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. VII How to know the differences of simple Pulses.

FOrasmuch as what belongs to the knowledge of Pulses, * 1.1 if we observe the Artery to be dilated and extended more then naturally it ought, and by reason of its great extending doth as it were resist the fingers or make them pit in, we account it a great Pulse, but if they resist but a little we ac∣count it but a small Pulse.

If it be considered that the Artery is moved by violence from terme to terme, * 1.2 nimbler and swifter then in a tempe∣rate or sound man, that is called a swift pulse, but if the space

is compleated by the Artery by a slower stroake, tis called a slow Pulse.

If the intervall between each stroake be longer then in a temperate or sound man, that is a thin Pulse, if shorter, * 1.3 a fre∣quent Pulse.

If the Pulse strive against, * 1.4 and as it were opposes it selfe to the application of the hand that presses it, tis a vehement Pulse, and if not, tis a weake Pulse.

A hard Pulse, if the Artery be gently touched, * 1.5 doth not resist the finger, as a vehement one; but if it be pressed harder, it doth not so strongly resist as a vehement Pulse, hardnesse also is never joyned with magnitude, nor vehemency with smallnesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The know∣ledge of a great and small Pulse.
• * 1.2

  Of a swift and flow.
• * 1.3

  Of a fre∣quent thin.
• * 1.4

  Of a vehe∣ment and weak.
• * 1.5

  Of a hard and soft.