of Gui Chou year (1853) of the Xianfeng era, written by Wu Yujiu of Shuangxi in a humble and rough dwelling.

The disease of Rash (Measles) originates from fetal toxin and erupts upon contracting the epidemic pathogenic qi, similar to Smallpox. However, Smallpox emerges from the Five Zang Organs belonging to Yin; Yin governs Blood, so it has form and pus, and its symptoms include cold and heat, deficiency and excess. Measles emerges from the Six Fu Organs belonging to Yang; Yang governs Qi, so it has form but no pus, and its symptoms are mostly excess, featuring heat without cold. Since the symptoms differ, the treatment methods also differ. The world generally knows that the impact of Smallpox and Measles on people is very heavy, but does not realize that the impact of Measles on life and death is even more critical. Generally, when a person is first born, they receive the qi of Heaven and Earth to form their body. Qian (Heaven) is Yang, hence called Father; Kun (Earth) is Yin, hence called Mother. When the Qi of Yin and Yang interact, the Ministerial Fire resides within them. Therefore, the Fire within Yin lies latent in the human body, and when it erupts, it becomes Smallpox; the Fire within Yang lies latent in the human body, and when it erupts, it becomes Measles. When these have not yet erupted, there is no shape to imitate and no trace to follow, like fire in stone, which must be struck to move. Once it moves, depending on the individual's constitution, mild cases may heal without treatment, while severe cases require skilled treatment to heal; this is what is meant by "preceding Heaven, Heaven does not violate." Furthermore, one must consider the urgency of the seasonal pathogenic qi: if mild, the external pathogen arrives not violently, allowing for gentle dispersal or clearing and resolving, following the exterior expression without omission; if severe, the external pathogenic qi is violent and rapid, attacking the Righteous Qi first, causing internal toxins to accumulate and fail to erupt. Urgent effort should be focused on treating the branch manifestation, enabling the accumulated toxins to reach the exterior with momentum; this is what is meant by "following Heaven, complying with Heavenly Time." If one can fully comprehend the substance of Pre-Heaven and clarify the application of Post-Heaven, then through maneuvering and adaptation, one will find the mean wherever one goes.