齐氏《精义》曰∶疮候多端，欲辨浅深，直须得法。简而论之，则疮疽概举有三∶肿高
而软者，发于血脉；肿下而坚者，发于筋骨；皮肉之色不变者，发于骨髓。又曰∶凡疗疮疽
，以手按摇疮肿，根牢而大者，深也；根小而浮者，浅也。又验其人，初生疮之时，便觉壮
热恶寒，拘急头痛，精神不宁，烦躁饮冷者，其疮疽必深也。若人虽患疮疽，而起居平和，
饮食如故者，其疮浮浅也。恶疮初生，其头如米粟，微似有痛痒，误触破之即 展，觉有深
意，速服犀角升麻汤，及漏芦汤、通气等药，取通利疏畅，兼用浴毒汤， 溃之类。若浮浅
者，贴膏 求差。以此推之，则深浅之变，始终之次也。又曰∶憎寒壮热，所患必深。肉
色不变，发于内也。
曾氏曰∶凡痈疽，其脉浮数洪紧，肿 作痛，身热烦渴，饮食如常，此六腑不和，毒
发于外而为痈。其势虽急，投以凉剂，多保全生。其脉沉细伏紧，初发甚微，或无疮头，身
不热而内燥，体重烦疼，情绪不乐，胸膈痞闷，饮食无味，此五脏不和，毒蓄于内而为疽。
急投五香连翘汤，或神仙截法蜡矾丸、制甘草汤防托毒瓦斯，免致变证内攻，尤宜当头隔蒜灸
。若涂毒药，迷其腠理；投凉药，虚其真气。故善恶之证，在乎医之工拙耳。或噫气痞塞，
咳逆，身冷自汗，目瞪耳聋，恍惚惊悸，语言颠倒，皆深恶证也。五善见三则瘥，七恶见四
则危。五善并至，则善无以加，七恶并臻则恶之极矣。
李氏曰∶疽初发一粒如麻豆，发热肿高，热痛色赤，此为外发。势虽炽盛，治得其法，
可保其生。若初时不发热，体倦怠，患处如故，数日不肿痛，五内已坏。虽有卢、扁之药，
亦未如之何矣。
立斋曰∶前证有因元气虚而不能发出者，有因敷贴寒药而不发出者，有因攻伐过伤气
血而不能发出者，有因热毒内蕴而失疏托者，审而治之，多有生者。
齐氏在《精义》中说：疮疡的证候多种多样，想要辨别其病位的浅深，必须掌握正确的方法。简要来说，疮疽大致可以分为三类：肿胀高起且质地柔软的，病发于血脉；肿胀平塌且质地坚硬的，病发于筋骨；皮肤肌肉颜色没有变化的，病发于骨髓。又说：凡是治疗疮疽，用手按压并摇动疮肿，根基牢固且范围大的，属于病位深；根基小且位置浮浅的，属于病位浅。还要观察患者本人，在初生疮疡时，如果立刻感到壮热（高热）、恶寒、肢体拘急头痛、精神不安、烦躁且想喝冷饮的，其疮疽必然病位深。如果人虽然患有疮疽，但起居平和，饮食如常的，其疮疡病位浮浅。恶疮初生时，疮头像米粒或粟米一样大小，微微有些痛痒，如果误触破溃就会扩散，感觉病势有深入的趋势，应迅速服用犀角升麻汤，以及漏芦汤、通气等药物，以求通利疏畅，同时配合使用浴毒汤，促使疮疡溃破排脓。如果是病位浮浅的，只需贴膏药求取痊愈。由此推断，深浅的变化，就是疾病始终发展的次序。又说：憎寒（怕冷）壮热，所患的病位必然深。肉色不变，说明病发于体内。
曾氏说：凡是痈疽，如果脉象浮数洪紧，肿胀作痛，身体发热烦渴，饮食正常，这是六腑不和，毒邪发于外部而形成的痈。这种病情虽然急迫，投用凉性药剂，大多能保全生命。如果脉象沉细伏紧，初发时症状很轻微，或者没有疮头，身体不发热但内部干燥，身体沉重烦疼，情绪不乐，胸膈部痞闷，饮食无味，这是五脏不和，毒邪蓄积于内部而形成的疽。应立即投用五香连翘汤，或者神仙截法蜡矾丸、制甘草汤来防止托举毒气，避免导致变证内攻，尤其适宜在患处隔蒜灸。如果涂抹毒药，会闭塞腠理；投用凉药，会损伤真气。所以疮疡善恶的判断，在于医生医术的高下。如果出现嗳气痞塞，咳嗽气逆，身体寒冷自汗，眼睛直视耳聋，恍惚惊悸，言语颠倒，这些都是病位极深的恶证。五善证出现三种则病可愈，七恶证出现四种则病情危重。五善证全部出现，则善到了极点；七恶证全部出现，则恶到了极点。
李氏说：疽初发时像一粒麻豆大小，发热肿胀高起，热痛且颜色发红，这是向外发的。病情虽然炽盛，只要治疗方法得当，可以保全生命。如果初起时不发热，身体倦怠，患处没有变化，几天后也不肿痛，说明五脏内部已经败坏。即使有卢医、扁鹊那样的神医良药，也没有办法了。
立斋说：前面的证候有因为元气虚弱而不能发出的，有因为敷贴寒凉药物而不能发出的，有因为攻伐过度损伤气血而不能发出的，有因为热毒内蕴而失去疏泄托毒治疗的，仔细审察并治疗，大多能存活。
Qi's *Jingyi* states: The manifestations of sores and ulcers are manifold. To distinguish their depth, one must employ the correct method. Briefly speaking, sores and ulcers can be generally categorized into three types: those that are swollen, elevated, and soft originate in the blood vessels; those that are flat, depressed, and hard originate in the muscles and bones; those where the skin and muscle color remain unchanged originate in the bone marrow. It further states: When treating sores and ulcers, pressing and shaking the swelling with the hand reveals that a firm root and large area indicate deep pathology, while a small root and superficial position indicate shallow pathology. One must also examine the patient: if upon the initial appearance of the sore, there is immediate high fever (*Zhuangre*), aversion to cold, limb stiffness and headache, mental restlessness, irritability, and a desire for cold drinks, the sore or ulcer is necessarily deep. Conversely, if the patient suffers from a sore or ulcer but maintains normal daily activities and diet, the lesion is superficial. When an malignant sore first appears, presenting as a head like millet grain, with slight pain or itching, accidental rupture leads to spread, indicating a tendency toward deeper involvement. In such cases, one should quickly administer *Xijiao Shengma Tang* (Rhino Horn and Cimicifuga Decoction), as well as *Loulu Tang* (Euphorbia Lomata Decoction) and Qi-tonifying medicines, aiming for unblocking and free flow, while simultaneously using *Yudu Tang* (Poison-Bathing Decoction) to promote suppuration. For superficial lesions, applying plasters suffices for recovery. From this, we deduce that the variation between shallow and deep constitutes the sequence of disease progression. It also states: Aversion to cold with high fever indicates deep pathology. Unchanged flesh color suggests internal origin.
Zeng states: Regarding all carbuncles and ulcers, if the pulse is floating, rapid, full, and tight, accompanied by swelling and pain, fever, thirst, and normal appetite, this indicates disharmony of the Six Fu-organs, with toxicity manifesting externally as a carbuncle (*Yong*). Although the condition is acute, administration of cooling agents often ensures survival. If the pulse is deep, fine, hidden, and tight, with initial symptoms being subtle or lacking a visible head, no fever but internal dryness, heavy body with painful discomfort, low mood, chest and diaphragm stuffiness, and loss of taste, this indicates disharmony of the Five Zang-organs, with toxicity accumulating internally as an ulcer (*Ju*). One should urgently administer *Wuxiang Lianqiao Tang* (Five Spices and Forsythia Decoction), or *Shenxian Jiefa Lafan Wan* (Immortal Interception Method Wax-Adorned Pill), and prepared licorice decoction to prevent the toxic qi from penetrating inward and causing internal attack complications. Moxibustion with garlic partition on the affected area is particularly suitable. Applying toxic drugs may obstruct the interstices (*Couli*); administering cooling drugs may deplete true qi. Thus, the distinction between favorable and unfavorable signs depends on the physician's skill. Symptoms such as belching with obstruction, coughing and rebellious qi, cold body with spontaneous sweating, fixed gaze with deafness, mental confusion with palpitations, and incoherent speech are all signs of extreme depth and malignancy. If three of the "Five Favorable Signs" appear, recovery is possible; if four of the "Seven Unfavorable Signs" appear, the condition is critical. The simultaneous presence of all Five Favorable Signs represents the peak of favorability; the simultaneous presence of all Seven Unfavorable Signs represents the peak of malignancy.
Li states: An ulcer initially appearing as a single bean-sized nodule, with fever, swelling, elevation, hot pain, and redness, indicates external manifestation. Although the condition is vigorous, proper treatment can ensure survival. However, if there is no fever at onset, general fatigue, no change in the affected area, and no swelling or pain after several days, it indicates that the internal organs have already deteriorated. Even with the medicinal skills of Lu Yi (Bian Que) or Bian Que, nothing can be done.
Lizhai states: The aforementioned conditions may arise because the original qi is deficient and unable to expel the pathogen; because cold medications were applied topically preventing expulsion; because excessive purgation damaged the qi and blood preventing expulsion; or because internal accumulation of heat-toxin was not addressed with draining and supporting methods. Careful examination and treatment often lead to survival.