溃疡流水，凡皮肤之病，皆湿盛也。如疥疮、天泡疮、黄水疮之属，奇痒异常，皆有水
无脓，皆湿热之淫溢于肌腠者也。其水黄浊而粘，其毒甚炽，最易浸淫四窜，不独一人之身
沾染此水，随即发粒痒搔，即他人沾之，亦易传染。而湿盛之人，感触其气，亦即同病，此
湿疥、天泡疮等证，所以为流行病之一类。世俗之人，望而却步，诚非无因，是为疡疮水毒
之滋蔓者。此外如游风湿注，湿 湿癣，旋耳疮、燕窝疮、阴 疮、肾囊风、坐板疮诸
证，
脓毒已泄，余肿未消，亦必化水外溢，而后肿势渐退，则其水不粘，或作淡黄色，或竟清沏
如泉，渐渐从疮口溢出。必俟水尽复见稠脓，而始痊愈。则凡情势较巨，内攻较深者，无不
有此一候。然为日无几，至多不过四、五日，而新肌渐满。是溃疡顺境，流水之必不为害者
。若溃已有日，其脓清澈不稠，或仅见黄水，或竟流清水，绵延渐久，是其人正气不充，滋
养力薄，必以养胃健脾，助其生化之源，庶乎水尽见脓，肌肉渐能填满。否则水愈多而正愈
伤，殊非佳境。凡普通疡患，恒以溃脓为顺，流水为逆，职是故也。别有足部之疡，积湿蕴
热，忽发红肿，情势坚巨，浮红光亮，按之随指陷下，一时不能即起。此证湿火若盛，化腐
最易，即是阳发大毒，俗名水疔。宜于未腐之先，以铍针于光亮之处，刺八、九针或十数针
（
针
盛之证，臂 手背，亦间有之，惟发于足跗两胫者最多，故俗有手发背、脚发背之名。
有湿香港脚者，又不时频发，皆宜针之（此病吾吴俗名流火，湿热俱盛，每易腐烂，即所谓流
水
为
久，水色淡黄，日久则为深黄，为青绿，粘稠异常，有如鸡卵之白。此水流尽，调治较易。
此内溃成水之又一种也。若夫疔毒不聚，有水无脓，及脑疽、背疽，化脓不成，仅有黄水隐
隐，则肿必大坚，毒易内陷，是为险证。苟非调治有方，使大毒化脓透达，颇有大命之厄。
余如瘰 顽疮，时而有脓，时而流水，则亦以见脓为顺，见水为逆。流脓可冀成功，流水必
难收效。而石疽、失荣、乳癖、乳岩胀裂之后，时而有水，时而有血，以及坏证之败浆，血
水污浊，色晦臭腥者，则皆百无一治。此又疡患流水者之最恶候也。
溃疡渗出液体，凡是皮肤疾病，都是湿气过盛所致。例如疥疮、天疱疮、黄水疮这类病症，奇痒难忍，都有水液而无脓液，这都是湿热之邪淫溢于肌肤腠理之间的表现。其渗出的水液黄浊且粘稠，毒性炽盛，最容易浸淫扩散，不仅患者自身沾染此水后随即长出颗粒状皮疹并感到瘙痒，即使他人接触到这种水液，也容易被传染。而体内湿气重的人，一旦感触到这种病气，也会患上同样的疾病，这就是湿疥、天疱疮等证候属于流行病一类的原因。世俗之人看到这些病症便望而却步，确实是有原因的，这是疡疮中水毒滋蔓的情况。
此外，如游风（一种游走性红斑）、湿注、湿癣、旋耳疮、燕窝疮、阴疮、肾囊风、坐板疮等各种证候，在脓毒已经排出、余肿尚未消退时，也必然会化生水液外溢，之后肿胀之势才会逐渐消退。这时渗出的水液不粘稠，或呈淡黄色，或清澈如泉水，渐渐从疮口溢出。必须等到水液流尽并重新出现稠厚的脓液，才能痊愈。凡是病情较重、内攻较深的情况，无不经历这一阶段。然而这个过程时间不长，最多不过四五天，新肉就会逐渐长满。这是溃疡病的顺证，流水必然不会造成危害。
如果溃破已有时日，但脓液清澈而不稠厚，或者仅见黄水，甚至流出清水，且绵延日久，这说明患者正气不足，滋养能力薄弱，必须以养胃健脾为主，助其生化之源，这样才有望水尽见脓，肌肉逐渐填满。否则水液越多则正气越伤，这绝非佳境。凡普通的疡患，通常以溃出脓液为顺证，以流出水液为逆证，就是这个道理。
另有足部的疡患，因积湿蕴热，突然发生红肿，病情严重坚实，表面浮红光亮，按压后凹陷一时不能即起。此证若湿火旺盛，最容易化腐，即是阳发大毒，俗名水疔。适宜在尚未化腐之前，用铍针在光亮之处刺八、九针或十数针（此处原文似有缺漏，意指刺破排脓）。此类盛实之证，手臂手背间也有发生，但以发于足跗两胫者最多，故俗有“手发背”、“脚发背”之名。若有湿脚气并发者，又不时频发，也都宜用针刺治疗（此病在吴地俗名“流火”，湿热俱盛，每易腐烂，即所谓“流水”为……）。病程较长，水色淡黄，日久则变为深黄、青绿，粘稠异常，有如鸡卵之清蛋白。此水流尽后，调治较为容易。这是内溃成水的又一种情况。
至于疔毒不聚，有水无脓，以及脑疽、背疽，化脓不成，仅有黄水隐隐渗出，则肿胀必定大而坚硬，毒邪容易内陷，这是险证。如果不是调治得当，使大毒化脓透达，颇有大命之虞。其余如瘰疬顽疮，时而出脓，时而流水，也以见脓为顺，见水为逆。流脓可期望成功，流水必难收效。而石疽、失荣、乳癖、乳岩胀裂之后，时而出水，时而出血，以及坏证之败浆，血水污浊，色泽晦暗臭腥者，则都属百无一治。这又是疡患流水中最恶劣的征候。
Ulcerative exudation of fluid: In all skin diseases, it is due to an excess of dampness. For instance, in conditions such as scabies (Scabies), pemphigus (Pemphigus), and impetigo (Impetigo), there is extreme itching, presence of fluid but no pus, which indicates that damp-heat pathogenic factors are overflowing into the muscle-cou li (interstitial spaces of skin and muscles). The exuded fluid is yellow, turbid, and sticky; its toxicity is intense, making it prone to spreading and infiltrating. Not only does the patient develop papules and itching upon contact with this fluid, but others who come into contact with it are also easily infected. Individuals with internal dampness who contract this pathogenic qi will suffer from the same disease; thus, wet scabies and pemphigus belong to the category of epidemic diseases. It is not without reason that laypeople shrink back in fear when seeing these conditions; this represents the proliferation of water-toxin in ulcerative sores.
Furthermore, in conditions such as migratory wind (Migratory Erythema), damp infiltration, damp tinea, auricular eczema, swallow-nest sore, yin sores, scrotal wind, and saddle-sores, after the purulent toxin has been discharged and residual swelling remains, fluid must necessarily emerge externally before the swelling gradually subsides. At this stage, the fluid is non-sticky, appearing either pale yellow or clear like spring water, slowly oozing from the wound. Recovery can only occur when the fluid ceases and thick pus reappears. This phase is inevitable in cases where the condition is severe and deep-seated. However, this process lasts a short time, at most four to five days, after which new tissue gradually fills the wound. This is a favorable progression (Shun) of ulcers, where fluid discharge poses no harm.
Conversely, if an ulcer has existed for some time yet the pus remains clear and thin, or only yellow fluid or clear water flows continuously for a prolonged period, it indicates that the patient’s righteous Qi (Zheng Qi) is deficient and nourishing capacity is weak. Treatment should focus on strengthening the Stomach and Spleen to assist the source of transformation and generation, hoping that fluid discharge will cease and pus will appear, allowing muscles to fill in. Otherwise, excessive fluid loss will further damage the righteous Qi, which is an unfavorable outcome. Generally, in ordinary ulcerative diseases, discharging pus is considered favorable, while discharging fluid is considered unfavorable, for this reason.
There are also ulcerative conditions on the feet caused by accumulated dampness and stagnant heat, suddenly presenting with redness and swelling. The condition is firm and severe, with bright red, shiny skin that indents upon pressure and does not rebound immediately. If damp-fire is abundant, putrefaction occurs easily; this is known as Yang-type major toxicity, commonly called "Water Ding" (Water Carbuncle). Before putrefaction sets in, it is appropriate to use a Pi needle (Bian Zhen) to puncture the shiny area eight to nine times or more than ten times. Such excess syndromes may also occur on the arms and dorsum of hands, but are most common on the dorsal aspect of the feet and shins, hence the colloquial names "Hand Back-Boil" and "Foot Back-Boil." In cases complicated by damp tinea pedis (Athlete's Foot) with frequent recurrences, acupuncture is also indicated. (In the Wu region, this disease is colloquially called "Flowing Fire," characterized by simultaneous excess of dampness and heat, prone to rotting, i.e., referred to as "flowing water.") The course is prolonged; the fluid color is initially pale yellow, turning deep yellow or greenish-blue over time, extremely sticky, resembling egg white. Once this fluid is drained, treatment becomes easier. This constitutes another type of internal ulceration resulting in fluid accumulation.
However, if Ding-toxin (Carbuncle toxin) does not localize, presenting with fluid but no pus, or in cases of brain carbuncle and back carbuncle where pus fails to form, showing only faint yellow fluid, the swelling will be large and hard, and the toxin is prone to sinking inward. These are dangerous syndromes. Unless treated properly to resolve the major toxicity and promote suppuration and penetration, there is a grave risk to life. Similarly, in stubborn sores associated with scrofula (Scrofula), intermittent pus and fluid discharge occur; seeing pus is favorable, while seeing fluid is unfavorable. Pus discharge offers hope for success, whereas fluid discharge makes recovery difficult. In advanced stages of stone abscess (Stone Abscess), loss of luster (Loss of Luster Syndrome), breast fibroadenoma (Breast Lump), or breast cancer (Breast Cancer) after rupture, intermittent fluid and blood discharge, as well as the foul slough of deteriorating conditions—characterized by turbid bloody water, dull color, and offensive odor—are virtually untreatable. These represent the most malignant prognostic signs of fluid discharge in ulcerative diseases.