Pulse

Putsus. (from pul so, to beat.) That stroke which is felt on applying the finger to an artery ina living animal. This is occasioned by the reciprocal action of the heart and arteries, the blood being propelled from the left ventricle of the heart into the arteries, so as to be distributed through the whole machine, and in so perceptible a manner, that the distension of the arterial tube can be felt by the finger. But before the time of Hippo crates, the pulses were not attended to, and indeed very slightly by him, as there are only one or two places in which he makes mention of them, throughout the whole of his works.. Herophi- Jus was the first who considered the pulse with accuracy, and wrote elaborate treatises on it. In Celsus’s time the pulse was very much attended to, and consulted, though he calls it res Pet, fall a cis sima. Galen, however, wrote most voluminously and laboriously upon this subject, a very good epitome of which may be seen in Prosper Alpinus de Pre sag i end a Vita & Morte. Boerhaave, in his Institutes, gives an account of all the ancients knew concerning the pulse in a short compa , which is well explained by his commentator, Haller, Long experience, however, has rather confirmed than contradicted the opinion of Celsus, as most’ publications on this subject will sufficiently prove to an accurate observer. For, notwithstanding the multiplicity of pulses which have been enumerated, it is to the different degrees of irritability in constitutions that the variety of pulses is owing, with respect to their being quick or slow; every accident that happens to the body, and every affection in the mind, having an influence on them; so that very little can be determined from them in practice: The hard and the soft pulse are very often owing to a quantity of fat, or of acellular membrane being situated betwixt the artery and the finger, or from the almost total absence of these in this situation. — The full and the small pulses are owing chiefly It indicates, 1. The strength of the heart’s contraction 2. The quantity of blood thrown out at each contraction 3. The number of contractions 4, The regularity of its action as to strength, quantity, or frequency 5. The strength of the action of the arteries 6. The irritability of the ve els 7. The medium diameter of the arteries 8. The quantity of blood in the ve els 9. The contraction of the capillaries TAT IE ee ete RE SAA RASA E ADAMI ANAT AA Nd HORN RDA NA 9 tI BEN (tay Me AML We al al This table needs no explanation; though it is in fact no easy matter, in many cases, to make the proper distinctions. In attempting to decide on the state of the pulse, it is of importance too, to know the usual pulsations cf the patient when in health; as these differ materially in different subjects. The usual healthy pulse of the horse is about forty strokes in a minute. PuL signifies, 1. Oscillation; vibration; alternate expansion and contraction (Newton). 2. To feel one’s Purse. ‘To try or know one’s mind artfully. 3. (from pul/.) Leguminous to the different diameters of the arteries; and except the quick, the slow, and irregular pulses, there are none of the kinds which are so ingeniously distinguished by authors, but that will, on proper enquiry, be found fallacious, There are adults, in health, whose pulse ex+ ceed not forty strokes in a minute; others, whilst they are at rest, have a pulse so quick that it may be counted to 120; and during the presence of a fever, the pulse has been observed in some instances to beat 220 times in the same period. We speak here of the human subject, the pulse in brute animals varying considerably in different species. The indications of the pulse are generally of importance in veterinary as in human medicine; for by that we can judge of the state of the circulating system, the phenomena of diseases, the patient’s strength or weakne , . The following table is given by the ate Dr. George Fordyce; and we apprehend it will answer a very useful purpose in affording a precise meaning to the various epithets applied to the pulsations of the arteries in diseases. by Lt ts called Strengths Strong. ; Weakne . Weak. Fulne . Full. =; Smallne . Small. Frequency. Frequent. ; Slowne . Slow. Regularity. Regular. Irregularity. Irregular. Intermi ion.» | Intermittent. Hardne . Hard. Softne . Soft. Redoubling. Redoubling. Trembling. Tremulous. Onickne , Ouick. Regularity. Regular. Slowne . Slow. Dilatation. Great. ; Contraction. Small. Oppre ion. Oppre ed. } Smallne . Enipty, Obstruction. Obstructed. i; Freedom. Pree; plants. Plants not reaped but pulled or plucked (Milton), To Puuse. v.n, (from the noun.) To beat as the pulse (Ray). 816