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open: part of the systolic pulse-wave is consequently checked, distal 
the pulse becomes less intense. 
If further the pressure of the armlet > the systolic pressure in 
the artery, then even during the systole of the heart the artery 
remains closed, and consequently the whole pulse-wave is checked: 
distal no pulse can be felt any longer. 
The objections made above against the broad armlet prevail here. 
likewise. As however the surrounding tissues of different persons 
are likely to be more variable than the part of the pulse-wave that 
is spent under the armlet, it is perhaps better to continue using the 
broad armlet. Yet, exactly under a broad armlet, the possibility exists 
that before the MBp is reached in it, the pulse-wave, as a wave, 
is annihilated, and the blood continues to ooze (PacHon), which, 
however, cannot be observed at the distal pulse by palpation. 
(Société de biologie, June 1909). 
However, objections exist, both against the determinations with the 
broad armlet and against those with the narrow one, which do not 
result from the method of compression but from the palpation of 
the distal pulse. If it is already often difficult exactly to observe 
the moment of the disappearance (or the return) of the pulse, the 
observation of the exact moment of the decrease of the pulse offers 
very great difficulties. Consequently this method as well leaves too 
great a margin for the subjectivity of the investigator. 
Therefore Santi tried to register the two moments. For this pur- 
pose he placed a sphygmograph on the distal pulse. Consequently 
sphygmographically the decrease and the disappearance of the pul- 
sations was recorded. When applying this method Sani experienced 
some difficulties, which were chiefly caused by the veinous congestion 
occurring in the distal arm at the circular compression; he tried to 
avoid this difficulty by firmly fastening the sphygmugraph. Yet every 
one who is accustomed to the use of the sphygmograph, and SAHLI 
himself in the first place, knows how much caution is required 
when making conclusions from the intensity of the pulsation recorded 
sphygmographically. A slight displacement of the sphygmograph, a 
slight increase of the pressure on the spring by swelling of the arm 
(veinous congestion) and so many trifles more can entirely change 
the form and the intensity of the sphygmographic pulse. 
Therefore this — though an objective — method does not seem to 
us to be an improvement with regard to the purely palpatory method. 
About the so-called sensatorial method, by which the patient himself 
indicates when he feels that the pulsations in his artery begin and 
cease (beginning and end of the great oscillations) we need not say 
