92 ORANGE COUNTY 



Sometimes the pulse may be hard and jerking, and 

 yet small. The stream, though forcible, is not great. 

 The practitioner knows that this indicates a dangerous 

 state of disease. It is an almost invariable accompani- 

 ment of inflammation of the bowels. 



A weak pulse, when the arterial stream flows slowly, 

 is caused by the feeble action of the heart. It is the 

 reverse of fever, and expressive of debility. 



The oppressed pulse is when the arteries seem to be 

 fully distended with blood. There is obstruction 

 somewhere, and the action of the heart can hardly 

 force the stream along, or communicate pulsation to 

 the current. 



The state of the pulse should be carefully regarded 

 during bleeding. The most experienced practitioner 

 cannot tell what quantity of blood must be abstracted 

 in order to produce the desired efiect. The change of 

 the pulse can alone indicate when the object is accom^ 

 plished; therefore, the operator should have his finger 

 on the artery during the act of breeding, and, compa- 

 ratively regardless of the quantity, continue to take 



