大凡看法∶卫之后方言气，营之后方言血。在卫汗之可也；到气才宜清气；乍入营分，犹可透热，仍转气
分而解，如犀
角、元参、羚羊等物是也；至入于血，则恐耗血动血，直须凉血散血，如生地、丹皮、阿胶、赤芍等物是也。
若不循缓急之法，虑其动手便错耳。
且吾吴湿邪害人最多。如面色白者，须要顾其阳气，湿胜则阳微也。如法应清凉，用到十分之六七，即不
可过凉，盖恐湿热一去，阳亦衰微也。面色苍者，须要顾其津液，清凉到十分之六七，往往热减身寒者，不可
便云虚寒而投补剂，恐炉烟虽熄，灰中有火也，须细察精详，方少少与之，慎不可漫然而进也。
又有酒客里湿素盛，外邪入里，与之相抟。在阳旺之躯，胃湿恒多；在阴盛之体，脾湿亦不少。然其化热
则一。热病救阴犹易，通阳最难。救阴不在补血而在养津与测汗；通阳不在温而在利小便。较之杂证，有不同也。
再舌苔白浓而干燥者，此胃燥气伤也，滋润药中加甘草，令甘守津还之意；舌白而薄者，外感风寒也，当
疏散之；若薄白而干者，肺液伤也，加麦冬、花露、芦根汁等轻清之品，为上者上之也；若苔白而底绛者，湿
遏热伏也，当先泄湿透热，防其即干也，此可勿忧，再从里而透于外，则变润矣；初病舌即干，神不昏者，宜
急养正，微加透邪之药；若神已昏，此内匮，不可救药矣。
再有不拘何色舌生芒刺者，皆是上焦热极也，当用青布拭冷薄荷水揩之，即去者轻，旋即生者险矣。
舌苔不燥，自觉闷极者，属脾湿盛也；或有伤痕血迹者，必问曾经搔挖否？不可以有血而便为枯症，仍从
湿治可也。再有神情清爽，舌胀大不能退场门者，此脾湿胃热，郁极化风（按∶此语费解），而毒延于口也，用
大黄磨入当用剂内，则舌胀自消矣。
又有舌上白苔粘腻，吐出浊浓涎沫者，其口必甜，此为脾瘅，乃湿热气聚，与谷气相抟，土有余也，盈满
则上泛，当用佩兰叶芳香辛散以逐之。若舌上苔如碱者，胃中宿滞挟浊秽郁伏，当急急开泄；否则闭结中焦，
不能从募原达出矣。
若舌白如粉而滑，四边色紫绛者，温疫病初入募原，未归胃腑，急急透解，莫待传入而为险恶之症。且见此
舌者，病必见凶，须要小心。
大凡辨证规律：病邪在卫分之后，才涉及气分；病邪在营分之后，才涉及血分。病邪在卫分，可以用发汗的方法治疗；病邪到了气分，才适宜用清气分热的方法；病邪刚进入营分，仍然可以通过透热转气的方法治疗，使病邪转出气分而解，如使用犀角、玄参、羚羊角等药物就是这种治法；如果病邪深入血分，就担心耗伤血液和引起出血，必须直接使用凉血散血的方法，如生地黄、牡丹皮、阿胶、赤芍等药物就是这种治法。如果不遵循由浅入深、循序渐进的治疗法则，恐怕一动手就会出错。
况且我们吴地（江南地区）受湿邪侵害的人最多。对于面色白的人，必须顾护其阳气，因为湿气盛则会导致阳气微弱。如果治疗方法应当用清凉药，用到十分之六七的剂量时，就不可过于寒凉，因为恐怕湿热一去，阳气也随之衰微。对于面色青黑的人，必须顾护其津液，使用清凉药到十分之六七，往往热势减退身体感到寒冷时，不可以立即说是虚寒证而投用补益剂，因为恐怕炉火虽然熄灭，灰烬中还有余火，必须仔细考察详辨，才能少量给予药物，千万不要贸然进补。
又有平素体内湿气盛的酒客，外邪侵入体内，与内湿相互搏结。在阳气旺盛的体质，胃中湿气通常较多；在阴气偏盛的体质，脾中湿气也不少。然而它们化热的情况是一样的。热病救治阴液还算容易，通利阳气最难。救治阴液不在于补血，而在于滋养津液和推测汗出的情况；通利阳气不在于温补，而在于利小便。这与杂病的治疗有所不同。
再看舌苔白厚而干燥的，这是胃燥气受伤的表现，在滋润药中加入甘草，以体现甘守津还的意思；舌苔白而薄的，是外感风寒，应当用疏散风邪的方法治疗；如果是薄白而干的，是肺液受伤，加入麦冬、花露、芦根汁等轻清的药物，这是顺应上焦病位从上而治的方法；如果舌苔白而底色红绛的，是湿遏热伏，应当先泄湿透热，防止舌苔变干，这种情况不必担忧，再从里向外透达，舌苔就会变得润泽；初病舌头即干燥，但神志清醒的，应当紧急扶助正气，微微加入透邪的药物；如果神志已经昏迷，这是内脏精气衰竭，不可救药了。
再有不论舌苔什么颜色，舌面上生出芒刺的，都是上焦热极的表现，应当用青布蘸冷薄荷水擦拭，擦掉后很快又长出来的是轻症，擦掉后立即又生出来的是险症。
舌苔不干燥，但自觉胸闷至极的，属于脾湿盛；如果有伤痕血迹的，必须询问是否曾经搔抓挖破？不可以因为有血就认为是枯涸证，仍然按照湿证治疗即可。再有神情清爽，但舌体胀大不能缩回口腔内的，这是脾湿胃热，郁结至极化为风毒，蔓延到口腔，用大黄磨汁加入应当使用的方剂内，舌胀自然就会消除。
又有舌上白苔粘腻，吐出浑浊浓稠涎沫的，口中必定发甜，这称为脾瘅，是湿热气聚，与谷气相互搏结，土气有余，满溢则向上泛涌，应当用佩兰叶芳香辛散的药物来驱除它。如果舌上苔像碱粉一样堆积的，是胃中宿食停滞挟带浊秽之气郁伏，应当紧急开泄；否则闭结在中焦，不能从募原透达出去了。
如果舌白如粉而且滑润，四边颜色紫绛的，是温疫病初入募原，尚未归入胃腑，应当紧急透解，不要等待传入体内而变成险恶的病症。而且见到这种舌象，病情必然凶险，必须小心谨慎。
In general, the pattern of progression is as follows: after the Wei (Defensive) level, one speaks of the Qi (Energy) level; after the Ying (Nutritive) level, one speaks of the Xue (Blood) level. When the pathogen is in the Wei level, sweating methods may be used; when it reaches the Qi level, clearing heat from the Qi level is appropriate; when it newly enters the Ying level, heat can still be vented to transfer it back to the Qi level for resolution, using substances such as Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao), Scrophularia Root (Yuanshen), and Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao); once it enters the Xue level, there is fear of consuming blood and stirring blood, so cooling the blood and dispersing blood stasis must be employed directly, using substances such as Rehmannia Root (Shengdi), Moutan Bark (Danpi), Donkey-hide Gelatin (Ejiao), and Red Peony Root (Chishao). If one does not follow the method of gradual progression, one fears making mistakes upon initiating treatment.
Moreover, in our Wu region, most people are harmed by Dampness pathogens. For those with a pale complexion, one must protect their Yang Qi, because excessive Dampness leads to weakened Yang. If the treatment method should involve cooling agents, they should be used up to sixty or seventy percent of the full dose, and then not overused, lest after the Damp-Heat is eliminated, the Yang Qi also becomes severely deficient. For those with a dark complexion, one must protect their Jin-Ye (Body Fluids); when cooling agents are used up to sixty or seventy percent, and often the heat decreases while the body feels cold, one must not immediately claim it is Deficient-Cold and administer tonifying agents, for fear that although the stove fire has extinguished, embers still contain heat. One must examine carefully and precisely before administering small amounts, and must not rashly advance with tonics.
There are also wine drinkers whose interior Dampness is abundant. When external pathogens enter the interior, they contend with the interior Dampness. In constitutions with vigorous Yang, Stomach Dampness is usually abundant; in constitutions with abundant Yin, Spleen Dampness is also considerable. However, their transformation into Heat is the same. Rescuing Yin in Heat diseases is relatively easy; unblocking Yang is the most difficult. Rescuing Yin does not lie in nourishing Blood, but in nourishing Jin-Ye and estimating sweat production; unblocking Yang does not lie in warming, but in promoting urination. This differs from the treatment of miscellaneous diseases.
Regarding tongue coating: if it is white, thick, and dry, this indicates Dryness injuring Qi in the Stomach; adding Licorice Root (Gancao) to moistening herbs embodies the intention of retaining sweetness to restore fluids. If the coating is white and thin, it is External Contraction of Wind-Cold, and should be dispersed. If it is thin, white, and dry, Lung fluids are injured; add light and clear substances such as Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), Flower Dew, and Reed Rhizome Juice (Lugen Zhi), which treats the upper jiao by treating from above. If the coating is white but the underlying tongue body is crimson, this is Dampness suppressing Heat, hiding within; one should first drain Dampness and vent Heat to prevent drying; this need not cause worry, and from the interior venting to the exterior will make it moist again. If the tongue is dry at the onset of disease but consciousness is clear, urgently nourish Righteous Qi, slightly adding herbs that vent pathogens. If consciousness is already clouded, this indicates internal depletion, and it is incurable.
Furthermore, regardless of the color, if prickles appear on the tongue, this indicates extreme Heat in the Upper Jiao. One should wipe it with cold Mint Water (Bohe Shui) using a blue cloth. If the prickles disappear easily, the condition is mild; if they regenerate immediately, it is dangerous.
If the tongue coating is not dry, but the patient feels extreme oppression, this belongs to abundant Spleen Dampness. If there are scars or bloodstains, one must ask if scratching occurred. One must not assume it is a Withered/Depleted syndrome simply because of blood; treat it according to Dampness. If the spirit is clear but the tongue is swollen and cannot retract into the mouth, this is Spleen Dampness and Stomach Heat, constrained to the extreme transforming into Wind-Toxin, spreading to the mouth. Add ground Rhubarb (Dahuang) to the prescribed formula, and the tongue swelling will subside naturally.
If there is a sticky, greasy white coating on the tongue, and turbid, thick saliva is spat out, the mouth will surely taste sweet. This is called Pi Dan (Spleen Mania), caused by Damp-Heat gathering and contending with Grain Qi, resulting in excess Earth. Fullness causes upward flooding; use Aromatic, Acrid, and Dispersing herbs like Eupatorium Leaf (Peilan Ye) to drive it out. If the coating on the tongue resembles alkali powder, it indicates old stagnation in the Stomach mixed with turbid filth lying dormant. One must urgently open and drain; otherwise, it will close and bind in the Middle Jiao, unable to reach out from the Mu Yuan (Source of Epidermis).
If the tongue is white like powder and slippery, with purple-crimson edges, this indicates the early stage of Warm Epidemic Disease entering the Mu Yuan, not yet having returned to the Stomach Fu organ. Urgently vent and resolve; do not wait for transmission to become a perilous syndrome. Seeing this tongue indicates a severe prognosis, requiring careful attention.