AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. wir 
‘When a pulfation is, obferved in any part of the body, where at other times it is 
not felt, we may. certainly conclude, that the part is inflamed and difpofed toa fup-_ 
puration, efpecially when it is accompanied with tumour and. pain. An hard pulfe 
is-almoft an infallible fign.in the membranous parts; for this. hardne(s of the pulfe, 
or exceffive tenfion and-vibration of the artery, indicates fomething. of a fpafmodie 
nature, arifing from the'confent of the parts, and produced by the inflammation and 
pain. The pulfe of perfons labouring under diforders of the breaft, or a palpitation 
of the heart, is frequent, unequal, and languid; but fuch a pulfé, unlefs when 
vehement, is accompanied with no-preternatural heat, and happens becaufe the 
blood does not pafs through the finufes of the heart and the lobes of the lungs. Ia 
weaknefs, and a difpofition of fyncopes, the pulfe is generally fmall, rare, and lan- 
guid; but, if the pulfe is abfolutely imperceptible, the body covered with a cold 
fweat, and the functions of the mind are not totally deftroyed, J have obferved, that. 
the patient infallibly dies in fix hours: and fuch’a fituation I have feem produced by 
corrofive poifon. It'is to be obferved, that about the critical times in fevers, when 
nature endeavours to thtow off the fuperfluous and peccant matrer by ftool or fivear, 
the pulfe, though languid, is yet more regular and lefs frequent, which is a certain 
fign of recovery. But, if the pulfe is foft and: wn ilating, it isa ha that a —— 
and critical {weatisjuftcomingon. «© 
Itis aifo.to beobferved, that the pulfe is oucuen by saline Thos, eeans. 
‘tic. purgatives, which procure too many ftools, the pulfe is generally preternaturally 
quick. . After venzefaCtion, efpecially in plethoric habits, the pulfe becomes quicker, 
a fign that the circulation of the blood, in confequence of its having a larger fpace, 
is happily i increafed, fince by this means a fuppreffion of the menfes or hamorrhoides 
. lly removed. It is certain, not only from the authority of Sydenham, 
but alfo from experience, that, after the ufe of phil the ne 1s setuid the 
aaa greatly incest val Ifa the h 
anodynes, opiates, prepar tion of nitre, precip tating powders, acics 
as diminifh the. inteftine motion of the blood china its ‘alphur, 1 
calm and moderate in pains, inflammations, and febrile intemperature. Some very 
ufeful and important rules for the exhibition of medicines are drawn from ean 
of the pulfe: thus purging and vomiting are contra-indicated by a.too quick 
liti the fecre- 
he h blood i ini violent motion and ebullition,. a 
nies a he ft ngth is defective, which may i = a 
- 
sores: cae ee oe 
when the pullfe is ftrong, and te motion 0 
sod Ve 
