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This discipline of measles (Ma Zhen) had no specialized books in ancient times. It was only briefly mentioned in texts regarding smallpox (Dou Zheng). Smallpox is severe, while measles is mild. In recent decades, however, measles has often presented with critical syndromes, being more severe than smallpox.

Thus, those who wished to benefit the world wrote books to disseminate knowledge on it. Yet, printed editions were scarce; they were often copied privately and touted as secret prescriptions. In reality, these works contained both merits and flaws, mixing pure essence with impurities. Some even recorded the use of "Wu Hu San" (Five Tiger Powder), containing centipedes and whole scorpions, to treat measles, boasting it as a miraculous formula and passing it down through transmission. This is truly lamentable. Among the measles texts I have seen, since Wan's work, Xie's *Seventy-Two Syndromes* and Zhao's *Hui Bu* (Comprehensive Compilation) are considered the most balanced. However, Xie's work is somewhat overly verbose; the more verbose it becomes, the more likely it is to have omissions. Generally speaking its common patterns, wind, phlegm, food stagnation, and fire can cover them. But exploring its variations, which are myriad and ever-changing, cannot be exhausted by merely seventy-two syndromes. Zhao's *Hui Bu* is entirely based on the *Imperial Medical Classic of Gold Mirror* (Yu Ding Yi Zong Jin Jian), making it purer than Xie's. Yet, it alters the formulas, herbs, and wording to appear as if not derived from the *Jin Jian*, thereby claiming original insight. Furthermore, its clauses are disordered and its logical threads unclear, so it is not an excellent edition. It is ultimately inferior to the *Jin Jian*, which is pure and pristine. However, the *Jin Jian* is concise yet comprehensive. Without grasping its implied meaning, one might suspect it to be too brief and lacking detail. My elucidations may not fully capture its profound essence, but they are all based on previous sages, and I dare not fabricate. The theories adopted are largely from Zhao; names are omitted for the sake of textual flow, not to claim others' achievements.

In the year Yihai, during the month of Meng Dayuanxian, Zhang Lian from Gaozhuji wrote the preface.

The method of reading should be: read character by character, sentence by sentence, section by section, and finally integrate the entire text comprehensively. Only then can one grasp the implied meaning and become a proficient reader. Medical texts, such as our dynasty's *Imperial Medical Classic of Gold Mirror*, are concise in language yet rich in meaning, proximate in principle yet distant in significance; they are not easy to read. Taking the measles section as an example: whenever it states that a certain formula governs a condition, it implies that there must be auxiliary treatments accompanying the main treatment. This is reading character by character. In the clause on "Appearance of Rash," it says: "If the rash does not emerge thoroughly, one must investigate the cause." Causes are numerous and cannot be listed exhaustively because sudden causes are unpredictable. Therefore, three items—caused by wind, caused by fire, and caused by deficiency—are listed below to illustrate the principle of inferring other cases from one instance. This is reading sentence by sentence. In the clause on "Resolution/Disappearance," it says: "If dispersion is indicated but not performed, and there is deficient heat internally, cold-cooling agents should not be used purely; instead, Chai Hu Si Wu Tang (Bupleurum Four Substances Decoction) should be used." In the clause on "Persistent Fever," it says: "If the measles have emerged thoroughly but the body remains highly febrile, this indicates excessive toxin stagnation; Hua Du Qing Biao Tang (Toxin-Resolving Surface-Clearing Decoction) should be used." If fever persists after the rash has faded, this indicates residual heat lingering in the muscle layer; Chai Hu Qing Re Yin (Bupleurum Heat-Clearing Drink) should be used. Why do these statements seem contradictory? Viewing them separately leads to bias; viewing them together reveals the whole picture. This is reading section by section. Detailed descriptions are given for typical syndromes (Zheng Zheng), while atypical syndromes (Bian Zheng) are treated briefly, as typical ones can be articulated, whereas atypical ones are endless. Details are provided for the pre-rash phase, while the post-rash phase is simplified; if the pre-rash phase is managed correctly, the post-rash phase will naturally be without trouble. Only excess syndromes are discussed, not deficiency syndromes. Measles is a Yang toxin, rarely presenting as a deficiency syndrome. Post-rash deficiency is self-evident and thus omitted. This is integrating the entire text comprehensively. Therefore, in the governing treatment clause, it states: "These are the major principles of treatment from beginning to end. As for temporary adaptations, one must rely on divine wisdom to understand them." How profound these words are! The subtle purport of the entire text is revealed here. Readers of this book should inevitably comprehend and realize its meaning. My further elucidation is intended to help those with shallow learning understand its purport. However, the insightful may already smile at this as adding feet to a snake. In mid-summer of the year Yihai, Xiaxi Zhang Lian wrote this at Zhichuan Study Hall, Baishan Lake.