Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP VI. Of certaine things necessarily requisite to dis∣tinguish Pulses by.

BUt that a Pulse may be rightly perceived certaine things are required in the Physitian, certaine in the sich; * 1.1 in the Physitian first there is required that he have an exquisite sence of feeling, and a soft hand, especially in the Pulse of the outmost joynt of the fingers, not very hot, nor too cold, but temperate; secondly that presently after his commig in he may not touch the Artery, least perhaps the sick being troubled by the comming of the Physitian, the Pulse be changed, but let him wait a little while, untill he understands

that the sick is quiet, thirdly let him touch the Artery of the wrist of either Arme.

For the fingers rightly are to be applyed to the Artery, namely the first foure or three fingers, are to be put to the Ar∣tery that the more differences of Pulses may be apprehended; moreover since there is a threefold application of the hand to the Artery, compression, when the fingers do as it were presse the Artery, softly when the hand is gently applyed to the Artery, the medium when in an indifferent manner or with some small pressure it is put to the Artery; pressing is most convenient for the knowledge of contraction, if it may be, and for vehement pulses, but in languishing pulses it takes away the greatest part of the Pulse••by handling fearfully and softly, the vehement Pulses are not enough perceived; thirdly the medium is betwixt these two, and neither lightnesse of feeling is observed in vehement, nor compression in languish∣ing.

In the sick is required first what time the Physitian touch the Pulse, * 1.2 that he be free from all passions and preturbations of the mind, lest those mutations, which happen through the passion of the mind to the Pulses should hinder the Physiti∣an. Also neither is the Pulse to be tryed presently after mo∣tion of the body; lastly the hand of the sick ought to be placed right and free from all voluntary motion, and the sick may not bend his fingers much or distend them, but keep them in their middle and naturall forme, and the sick also may not lift up his hand with his strength, least he trem∣ble and causeth the Pulse to vary.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Those things that are requi∣site in a Physi••ian that he may know pul∣ses.
• * 1.2

  In the sick