THE ABDOMEN AND ITS CONTENTS 239 



A WEAK PULSE. 



This is caused by a feeble action of the heart, as 

 the stream of arterial blood is flowing slowly, and 

 hence is hardly to be felt. It indicates debility. 

 Stimulants are generally necessary in this condition 

 of pulse. 



OPPRESSED PULSE. 



When the arteries are fully distended with blood, 

 and the pressure upon them is greater than their 

 calibre will convey with ease, owing to some ob- 

 struction in their interior, and the action of the 

 heart is unable to press forward the current, and in 

 consequence the pulsation feels irregular and unequal, 

 the pulse is said to be oppressed. In sudden in- 

 flammation of the lungs this condition is common. 



The pulse is subject to various modifications be- 

 sides those above enumerated, which it would be 

 very difficult to explain, and which are well under- 

 stood by those who are practised in feeling the 

 pulse. 



THE ABDOMEN AND ITS CONTENTS. 



PLATE VIII, FIG. 5, AND PLATE IX, FIGS, i AND 2. 



Having given a brief account of the contents of 

 the chest, or rather those parts most essential to 

 the general reader, we now descend to the ab- 

 dominal viscera. The heart and lungs may be 

 considered the moving powers of the animal system, 

 which, however, require the materials to keep up 

 and supply that motion. The organ which prepares 

 and distributes that stimulus is the stomach, and is 

 lodged in the higher region of the belly, while the 

 intestines which carry off the waste are situated in 



