夫疮候多端，欲辨浅深，直须得法。若不素知方论，而妄生穿凿者，如大匠舍其绳墨，
度量，安能中于规矩哉？尝闻古人有言曰∶多则惑，少则得。简而论之，则疮疽概举有三种
∶高而软者，发于血脉；肿下而坚者，发于筋；骨肉皮色不相辨者，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，其患疮疽必深也；若人虽患疮疽，起居平和，饮
食如故，其疾浮浅也。恶疮初生，其头如米粟，微似有痛痒，误触破之，即 展觉有深意，
速服犀角汤及漏芦汤、通气丸等，取通利疏畅，兼用浴毒汤 渍之类；若浮浅者， 贴膏求
瘥。以此推之，浅深之辨，始终之次者也。
夫疮肿之疾，毒瓦斯已结者，不可论内消之法，即当辨脓生熟浅深，不可妄开，视其可否
至于危殆矣。凡疮疽肿大，按之乃痛者，脓深也；小按之便痛者，脓浅也；按之不甚痛者，
未成脓也。若按之即复者，有脓也；不复者，无脓也；非也，必是水也。若发肿都软而不痛
者，血瘤也；发肿日渐增长而不大热，时时牵痛者，气瘤也；气结微肿，久而不消，后亦成
脓，此是寒热所为也，留积经久，极阴生阳，寒化为热，以此溃必多成 ，宜早服内塞散以
排之。诸癃瘤疣赘等，至年衰皆自内溃，理于年壮，可无后忧也。又凡疗痈疽，以手掩其上
大热者，脓成自软也；若其上薄皮剥起者，脓浅也；其肿不甚热者，脓未成也；若患瘰 结
核，寒热发渴，经久不消者，其人面色痿黄，被热上蒸，已成脓也。至于脏腑肠胃，内疮内
疽，其疾隐而不见，目既不见，手不能近，所为至难，可以诊其脉而辨之，亦可知矣。有患
胃脘痈者，当候胃脉，人迎者，胃脉也，其脉沉细者，气逆则甚，甚则热聚胃口而不行，胃
脘而为痈也；若其脉洪数者，脓已成也；设脉迟紧，虽脓未就，已有瘀血也，宜急治之，不
尔则邪毒内攻，腐烂肠胃，不可救也。又肺痈论曰∶始萌则可救，脓成即死，不可不慎也；
久久咳脓如粳米粥者不治，呕脓而止者自愈也。又肠痈论曰∶或绕脐生疮，脓从疮出者，有
出脐中者，惟大便下脓血者自愈也。
疮疡的证候表现多种多样，想要辨别其病位的深浅，必须掌握正确的方法。如果不平素熟悉相关的理论与方论，却盲目地进行穿刺切开，就像优秀的工匠舍弃了墨线和尺规，怎么能符合规范呢？曾听古人说：“多则惑，少则得。”简要地论述，疮疽大概分为三种：高起且柔软的，病变在血脉；肿胀下陷且坚硬的，病变在筋；骨肉与皮色界限不清的，病变在骨髓。又说：凡是治疗疮疽，用手按压并摇动，疮肿根部牢固且范围大的，说明病位深；根部小且浮浅的，说明病位浅。又通过观察患者初生疮疡时的表现来验证：如果一开始就感到壮热恶寒、肢体拘急头痛、精神不安、烦躁想喝冷水的，其患的疮疽必然病位深；如果虽然患有疮疽，但起居平和，饮食如常，说明疾病浮浅。恶疮刚生成时，疮头像米粟一样大小，微微有些痛痒，如果误触破它，立刻就会感觉到病情深入，应迅速服用犀角汤及漏芦汤、通气丸等药物，以求通利疏畅，同时用浴毒汤浸泡患处；如果是浮浅的，贴敷膏药以求痊愈。由此推断，辨别深浅是判断病程始终的关键环节。
对于疮肿这类疾病，如果毒气已经结聚，就不能讨论内消的方法，而应当辨别脓液的成熟程度及深浅，不可妄自切开，否则视其情况不当会导致危险。凡是疮疽肿大，用力按压才痛的，说明脓液位置深；轻轻按压就痛的，说明脓液位置浅；按压时疼痛不明显的，说明尚未成脓。如果按压后凹陷立即复原的，说明有脓；不复原的，说明无脓；如果是不复原的，必定是水湿积聚。如果发肿全部柔软且不痛的，是血瘤；发肿日渐增长但不大热，时常牵引作痛的，是气瘤；气机结聚微肿，久不消散，后来也化成脓，这是寒热邪气所致，留积经久，极阴生阳，寒转化为热，以此溃破必然流出大量脓液，宜早服内塞散以排出脓毒。各种癃瘤、疣赘等，到了年老体衰时都会自行从内部溃破，如果在年富力强时处理，就可以没有后顾之忧。另外，凡是治疗痈疽，用手覆盖在上面感觉大热的，说明脓已成熟且局部变软；如果上面的薄皮剥起，说明脓液浅表；如果肿胀处不太热，说明脓尚未形成；如果患瘰疬结核，伴有寒热口渴，经久不消，其人面色萎黄，被热邪上蒸，说明已成脓。至于脏腑肠胃内部的疮疡，其病势隐蔽而看不见，眼睛既看不见，手也不能接近，处理起来非常困难，可以通过诊察脉象来辨别，也就知道了。有患胃脘痈的，应当候察胃脉，人迎穴处的脉象属于胃脉，如果脉象沉细，说明气逆严重，严重时热气聚集在胃口而不运行，导致胃脘发生痈肿；如果脉象洪数，说明脓已形成；假如脉象迟紧，虽然脓未形成，但已有瘀血，应当紧急治疗，不然的话邪毒内攻，腐烂肠胃，就无法救治了。又有肺痈论说：刚开始萌芽时可以救治，脓成则死，不可不谨慎；如果久久咳嗽吐出像粳米粥一样的脓液，属于不治之症；如果呕吐脓液后症状停止，说明自愈。又有肠痈论说：有的绕脐生疮，脓从疮口流出，有的从脐中流出，只有大便排出脓血的，才能自愈。
The manifestations of sores and ulcers are diverse. To distinguish their depth, one must employ the correct methods. If one is not familiar with the relevant theories and prescriptions beforehand, yet blindly performs incisions or punctures, it is like a master craftsman abandoning the ink line and measuring tools; how can one adhere to standards? As the ancients said, "Too much leads to confusion, too little leads to certainty." Briefly speaking, sores and carbuncles can be generally categorized into three types: those that are elevated and soft originate in the blood vessels; those that are depressed, swollen, and hard originate in the tendons; those where the bone, flesh, and skin color are indistinguishable originate in the bone marrow. It is also said: When treating sores and carbuncles, press and shake them with the hand. If the base of the swelling is firm and large, the disease is deep; if the base is small and superficial, the disease is shallow. Furthermore, verify by observing the patient's condition when the sore first appears: if they initially experience high fever with aversion to cold, limb stiffness and headache, mental restlessness, irritability, and a desire for cold drinks, the sore or carbuncle is likely deep. If, although suffering from a sore or carbuncle, the patient's daily activities are peaceful and diet remains normal, the disease is superficial. When an evil sore first forms, its head resembles millet grains, with slight pain or itching. If mistakenly broken, one will immediately sense the pathology penetrating deeper. One should quickly administer Xijiao Tang (Rhinoceros Horn Decoction), Loulu Tang (Caulis Euphorbiae Lathyri Decoction), Tongqi Wan (Qi-Regulating Pill), etc., to promote unblocking and smooth flow, and simultaneously use Yuduo Tang (Toxin-Bathing Decoction) for soaking. For superficial cases, apply plasters to seek healing. From this, we deduce that distinguishing depth is the primary step in determining the course of the disease.
For diseases of sores and swellings, if the toxic qi has already consolidated, internal resolution methods cannot be discussed; instead, one must distinguish the ripeness and depth of the pus, and must not make rash incisions, lest improper handling lead to danger. Whenever a sore or carbuncle is swollen and painful only upon deep pressure, the pus is deep; painful upon light pressure, the pus is shallow; with little pain upon pressure, pus has not yet formed. If depression after pressure rebounds immediately, there is pus; if it does not rebound, there is no pus; if it does not rebound, it is likely fluid accumulation. If the swelling is entirely soft and painless, it is a Blood Tumor (Xueliu); if the swelling grows day by day without significant heat, accompanied by occasional pulling pain, it is a Qi Tumor (Qiliu); if Qi stagnation causes slight swelling that persists for a long time and later turns to pus, this is caused by Cold and Heat pathogens. Accumulated over a long period, extreme Yin generates Yang, and Cold transforms into Heat. Upon rupture, it will likely produce abundant pus; therefore, one should take Neisai San (Internal-Sealing Powder) early to expel it. Various tumors, warts, and excrescences will naturally ulcerate internally in old age. If treated during youth, one can avoid future worries. Additionally, when treating carbuncles, if covering the area with the hand reveals intense heat, the pus is mature and the area becomes soft; if the superficial skin peels up, the pus is shallow; if the swelling is not very hot, pus has not yet formed; if suffering from scrofula (Luoli) with nodules, accompanied by alternating chills and fever, thirst, and persistence without resolution, and the person's complexion is sallow due to steaming by Heat, pus has formed. Regarding internal sores and carbuncles of the Zang-Fu organs and intestines/stomach, the pathology is hidden and invisible, eyes cannot see it, and hands cannot reach it, making treatment extremely difficult. However, one can diagnose and distinguish it by palpating the pulse. For patients with Stomach-Wall Carbuncle (Weiwuan Yong), one should monitor the Stomach Pulse. The pulse at the Renying acupoint corresponds to the Stomach channel. If the pulse is deep and fine, Qi rebellion is severe; if severe, Heat gathers at the stomach opening and fails to circulate, leading to a carbuncle in the stomach wall. If the pulse is surging and rapid, pus has formed. If the pulse is slow and tight, although pus has not formed, blood stasis exists; urgent treatment is required. Otherwise, pathogenic toxins will attack inward, rotting the intestines and stomach, rendering the condition incurable. The treatise on Lung Abscess states: In the initial stage, it can be saved; once pus forms, death ensues. Caution is essential. If coughing up pus resembling rice porridge persists for a long time, it is untreatable; if vomiting pus stops the symptoms, self-healing occurs. The treatise on Intestinal Abscess states: Some develop sores around the umbilicus with pus draining from the sore, or some drain from the umbilicus itself. Only those who pass pus and blood in the stool will heal spontaneously.