DavidisAbercrombii M. D. Je variatione ac va-' 
rietatefnlhs Qhfervationes. Accejfit ejufdem Au<^ 
thoris nova Medicine, turn Speculative^ turn Prac- 
tice ClaviSy iffC' Lond. 1685- 8\ 
THE Author in tWs m<SI among the various opini- 
ons of the Caufe and Origine of the Pulfe, thinks 
it more probably to proceed from the joynt motion of the 
Spirits^ Arterys and Mufcles. And as to the Variation 
of it affignes thefe tor moft certain caules, vi^. The 
Climate, feafon , (or time,) Temperament, Age, Diet^ 
TaJJton, Bifeafe I to which might be added perhaps many 
more. 
The Climate alters the Fulfe according to the different 
influences of the //^^i'^;//, or Vapours of the iSf?//. Hence 
the French mans Pulfe is moreequal and quick, the Ger- 
mans, Dutch, Englijh, and Scots more uncertain; which 
yet isiomething to be attributed to their irregular living; 
in generall the higher and nearer the Sun is, the quickexi 
the lower and farther off, the flower is the Pul/e, And, he 
thinks, for the moft part the Sy/iole is more quick then the 
Diafiole. In rainy feafons theP/^-^^ is more free & nimble, 
by reafon of the lefs preffion of the Atmofphere. It is 
more impetuous in thefpring; moreequal after a quiet 
fleepi weak and uncertain' in men very intent upon 
bufinefs , &c» The Temperament refults from the Animal 
Spirits, and the contractive or dilative motion of the 
Mufcles and Arterys, to which their fibres are even by 
Nature difpofed. Melancholy renders the Pulfe extream- 
iy unconftant, probably through the great thought-ful- 
nefs of fuch men. In Bilious tempers it is high and ftrong, 
in the Sanguine more equall and regular then in any, in 
the Phlegmatic equall enough too, bur mcre^flow. In 
Children J efpecially Infants, the pulfe is very ImaH^ 
Ip f " ■ but 
