PULSE. Ill 



The above changes indicate disease of the heart, either functional or 

 structural, or both conjoined. 



Strung and full, or soft and full. — These conditions, though some- 

 what abnormal, are yet quite consistent with ordinary, though not per- 

 haps with perfect health. 



Weak and small. — This condition is indicative of great debility, espe- 

 cially if the pulse is easily extinguished by pressure. 



Quick, feeble, fluttering, or imperceptible. — This condition is indicative 

 of speedy death. 



The wiry jmlse. — A hard small pulse, as a wire is hard and small, 

 indicates disease of a sthenic character, and is symptomatic especially of 

 inflammation of the serous membranes and of white fibrous tissue. 



The thready pulse. — A pulse which is small and soft, as a thread is 

 small and soft, is termed thready. It indicates great debility. 



The oppressed pulse. — The artery is full, but the beat is indistinct. 

 It is indicative of congestion and inflammation of the lungs. 



The throbbing pulse. — In the region of any part which is inflamed or 

 congested, or unusually excited from any irritation, the artery will throb 

 more or less violently. The character of the pulse in the vicinity of local 

 disease will indicate its intensity, and in some degree its nature. 



A remarkably slow pulse indicates disease or injury of the brain or 

 spinal cord. 



The double pulse. — A double beat caused by diminished arterial and 

 increased venous pressure is the result of feeble action of the heart. This 

 pulse is present in many of the septic diseases, such as purpura hsemor- 

 rhagica. 



215. Range of the Pidse in disease. 



The number of pulsations per minute under different circumstances in 

 disease vary from twenty to one hundred and twenty or even more. 



The pulse may differ slightly on the two sides of the patient. When 

 it is so feeble that it cannot be felt at the near or left submaxillary 

 artery, it may often be detected at the off or right side of the same 

 artery. The pulse may frequently in disease be felt at the arm, when 

 imperceptible at the jaw. 



It has been thought by some physiologists that the pulse is always a 

 little stronger on the right than on the left side of the animal. 



In treating disease we are not satisfied with reducing the number of 

 pulsations, unless we can also produce a soft pulse. Softening of the 

 pulse is an indication that the nervous irritability is subsiding. This 

 character of softness is present in the decline of all inflammatory affec- 

 tions. 



216. Auscultation as regards the Pulse. 



It is highly important that the beats of the heart should be listened 



for, as it-s peculiar action may assist us in interpreting the pulsation of 



the artery. Again, in some cases, when the pulse is nearly or quite 



imperceptible to the finger, when, in other words, there is not sufficient 



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