朝华之草，夕而零落，松柏之坚，凌冬不凋。盖草木有坚脆之不同，坚者难坏，脆
者易伤，况于其人？质有浓薄，气有强弱耶！痘疮之毒，喜老而恶嫩，如疮蜡娇红，
色之老嫩也，紧实虚浮，形之老嫩也。浓浊清淡，浆之老嫩也。坚浓软薄，痂之老嫩
也。然老嫩之故，卫气主之，《经》曰∶卫气者，所以温分肉，充皮肤，肥腠理，司开
合者也。故卫气强则肉分坚，皮肤浓，腠理密，而开合得矣。所以收敛禁束制其毒，而
不得放肆乃色苍而蜡，形紧而实，浆浓而浊，痂浓而坚，自然易壮易靥，虽有邪风秽
毒，不能害也。如卫气弱，则肉分脆，皮肤薄，腠理疏，而开合失矣。所以不胜其毒，
而毒得以恣其猖狂之性，乃色嫩而红，形虚而浮，浆清而淡，痂嫩而溥，易破易靥，不待邪风
秽气，已先败坏矣。故疮之老嫩，气之所致也。至于红者虽血之体，然血因火动而呈其色，
无火虽红，必淡矣。其以红为血热者，指深红而言，若夫娇者，气固不足，连血亦虚，无几之
血，乘以无根之火。游行于皮肤，因囊廓不浓，故虽红而娇，不若白而老也。
凡物得其平则静，失其平则动。《经》曰∶阳气者静则养神，柔则养筋。又曰∶阴气者静则神藏，
燥则消亡。故最息欲其匀，语欲其少，寐欲其定，寤欲其宁，饥则索食，渴则少饮，触其疮则吟，拂
其欲则鸣，此则气足神清，而近平人之候，谓之静而吉者也。如伸者，身有苦也，自语者，神不清
也，喘相者，内热也，肠鸣者，泄也，坐卧不宁者，心烦也，啼叫不止者，痛甚也，头摇者，风也，
指欲搔者，痒也，咽物难者咽痛也，切牙者心肝热也。甚若闷乱燥扰，谵妄昏眩，摇头扭项，手舞足掷，
目睛上翻，寒战切牙，则皆死候也，然如向静而忽作扰动，疮色条变，又无也，候者，此必戾气所
触也。至若目瞑息微，四肢僵直，口噤疮坏，昏睡不醒者，此是真气将脱，魂魄欲离之兆，又不可
作静诊也。
清晨开花的草，傍晚就会凋零；松柏的坚韧，经历寒冬也不凋谢。大概草木有坚硬和脆弱的不同，坚硬的难以损坏，脆弱的容易受伤，何况是人呢？体质有浓厚与稀薄的区别，正气有强盛与虚弱的差异啊！痘疮的毒气，喜欢“老”而厌恶“嫩”。所谓“老”与“嫩”，体现在颜色上：如疮色像蜡一样娇红，这是颜色的老嫩；体现在形态上：坚实紧凑或空虚浮泛，这是形态的老嫩；体现在脓浆上：浓浊或清淡，这是脓浆的老嫩；体现在结痂上：坚硬浓厚或柔软稀薄，这是结痂的老嫩。然而决定老嫩的原因，在于卫气（运行于体表、具有防御功能的正气）的主导。《黄帝内经》说：“卫气，是用来温煦肌肉、充实皮肤、肥厚腠理、主管汗孔开合的。”所以卫气强盛，则肌肉分界坚实，皮肤厚实，腠理致密，汗孔的开合功能正常。因此能收敛束缚并制约毒邪，使其不能放肆妄行，于是痘色呈现苍老而带蜡色，形态紧实，脓浆浓稠浑浊，结痂浓厚坚硬，自然容易成熟、容易结痂脱落，即使有外来的风邪秽毒，也不能伤害它。如果卫气虚弱，则肌肉脆弱，皮肤薄，腠理疏松，汗孔的开合功能失常。因此承受不住毒邪，毒邪得以肆意猖狂，于是痘色娇嫩而鲜红，形态空虚浮泛，脓浆清稀淡白，结痂嫩薄，容易破损、容易结痂脱落，不需要等到外来的风邪秽气侵袭，痘疮已经先败坏了。所以说痘疮的老嫩，是由正气决定的。至于红色，虽然是血的本质表现，但血是因为火邪扰动才呈现出这种颜色，如果没有火邪，虽然发红，也一定是淡红色的。那些认为红色就是血热的，是指深红色而言。至于那种娇嫩的红色，是因为气本来就不足，连带血也虚弱，仅有的一点血，乘着无根之火，游行在皮肤之间，因为痘囊廓不浓密，所以虽然红却显得娇嫩，不如白色那样显得老成。
凡是物体得到平衡就安静，失去平衡就躁动。《黄帝内经》说：“阳气，安静就能滋养精神，柔和就能滋养筋脉。”又说：“阴气，安静就能使神志内藏，燥热就会消亡。”所以呼吸要均匀，言语要少，睡眠要安稳，醒来要宁静，饿了就索取食物，渴了就少量饮水，触碰疮口就呻吟，触犯欲望就鸣叫，这些是正气充足、神志清明，接近常人的征象，称为“静”且吉利。如果是伸懒腰，说明身体有痛苦；自言自语，说明神志不清醒；喘息急促，说明体内有热；肠鸣，说明腹泻；坐卧不安，说明心烦；啼哭叫喊不止，说明疼痛剧烈；头摇动，说明有风邪；手指想要搔抓，说明瘙痒；吞咽困难，说明咽喉疼痛；咬牙，说明心肝有热。严重到烦躁混乱、燥扰不安、胡言乱语、昏沉眩晕、摇头扭颈、手舞足蹈、眼球上翻、寒战咬牙，这些都是死症的表现。然而，如果原本安静突然变得躁动扰动，痘色条变，又没有其他明显症状，这是被戾气（强烈的致病邪气）所触发的缘故。至于眼睛闭合、呼吸微弱、四肢僵硬挺直、牙关紧闭、疮口溃坏、昏睡不醒，这是真气即将脱失、魂魄将要离体的征兆，又不能当作“静”来诊断了。
Grasses that bloom in the morning wither by evening, while pines and cypresses, due to their toughness, do not shed their leaves even in winter. This is because plants differ in hardness and brittleness; hard ones are difficult to damage, while brittle ones are easily injured. How much more so for humans? Their constitution varies in density (thickness/substance), and their Qi (vital energy) differs in strength! The toxin of smallpox/variolae (痘疮) prefers "mature/old" (lao) and dislikes "tender/young" (nen). Regarding color: if the lesion appears tenderly red like wax, this indicates the maturity/tenderness of the color. Regarding shape: if it is firm and compact or hollow and floating, this indicates the maturity/tenderness of the shape. Regarding pus: if it is thick and turbid or clear and light, this indicates the maturity/tenderness of the pus. Regarding scabs: if they are hard and thick or soft and thin, this indicates the maturity/tenderness of the scabs. However, the cause of maturity versus tenderness is governed by Wei Qi (Defensive Qi, a type of vital energy that circulates on the body surface and provides defense). The Classic states: "Wei Qi serves to warm the muscles, fill the skin, thicken the interstices (Couli), and control the opening and closing [of pores]." Therefore, when Wei Qi is strong, the muscle tissue is firm, the skin is thick, the interstices are dense, and the opening and closing functions are regulated. Thus, it can restrain and bind the toxin, preventing it from running rampant. Consequently, the lesions appear dark and waxy, the shape is tight and solid, the pus is thick and turbid, and the scabs are thick and hard. Naturally, they mature easily and crust over easily. Even if exposed to pathogenic wind or foul toxins, they cannot be harmed. Conversely, if Wei Qi is weak, the muscle tissue is brittle, the skin is thin, the interstices are loose, and the opening and closing functions are lost. Thus, it cannot withstand the toxin, allowing the toxin to act wildly. Consequently, the lesions appear tender and bright red, the shape is hollow and floating, the pus is clear and pale, and the scabs are tender and sparse. They break easily and crust over prematurely. Without waiting for external pathogenic winds or foul air, the lesions may already deteriorate. Hence, the maturity or tenderness of the lesions is determined by the state of Qi. As for redness, although it is the nature of Blood, Blood presents its color only when agitated by Fire. Without Fire, even if red, it must be pale. Those who identify redness as Heat in Blood refer specifically to deep red. As for the "tender" redness mentioned above, it arises because Qi is inherently deficient, leading to concurrent Blood deficiency. With very little Blood remaining, it is driven by rootless Fire, wandering within the skin. Because the vesicle cavity is not dense, although red, it appears tender, unlike white which signifies maturity.
All things remain still when they achieve balance, but become active when balance is lost. The Classic states: "When Yang Qi is still, it nourishes the Spirit; when soft, it nourishes the sinews." It also states: "When Yin Qi is still, the Spirit is stored; when dry/hot, it dissipates." Therefore, breathing should be even, speech should be minimal, sleep should be stable, and wakefulness should be peaceful. Seeking food when hungry, drinking sparingly when thirsty, groaning when touching the lesions, and crying out when desires are frustrated—these are signs of sufficient Qi and clear Spirit, resembling normal health, termed "Stillness" and auspicious. Stretching indicates bodily pain; muttering to oneself indicates unclear Spirit; panting indicates internal Heat; borborygmus (bowel sounds) indicates diarrhea; restlessness in sitting or lying indicates Heart vexation; incessant crying and calling indicate severe pain; head shaking indicates Wind; fingers wanting to scratch indicate itching; difficulty swallowing indicates sore throat; grinding teeth indicates Heat in the Heart and Liver. Severe cases involving confusion, agitation, delirium, dizziness, head shaking, neck twisting, flailing hands and feet, upward rolling of the eyes, chills with teeth grinding—all these are signs of death. However, if a patient was previously still but suddenly becomes agitated, with changes in lesion appearance but no other obvious symptoms, this is likely triggered by a virulent pathogen (Li Qi). On the other hand, closed eyes, faint breathing, stiff limbs, locked jaw, necrotic lesions, and unrousable coma are signs that True Qi is about to collapse and the Soul is about to depart; these must not be diagnosed as "Stillness."