矣，故不治自已。骛，音务。）肾脉小急，肝脉小急，心脉小急，不鼓，皆为瘕。（三脉细小而急，绝无鼓
大之意，阴邪聚于阴分也，故当随三经之位而为瘕。）肾肝并沉为石水，并浮为风水。（此言水病之
有阴阳也。肾肝在下，肝主风，肾主水，肝肾俱沉者，阴中阴病也，当病石水。石水者，凝结少腹，沉坚
在下也。肝肾俱浮者，阴中阳病也，当病风水。风水者，游行四体，浮泛于上也。）并虚为死，（肾为五脏之
根，肝为发生之主，根本空虚，有表无里也，故当死。）并小弦欲惊。（肝肾并小，真阴虚也。小而兼弦，
木邪胜也。气虚胆怯，故为欲惊。）肾脉大急沉，肝脉大急沉，皆为疝。（疝者，寒邪结聚所为。脉急者挟肝
邪，脉沉者在阴分，沉急而大，阴邪盛也。肝肾之脉，络小腹，结于阴器，寒邪居之，故当病疝。按，疝
病乃寒挟肝邪之证，或结于少腹，或结于睾丸，或结于睾丸之左右上下，而筋急绞痛，脉必急搏者多，以寒
邪结聚阴分而挟风木之气也。如肺风疝、脾风疝之类，皆兼一风字，其必挟肝邪可知。睾，音高，阴丸也。）
心脉搏滑急为心疝，肺脉沉搏为肺疝。（病疝而心脉搏滑急者，寒挟肝邪乘心也；肺脉沉搏者，寒挟肝
邪乘肺也。）三阳急为瘕，三阴急为疝。（三阳，手、足太阳经也。三阴，手、足太阴经也。邪聚三阳为瘕
聚，邪聚三阴为疝气。凡脉急者，皆邪盛也。前言肝、肾、心、肺，而此言脾经，所以五脏皆有疝。）二阴急
为痫厥，二阳急为惊。（二阴，少阴也。二阳，阳明也。脉急者为风寒，邪乘心肾，故为痫为厥，木邪乘胃，
故发为惊，土恶木也。）脾脉外鼓沉为肠 ，久自已。（沉为在里，而兼外鼓者，邪不甚深，虽为肠 ，久
当自已。肠 ，下痢也。凡心肝脾肾。皆主阴分，或寒湿，或热，各有所伤，乃自大肠下血，均谓之肠 。
，音劈。）肝脉小缓为肠 ，易治。（肝脉急大则邪盛难愈，今脉小缓，为邪轻，易治也。）肾脉小搏沉
为肠 下血，血温身热者死。（肾居下部，其脉本沉，若小而搏，为阴气不足而
阳邪乘之，故为肠 下血。若其血温身热者，邪火有余，真阴丧败也，故
当死。）心肝 亦下血，二脏同病者可治。（心生血、肝藏血，故二脏之 亦下血，而不独肾也。然心肝
二脏，木火同气，故同病者为顺而可治；若肝脾同病，是为土败木贼，其难治也明矣。）其脉小沉涩为肠 ，
其身热者死，热见七日死。（心肝之脉，小沉而涩，以阴不足而血伤也，故为肠 。然脉沉细者不当热，
今脉小身热，是为逆，故当死；而死于热见七日者，六阴败尽也。）胃脉沉鼓涩，胃外鼓大，心脉小坚
急，皆膈偏枯。（沉鼓涩，阳不足也。外鼓大，阴受伤也，小坚而急，阴邪胜也。胃为水谷之海，心为血
脉之主，胃气既伤，血脉又病，故致上下痞膈，半身偏枯也。）男子发左，女子发右，不喑舌转可治，三
十日起。（男子左为逆，右为从；女子右为逆，左为从。今以偏枯而男子发左，女子发右，是逆证也。若
声不喑，舌可转，则虽逆于经，未甚于脏，乃为可治，而一月当起。若偏枯而喑者，肾气内竭而然，其病
必甚。如内夺而厥，则为喑俳，此肾虚也，正以肾脉循喉咙，挟舌本故耳。）其从者喑，三岁起。（若男发于
右而不发于左，女发于左而不发于右，皆谓之从。从，顺也。然证虽从而声则喑，是外轻而内重也，故必三
岁而后起。）年不满二十者，三岁死。（以气血方刚之年，辄见偏枯废疾，此禀赋不足，早凋之兆也，不出三
年死矣。）脉至而搏，血衄身热者死。脉来悬钩浮为常脉。（搏脉弦强，阴虚最忌。凡诸失血鼻衄之疾，其脉
搏而身热，真阴脱败也，故当死。然失血之证多阴虚，阴虚之脉多浮大，故悬钩而浮，乃其常脉，无足虑也。
悬者不高不下，不浮不沉，如物悬空之义，谓脉虽浮钩而未失中和之气也。）脉至如喘，名曰暴厥。暴厥
者，不知与人言。（喘者，如气之喘，言急促也。暴厥，谓卒然厥逆而不知人也。）脉至如数，使人暴惊，
三四日自已。（数脉主热，而如数者，实非真数之脉，盖以猝动肝心之火，故令人暴惊，然脉非真数，故俟
三四日而气衰自愈矣。）
脉至浮合，浮合如数，一息十至以上，是经气予不足也，
微见九十日死；（此下皆言死期也。浮合，如浮波之合，后以催前，泛泛无常也。一息十至以上，其状如数，
而实非数热之脉，是经气之衰竭也。微见，始见也。言初见此脉，便可期九十日而死；若见之已久，则不必九
十日矣。所以在九十日者，以时更季易，天道变而人气从之也，予、与同，党与之义。）脉至如火薪然，是
心精之予夺也，草干而死；（如火薪然者，来如焰之锐，去如灭之速，此火脏无根之脉，而心经之精气与夺
也。夏令火王，犹为可支，草干而死，阳尽时也。）脉至如散叶，是肝气予虚也，木叶落而死；（如散叶者，浮
泛无根也，此以肝气大虚，全无收敛。木叶落者，金胜木败，肝死时也。）脉至如省客，省客者，
脉塞而鼓，是肾气不予足也，悬去枣华而死；（省客，如省问之客，或去或来也。塞者，或无而止，鼓者，
或有而搏，是肾原不固而无所主持也。枣华之后，初夏时也。悬者华之开，去者华之落，言于枣华开落之
时，火王而水败，肾虚者死也。）脉至如丸泥，是胃精予不足也，榆荚落而死；（丸泥者，泥弹之状，坚强
短涩之谓，此胃精中气之不足也。榆荚，榆钱也。春深而落，木王之时，土败者死。）脉至如横格，
是胆气予不足也，禾熟而死；（横格，如横木之格，于指下长而且坚，是为木之真脏，而胆气之不足也。
禾熟于秋，金令王也，故木败而死。）脉至如弦缕，是胞精予不足也，病善言，下霜而死，不言可
治；（弦缕者，如弦之急，如缕之细，真元亏损之脉也。胞，子宫也。命门，元阳之所聚也。胞之脉系于肾，
肾之脉系舌本，胞气不足，当静而无言，今反善言，是阴气不藏而虚阳外见。时及下霜，虚阳消败而死矣。不
言者，肾气犹静，尚可治也。）脉至如交漆，交漆者，左右旁至也，微见三十日死；（交漆者，如泻漆之交。
左右旁至，缠绵不清也。微见，初见也。三十日为月建之易，而阴阳偏败者，不过一月之期也。）脉至如
涌泉浮鼓肌中，太阳气予不足也，少气，味韭英而死；（涌泉
者，如涌之泉，有升无降，而浮鼓于肌肉之中，是足太阳膀胱之气不足也。
膀胱为三阳而主外。今其外实内虚，阴精不足，故为少气。当至味韭英之时而死者，以冬尽春初，水渐衰也。）
脉至如颓土之状，按之不得，是肌肉予不足也，五色先见黑，白垒发死；（颓土之状，虚大无
力，按之即不可得。肌气，即脾气，脾主肌肉也。黑为水之色，土败极而水反乘之，故当死。垒、 同，即
逢之属。 有五种，而白者发于春，木王之时，土当败也。）脉至如悬雍，悬雍者浮揣，切之益大，是
十二俞之予不足也，水凝而死；（悬雍，喉间下垂肉乳也。如悬雍浮揣，切之益大者，浮短孤悬，有上无下
也。俞皆在背，为十二经脏气之所系。水凝而死，阴气盛而孤阳绝也。揣，杵水切。俞，音输。）脉至如
偃刀，偃刀者，浮之小急，按之坚大急，五脏菀热，寒热独并于肾也，如此，其人不得坐，立春而死；（偃刀，
卧刀也。浮之小急，如刀口也。按之坚大急，如刀背也。此以五脏菀热而发为寒热，阳王则阴消，故独并
于肾也。腰者肾之府，肾阴既亏，则不能起坐，立春阳盛，阴日以衰，所以当死。）脉至如丸，滑不直手，
不直手者，按之不可得也，是大肠气予不足也，枣叶生而死；（如丸，短而小也。直，当也。言滑小无根而
不胜按也。大肠应庚金，枣叶生初夏，火王则金衰，故死。）脉至如华者，令人善恐，不欲坐卧，行立
常听，是小肠气予不足也，季秋而死。（如华，如草木之华而轻浮柔弱也。小肠属丙火，与心为表里，小肠不足，
则气通于心。善恐不欲坐卧者，心气怯而不宁也。行立常听者，恐惧多而生疑也。丙火墓于戌，故当季秋死。）
形盛脉细，少气不足以息者危。（形盛脉细而少气不足以息者，外有余而中不足，枝叶盛而根本虚也，
故危亡近矣。）形瘦脉大，胸中多气者死。（形体消瘦而脉反大，胸中反多气者，阴不足而阳有余也。阴
形既败，孤阳无独留之理，故死。）形气相得者生，（体貌为形，阴也；
营运属气，阳也。阴主静，阳无阴不成。阳主动，阴无阳不生，故伤以寓
气，气以运形，阴阳当和，不得相失。如形盛脉大，形瘦脉细，皆为相得。相得者生，反此者危也。）
参伍不调者病。（三以相参，伍以相类，谓之不调。凡或大或小、或迟或疾、往来出入而无常度者，皆病
脉也。）三部九候，皆相失者死。（三部九候失其常，故死。）上下左右之脉，相应如参舂者病甚，上
下左右，相失不可数者死。（上下左右，即三部九候而各有左右也。参舂，谓大数而鼓，如杵之舂，阳极之
脉也，故曰“病甚”，甚至息数相失而不可以数计者死。夫人一呼脉再至，一吸脉再至曰“平”，三至曰“离
经”，四至曰“脱精”，五至曰“死”，六至曰“命尽”。今相失而不可数，盖不止于五六至矣，必死可知。
舂，书容切。）中部之候虽独调，与众脏相失者死，中部之候相减者死。（三部之脉，上部头，中部手，下
部足。此言中部之脉虽独调，而头，足众脏之脉已失其常者当死。若中部之脉减于上下二部者，中气大衰也，
亦死。）目内陷者死。（五脏六腑之精气皆上注于目而为之精，目内陷者，阳精脱矣，故
必死。）以左手足上，上去踝五寸按之，庶右手足当踝而弹之。（手足之络，皆可取而验之。手踝之上，手
太阴肺络也；足踝之上，足太阴脾络也。肺藏气而主治节，脾属土而主灌溉，故可取之以察吉凶。）其应
过五寸以上，蠕蠕然者不病，其应疾中手浑浑然者病，中手徐徐然者病，其应上不能至五寸，弹之不应者死。（
应，动也。应过五寸以上，气脉充也。蠕蠕，虫行貌，谓其 滑而匀和也，是谓不病之脉。疾，急疾也。浑
浑，浊乱也。徐徐，迟缓也。不能至五寸者，气脉衰，弹之不应者，气脉绝，故微则为病，而甚则为死也。
蠕，音如。）是以脱肉身不去者死。（脾胃竭则肌肉消，肝肾败则筋骨惫，肉脱身重，死期至矣。不去者，
不能动摇来去也。）中部乍疏乍数者死。（中部，两手脉也。乍疏乍数者，气脉败乱之兆也，故死。）其脉
代而钩者，病在络脉。（代而钩者，俱应夏气，而夏气在络也。）九候之相应也，上下
若一，不得相失。（上下若一，言其大小迟疾，皆贵乎和平也。）一候
后则病，二候后则病甚，三候后则病危。所谓后者，应不俱也。（应不俱者，脉失常度，逆顺无伦也。）察其
腑脏，以知死生之期。（死生之期，察其克贼生王而可知也。）必先知经脉，然后知病脉。（经
者常脉，病者变脉，不知其常，不足以知变也。）真脏脉见者胜死。（胜死，谓遇其胜己之时而死，如肝
见庚辛，脾见甲乙之类是也。）足太阳气绝者，其足不可屈伸，死必戴眼。（足太阳之脉，下者合 中，贯
内，出外踝之后；上者起目内 ，其脉有通项入于脑者，正属目本，名曰“眼系”。故太阳气绝者，
血枯筋急，足不可屈伸，而死必戴眼。戴眼者，睛上视而瞪也。 ，音篆。瞪，曹庚切。）九候之脉，皆沉
细悬绝者为阴，主冬，故以夜半死；盛躁喘数者为阳，主夏，故以日中死。（夜半者，一日之冬也，阴尽阳生，
故阴极者死。日中者，一日之夏也，阳尽阴生，故阳极者死。）是故寒热病者，以平旦死；（平旦者，一日之春，
阴阳之半也，故寒热病者，亦于阴阳出入之时而死。）热中及热病者，以日中死；（以阳助阳，真阴竭也。）
病风者，以日夕死；（日夕者，一日之秋也。风木同气，遇金而死。）病水者，以夜半死。（亥子生王，
邪盛极也。）其脉乍疏乍数，乍迟乍疾者，日乘四季死。（脉变不常者，中虚无主也。日之四季，辰、戌、
丑、未也。四季为五行之墓地，故败竭之脏，遇之而死。）形肉已脱，九候虽调犹死。（脾主肌肉，为
五脏之本，未有脾气脱而能生者，故九候虽调亦死。）七诊虽见，九候皆从者，不死。（从，顺也，谓脉顺
四时之令及得诸经之体者，虽有独大独小等脉，不至死也。）所言不死者，风气之病及经月之病，似
七诊之病而非也，故言不死。（风者，阳病也，故偶感于风则阳分之脉或大或疾。经月者，常期也，故
适值去血，则阴分之脉或小或迟，或为陷下，此皆似七诊之脉而实非也，皆不可以言死。然则非外感及经月
之病而得七诊之脉者，非吉兆也。）若有七诊之病，其脉候亦败者死矣，
必发哕噫。（风气、经月之病，本非七诊之类，若其果系脉息证候之败
（脉象）已经显现，所以疾病不治疗也能自愈。（骛，音务。）肾脉细小而急，肝脉细小而急，心脉细小而急，且脉搏搏动无力（不鼓），这些都是瘕病（腹内结块）。这三条经脉的脉象细小而急促，完全没有盛大鼓指的意思，说明阴邪聚集在阴分，所以应当根据这三经所属的部位形成瘕块。）肾脉和肝脉都沉，是石水病；都浮，是风水病。（这里说的是水病的阴阳属性。肾和肝位于下部，肝主风，肾主水，肝肾脉象都沉，属于阴中之阴的病，应当患石水病。石水病，是指凝结在少腹部，沉重坚硬在下部。肝肾脉象都浮，属于阴中之阳的病，应当患风水病。风水病，是指游走于四肢，浮泛在上部。）如果肾脉和肝脉都虚，是死证。（肾是五脏的根本，肝是生发的主体，根本空虚，有表无里，所以会死亡。）如果肾脉和肝脉都小兼弦，患者想要惊恐。（肝肾脉象都小，是真阴虚损。脉小又兼弦，是木邪亢盛。气虚胆怯，所以表现为想要惊恐。）肾脉大、急、沉，肝脉大、急、沉，都是疝病。（疝病，是由寒邪结聚造成的。脉急表示挟带肝邪，脉沉表示病在阴分，脉沉急且大，说明阴邪亢盛。肝肾的经脉，联络小腹，结于阴器，寒邪停留在那里，所以应当患疝病。按：疝病是寒邪挟带肝邪的证候，有的结在少腹，有的结在睾丸，有的结在睾丸的左右上下，导致筋脉拘急绞痛，脉象必定急迫有力者居多，这是因为寒邪结聚在阴分并挟带风木之气。如肺风疝、脾风疝之类，都带有一个“风”字，可知它们必定挟带肝邪。睾，音高，指阴囊。）心脉搏动滑利而急，是心疝；肺脉沉而搏指，是肺疝。（患疝病而心脉搏滑急，是寒邪挟带肝邪侵犯心脏；肺脉沉搏，是寒邪挟带肝邪侵犯肺脏。）三阳经脉急，是瘕病；三阴经脉急，是疝病。（三阳，指手太阳和足太阳经。三阴，指手太阴和足太阴经。邪气聚集在三阳经形成瘕聚，邪气聚集在三阴经形成疝气。凡是脉急的，都是邪气亢盛。前面提到肝、肾、心、肺，这里提到脾经，所以五脏都有疝病。）二阴经（少阴经）脉急，是痫厥病；二阳经（阳明经）脉急，是惊病。（二阴，指少阴经。二阳，指阳明经。脉急是因为风寒，邪气侵犯心肾，所以发生痫病和厥逆；木邪侵犯胃，所以发生惊病，因为土恶木。）脾脉外部鼓动而内部沉，是肠澼病，时间久了会自愈。（沉表示病在里，兼有外部鼓动，说明邪气不深，虽然是肠澼病，久了应当自愈。肠澼，指下痢。凡是心、肝、脾、肾，都主管阴分，无论是寒湿还是热邪，各有所伤，导致从大肠下血，都称为肠澼。澼，音劈。）肝脉小缓，是肠澼病，容易治疗。（肝脉急大则邪气盛难愈，现在脉小缓，说明邪气轻，容易治疗。）肾脉小、搏指、沉，是肠澼下血，如果血色温而身体发热，是死证。（肾居下部，其脉本应沉，如果脉小且搏指，是阴气不足而阳邪乘虚而入，所以导致肠澼下血。如果血色温而身体发热，说明邪火有余，真阴丧败，所以应当死亡。）心和肝的络脉也下血，这两脏同病的可以治疗。（心生成血，肝贮藏血，所以心和肝的络脉也会下血，而不只是肾。然而心和肝两脏，木火同气，所以同病属于顺证而可治；如果是肝脾同病，这是土败木贼，难以治疗是显而易见的。）脉象小、沉、涩，是肠澼病，如果身体发热，是死证，发热持续七天死亡。（心和肝的脉象，小沉而涩，是因为阴不足而血受伤，所以导致肠澼。然而脉沉细的人不应当发热，现在脉小身体发热，这是逆证，所以应当死亡；而在发热七天时死亡，是因为六阴之气败尽。）胃脉沉而鼓指涩滞，胃脉外部鼓大而心脉小坚急，都是膈症和偏枯病。（沉鼓涩，是阳气不足。外部鼓大，是阴液受伤，小坚而急，是阴邪亢盛。胃是水谷之海，心是血脉之主，胃气既已受伤，血脉又有病变，所以导致上下痞塞膈阻，半身偏枯。）男子发病在左侧，女子发病在右侧，如果不失语且舌头转动灵活，可以治疗，三十天起效。（男子左侧为逆，右侧为顺；女子右侧为逆，左侧为顺。现在以偏枯病而言，男子发病在左，女子发病在右，这是逆证。如果声音不嘶哑，舌头可以转动，那么虽然经络逆乱，但脏腑损伤不重，是可以治疗的，一个月应当好转。如果偏枯且失语的，是肾气内竭所致，病情一定很重。如内夺而厥，就会失语和瘫痪，这是肾虚，正因为肾脉循行喉咙，挟持舌根的缘故。）那些属于顺证的如果失语，三年才能起效。（如果男子发病在右而不发在左，女子发病在左而不发在右，都称为顺证。顺，即顺从。然而证候虽然顺从但声音嘶哑，这是外轻内重，所以必须三年后才能好转。）年龄不满二十岁的，三年内死亡。（在气血正旺盛的年纪，却出现偏枯废疾，这是禀赋不足，早衰的征兆，不出三年就会死亡。）脉来搏击有力，伴有鼻出血和身体发热的，是死证。脉来悬钩而浮，是常脉。（搏脉弦强，最忌阴虚。凡是各种失血鼻衄的疾病，如果脉象搏击有力且身体发热，是真阴脱败，所以应当死亡。然而失血的证候多属阴虚，阴虚的脉象多浮大，所以悬钩而浮，是其常脉，不必担忧。悬，是不高不下，不浮不沉，像物体悬挂在空中的意思，谓脉虽浮钩但未失去中和之气。）脉来急促，名叫暴厥。暴厥的人，不知道与人说话。（急促，像气喘一样，说气息急促。暴厥，指突然厥逆而神志不清。）脉来数，使人突然惊恐，三四天会自愈。（数脉主热，但像数脉而非真正的数脉，大概是因为猝然触动肝心之火，所以令人突然惊恐，然而脉并非真数，所以等到三四天气势衰退后自愈。）
脉来浮合，浮合脉象像数脉，一呼吸十次以上，这是经气给予不足，轻微见到这种脉象九十天后死亡；（以下都在说死期。浮合，像浮波相合，后浪催前浪，泛泛无常。一呼吸十次以上，其状像数脉，但实际上不是数热之脉，是经气衰竭的表现。微见，指刚开始见到。意思是刚见到这种脉象，就可以预期九十天后死亡；如果见到已久，则不必等到九十天了。之所以在九十天，是因为时节更替，天道变化而人气随之改变，予，与同，意为党与之义。）脉来像燃烧的柴火，这是心精被剥夺，草干时死亡；（像燃烧的柴火，来时如火焰锐利，去时如熄灭迅速，这是火脏无根的脉象，心经的精气被剥夺。夏令火旺，还可以支撑，草干时死亡，是因为阳气耗尽之时。）脉来像飘散的叶子，这是肝气给予虚损，树叶落下时死亡；（像飘散的叶子，浮泛无根，这是因为肝气大虚，完全没有收敛之意。木叶落，是金胜木败，肝气死亡之时。）脉来像省客（访问之客），省客脉象堵塞而鼓动，这是肾气不予足，枣花盛开凋落时死亡；（省客，像访问的客人，或去或来。塞，有时没有而停止；鼓，有时有而搏动，这是肾原不固而没有主持之力。枣花之后，是初夏时节。悬指花开，去指花落，言在枣花开落之时，火旺水败，肾虚者死亡。）脉来像丸泥，这是胃精给予不足，榆荚落下时死亡；（丸泥，像泥弹的形状，坚强短涩的意思，这是胃精中气不足。榆荚，即榆钱。春深时落下，是木旺之时，土败者死亡。）脉来像横格，这是胆气给予不足，禾苗成熟时死亡；（横格，像横木的格栅，在指下长而且坚，这是木的真脏脉，胆气不足。禾苗在秋天成熟，金令当旺，所以木败而死。）脉来像弦缕，这是胞精给予不足，病人口多言，下霜时死亡，不说话的可治；（弦缕，像弦的紧急，像线的纤细，是真元亏损的脉象。胞，指子宫。命门，是元阳聚集之处。胞的脉系于肾，肾的脉系于舌本，胞气不足，应当安静无言，现在反而口多言，这是阴气不藏而虚阳外现。时间到了下霜时，虚阳消败而死亡。不说话的人，肾气尚静，还可以治疗。）脉来像交漆，交漆脉象，左右旁至，轻微见到三十天后死亡；（交漆，像倾倒漆液时的交错。左右旁至，缠绵不清。微见，初见。三十天为月建的变化，阴阳偏败者，不超过一个月的期限。）脉来像涌泉，浮鼓于肌中，太阳气给予不足，气短，吃韭菜花时死亡；（涌泉，像涌出的泉水，只有上升没有下降，而浮鼓在肌肉之中，是足太阳膀胱之气不足。膀胱属三阳而主外。现在其外实内虚，阴精不足，所以气短。应当到吃韭菜花时死亡，是因为冬尽春初，水气逐渐衰弱。）脉来像颓土的样子，按压得不到，这是肌肉给予不足，五色先现黑色，白垒发作时死亡；（颓土的样子，虚大无力，按压就得不到。肌气，即脾气，脾主肌肉。黑为水之色，土败极而水反乘之，所以应当死亡。垒、 同，即逢之属。 有五种，而白色发于春季，木旺之时，土应当败亡。）脉来像悬雍，悬雍脉象浮揣，切之益大，这是十二俞给予不足，水凝时死亡；（悬雍，喉间下垂的肉乳。像悬雍浮揣，切之益大，浮短孤悬，有上无下。俞都在背部，是十二经脏气所系。水凝时死亡，是阴气盛而孤阳绝。揣，杵水切。俞，音输。）脉来像偃刀，偃刀脉象，浮取小急，重按坚大急，五脏郁热，寒热独并于肾，像这样的人不能坐，立春时死亡；（偃刀，卧刀。浮取小急，像刀口。重按坚大急，像刀背。这是因为五脏郁热而发为寒热，阳旺则阴消，所以独并于肾。腰是肾之府，肾阴既亏，则不能起坐，立春阳气盛，阴气日渐衰，所以当死。）脉来像丸，滑利不直手，不直手的意思是按压不可得，这是大肠气给予不足，枣叶生长时死亡；（像丸，短而小。直，当也。言滑小无根而不能承受按压。大肠应庚金，枣叶生在初夏，火旺则金衰，所以死。）脉来像华（花），使人善恐，不想坐卧，行走站立时常听，这是小肠气给予不足，季秋时死亡。（像华，像草木之花而轻浮柔弱。小肠属丙火，与心为表里，小肠不足，则气通于心。善恐不想坐卧，是心气怯懦而不宁。行走站立常听，是恐惧多而生疑。丙火墓于戌，所以当季秋死亡。）
形体壮盛而脉细，气短不足以呼吸的，危险。（形体壮盛而脉细且气短不足以呼吸，是外有余而中不足，枝叶茂盛而根本虚，所以危亡临近。）形体消瘦而脉大，胸中多气的，死。（形体消瘦而脉反而大，胸中反而多气，是阴不足而阳有余。阴形既败，孤阳没有独自留下的道理，所以死。）形气相得的，生。（体貌为形，属阴；营运属气，属阳。阴主静，阳无阴不成。阳主动，阴无阳不生，所以伤寓于气，气以运形，阴阳应当调和，不得相失。如形盛脉大，形瘦脉细，都叫相得。相得者生，与此相反的危。）参伍不调的，病。（三以相参，伍以相类，叫作不调。凡是大或小、迟或疾、往来出入而无常度的，都是病脉。）三部九候，都相失的，死。（三部九候失去常态，所以死。）上下左右的脉，相应如舂米者病甚，上下左右，相失不可数的，死。（上下左右，即三部九候而各有左右。参舂，谓脉数而鼓，如杵之舂米，是阳极之脉，所以说“病甚”，甚至脉息数相失而不可以计数者死。人一呼脉跳两次，一吸脉跳两次叫“平”，三次叫“离经”，四次叫“脱精”，五次叫“死”，六次叫“命尽”。现在相失而不可数，大概不止五六次了，必死无疑。舂，书容切。）中部之候虽然单独调匀，但与其余脏腑相失的，死；中部之候减弱的，死。（三部之脉，上部头，中部手，下部足。这里说中部的脉虽然单独调匀，而头、足众脏的脉已失去常态的应当死。如果中部的脉少于上下两部，是中气大衰，也死。）目内陷的，死。（五脏六腑的精气都上注于目而为之精，目内陷，是阳精脱了，所以必死。）用左手足上，距离脚踝五寸处按压，同时用右手足在脚踝处弹击。（手足的络脉，都可以取来验证。手踝之上，是手太阴肺络；足踝之上，是足太阴脾络。肺藏气而主治节，脾属土而主灌溉，所以可以取用来察吉凶。）其反应超过五寸以上，蠕蠕然的，不病；其反应快而手中感觉浑浑然的，病；手中感觉徐徐然的，病；其反应向上不能达到五寸，弹击无反应的，死。（应，动也。反应超过五寸以上，气脉充盛。蠕蠕，虫行貌，谓其滑而匀和，是谓不病的脉。疾，急疾也。浑浑，浊乱也。徐徐，迟缓也。不能至五寸者，气脉衰，弹之不应者，气脉绝，所以微则为病，甚则为死。蠕，音如。）所以脱肉身体沉重不能移动的，死。（脾胃竭则肌肉消，肝肾败则筋骨惫，肉脱身重，死期至矣。不去者，不能动摇来去。）中部脉乍疏乍数的，死。（中部，两手脉。乍疏乍数，是气脉败乱的征兆，所以死。）脉代而钩的，病在络脉。（代而钩，都对应夏气，而夏气在络脉。）九候的相应，上下若一，不得相失。（上下若一，说其大小迟疾，都贵在和平。）一候落后则病，二候落后则病甚，三候落后则病危。所谓后者，是应期不俱。（应期不俱，脉失常度，逆顺无伦。）察其脏腑，以知死生的期限。（死生的期限，察其克贼生王而可知。）必须先知道经脉，然后才知道病脉。（经是常脉，病是变脉，不知道常脉，不足以知道变脉。）真脏脉出现的，遇其所不胜之时死。（胜死，谓遇到克制自己的时候而死，如肝见庚辛日，脾见甲乙日之类。）足太阳经气绝的，脚不能屈伸，死时眼睛上视。（足太阳的脉，下者合腘中，贯内，出外踝之后；上者起目内眦，其脉有通项入于脑的，正属目本，名叫“眼系”。所以太阳气绝者，血枯筋急，脚不能屈伸，而死时必戴眼。戴眼，是睛上视而瞪。 ，音篆。瞪，曹庚切。）九候的脉，都沉细悬绝的是阴，主冬，所以在夜半死；盛躁喘数的是阳，主夏，所以在日中死。（夜半，是一日的冬，阴尽阳生，所以阴极者死。日中，是一日的夏，阳尽阴生，所以阳极者死。）因此寒热病的人，在平旦死；（平旦，是一日的春，阴阳之半，所以寒热病的人，也在阴阳出入之时而死。）热中及热病的人，在日中死；（以阳助阳，真阴竭也。）患风病的人，在日夕死；（日夕，是一日的秋。风木同气，遇金而死。）患水病的人，在夜半死。（亥子生王，邪盛极也。）脉象乍疏乍数，乍迟乍疾的，在日乘四季时死。（脉变不常，是中虚无主。日的四季，辰、戌、丑、未。四季为五行之墓地，所以败竭之脏，遇之而死。）形肉已脱，九候虽然调匀仍然死。（脾主肌肉，为五脏之本，没有脾气脱而能生的，所以九候虽然调匀也死。）七诊虽然见到，九候都顺从的，不死。（从，顺也，谓脉顺四时之令及得诸经之体的，虽然有独大独小等脉，不至死。）所说的不死的，是风气之病及经月之病，似七诊之病而非也，所以说不死。（风，是阳病，所以偶感于风则阳分之脉或大或疾。经月，是常期，所以适值去血，则阴分之脉或小或迟，或为陷下，这些都似七诊之脉而实非，都不可以说死。然而非外感及经月之病而得七诊之脉的，不是吉兆。）如果有七诊的病，其脉候也败的，死，必定发哕噫。（风气、经月之病，本非七诊之类，如果果真是脉息证候之败）
(The pulse) has already manifested, therefore the disease will resolve spontaneously without treatment. (Wu, pronounced Wu.) The Kidney pulse is small, rapid, and urgent; the Liver pulse is small, rapid, and urgent; the Heart pulse is small, rapid, and urgent, and does not beat vigorously (lacks a drumming sensation); these are all Jia masses (abdominal masses). These three pulses are small and rapid, completely lacking any sense of being large and vigorous, indicating that Yin pathogens are gathering in the Yin divisions; thus, Jia masses should form according to the locations of these three meridians.) When both the Kidney and Liver pulses are deep, it is Shishi water retention (Stone Water); when both are floating, it is Fengshui wind-water edema. (This discusses the Yin and Yang aspects of water diseases. The Kidney and Liver are located in the lower part; the Liver governs Wind, and the Kidney governs Water. If both Kidney and Liver pulses are deep, it is a Yin-within-Yin disease, leading to Shishi water retention. Shishi water retention refers to coagulation in the lower abdomen, heavy and hard in the lower part. If both Kidney and Liver pulses are floating, it is a Yang-within-Yin disease, leading to Fengshui edema. Fengshui edema wanders through the four limbs and floats superficially in the upper part.) If both the Kidney and Liver pulses are deficient, it is a death sign. (The Kidney is the root of the five Zang organs, and the Liver is the master of generation. With an empty root, there is exterior without interior, hence death.) If both the Kidney and Liver pulses are small and wiry, the patient desires to be startled. (Small pulses in the Kidney and Liver indicate deficiency of True Yin. Smallness combined with wiriness indicates Wood pathogen excess. Qi deficiency leads to gallbladder timidity, hence the desire to be startled.) Large, rapid, and deep pulses in the Kidney, and large, rapid, and deep pulses in the Liver, are all Han diseases (Hernias). (Han disease is caused by cold pathogen aggregation. A rapid pulse indicates involvement of the Liver pathogen; a deep pulse indicates the disease is in the Yin division. Deep, rapid, and large pulses indicate excessive Yin pathogen. The Kidney and Liver meridians connect to the lower abdomen and knot at the genitalia; where cold pathogen resides, Han disease occurs. Note: Han disease is a syndrome of cold clamping the Liver pathogen, which may knot in the lower abdomen, testicles, or around them, causing tendon urgency and colic pain. Pulses are often rapid and forceful because cold pathogen aggregates in the Yin division and clamps the Wind-Wood qi. For example, Lung Wind-Han and Spleen Wind-Han both contain the character "Wind," indicating they must involve the Liver pathogen. Gao, pronounced Gao, refers to the scrotum.) A Heart pulse that is slippery, rapid, and urgent indicates Heart Han; a Lung pulse that is deep and forceful indicates Lung Han. (In Han disease, a slippery, rapid, and urgent Heart pulse means cold clamping the Liver pathogen invades the Heart; a deep and forceful Lung pulse means cold clamping the Liver pathogen invades the Lung.) Urgent pulses in the Three Yang meridians indicate Jia masses; urgent pulses in the Three Yin meridians indicate Han disease. (Three Yang refers to the Hand and Foot Taiyang meridians. Three Yin refers to the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians. Pathogens aggregating in the Three Yang form Jia masses; pathogens aggregating in the Three Yin form Han Qi. Whenever pulses are urgent, it indicates pathogen excess. The previous text mentioned Liver, Kidney, Heart, and Lung; this one mentions the Spleen meridian, showing that all five Zang organs can have Han disease.) Urgent pulses in the Two Yin meridians (Shaoyin) indicate Epileptic Convulsion (Xianjue); urgent pulses in the Two Yang meridians (Yangming) indicate Fright (Jing). (Two Yin refers to Shaoyin. Two Yang refers to Yangming. Urgent pulses are due to Wind-Cold; pathogens invading Heart and Kidney cause Epilepsy and Convulsion. Wood pathogen invading Stomach causes Fright, as Earth fears Wood.) An external beating but internal deep Spleen pulse indicates Changpi (Intestinal Dysentery), which will resolve on its own after a long time. (Deep indicates disease in the interior; combined with external beating, the pathogen is not deep. Although it is Changpi, it will resolve on its own. Changpi refers to dysentery. All Zang organs—Heart, Liver, Spleen, Kidney—govern the Yin division. Whether injured by Cold-Damp or Heat, blood flows from the large intestine, all called Changpi. Pi, pronounced Pi.) A small and slow Liver pulse indicates Changpi, which is easy to treat. (If the Liver pulse is rapid and large, the pathogen is excess and difficult to cure; now the pulse is small and slow, indicating light pathogen, hence easy to treat.) A small, forceful, and deep Kidney pulse indicates Changpi with bloody stool. If the blood is warm and the body is hot, it is a death sign. (The Kidney is in the lower part, so its pulse is naturally deep. If small and forceful, it indicates insufficient Yin Qi allowing Yang pathogen to invade, causing Changpi with bloody stool. If the blood is warm and the body hot, it indicates excess pathogenic fire and loss of True Yin, hence death.) Bleeding from the collaterals of the Heart and Liver also involves bloody stool; if these two Zang organs are diseased together, it is treatable. (The Heart generates blood, and the Liver stores blood, so their collaterals bleed, not just the Kidney. However, Heart and Liver share the same Qi (Wood and Fire), so simultaneous disease is favorable and treatable; if Liver and Spleen are diseased together, it is Earth failing and Wood attacking, which is clearly difficult to treat.) A small, deep, and choppy pulse indicates Changpi. If the body is hot, it is a death sign; death occurs if heat persists for seven days. (Small, deep, and choppy Heart and Liver pulses indicate Yin insufficiency and blood injury, causing Changpi. However, a deep and fine pulse should not present with heat. Now, a small pulse with body heat is adverse, hence death. Death on the seventh day of heat indicates the exhaustion of the Six Yin energies.) A Stomach pulse that is deep, beating, and choppy; a Stomach pulse that beats externally and is large; and a Heart pulse that is small, firm, and urgent—all indicate Ge obstruction and Pianku hemiplegia. (Deep, beating, and choppy indicates insufficient Yang. External beating and large indicates injured Yin. Small, firm, and urgent indicates excessive Yin pathogen. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain; the Heart is the master of blood vessels. With injured Stomach Qi and diseased blood vessels, upper and lower blockage and hemiplegia result.) In men, onset on the left; in women, onset on the right. If there is no aphasia and the tongue moves, it is treatable, recovering in thirty days. (For men, left is adverse, right is favorable; for women, right is adverse, left is favorable. Hemiplegia starting on the left in men and right in women is an adverse syndrome. If voice is clear and tongue moves, although meridians are adverse, the Zang organs are not severely damaged, so it is treatable and recovery occurs within one month. If hemiplegia is accompanied by aphasia, it is due to internal exhaustion of Kidney Qi, and the disease is severe. For example, internal depletion and厥 lead to aphasia and paralysis, which is Kidney deficiency, as the Kidney meridian passes through the throat and surrounds the tongue base.) Those who are favorable but have aphasia recover in three years. (If men develop symptoms on the right and not left, and women on the left and not right, it is called favorable. Favorable means compliant. However, if the syndrome is favorable but the voice is hoarse, it is mild externally but severe internally, requiring three years for recovery.) Those under twenty years old die within three years. (At an age when Qi and Blood are robust, seeing hemiplegia and disability indicates insufficient congenital endowment and signs of premature decline; death occurs within three years.) A pulse that is pounding, accompanied by nasal bleeding and body heat, is a death sign. A pulse that is suspended, hooked, and floating is a normal pulse. (Pounding pulses are wiry and strong, most taboo for Yin deficiency. In all diseases involving blood loss and nasal bleeding, if the pulse is pounding and the body is hot, it indicates collapse of True Yin, hence death. However, blood loss syndromes often involve Yin deficiency, and Yin deficiency pulses are often floating and large. Thus, suspended, hooked, and floating is the normal pulse for such cases, not a cause for worry. Suspended means neither high nor low, neither floating nor deep, like an object hanging in space, indicating that although the pulse is floating and hooked, it has not lost the harmonious Qi.) A pulse that comes like panting is named Baojue (Sudden Fainting). Patients with Baojue do not know how to speak to others. (Panting refers to急促 breath, indicating urgency. Baojue refers to sudden厥逆 and loss of consciousness.) A pulse that appears rapid causes sudden fright in the person; it resolves on its own in three to four days. (Rapid pulses govern Heat, but a pulse appearing rapid is not truly rapid. It is likely due to sudden stirring of Liver and Heart Fire, causing sudden fright. Since the pulse is not truly rapid, it self-resolves as the Qi subsides in three to four days.)
A pulse that is floating and merging (Fuhe), resembling a rapid pulse, with more than ten beats per respiration, indicates insufficiency of Jing Qi. If seen slightly, death occurs in ninety days; (The following all discuss the timing of death. Fuhe resembles merging waves, one urging the other, fluctuating unpredictably. More than ten beats per respiration looks like a rapid pulse but is not actually a Heat-rapid pulse; it indicates exhaustion of Jing Qi. Wei jian means first seen. Seeing this pulse initially predicts death in ninety days; if seen for a long time, death may occur sooner. The ninety-day period accounts for seasonal changes, Heavenly Dao variations, and human Qi adaptation. Yu is synonymous with Yu, meaning alliance/support.) A pulse like burning firewood indicates deprivation of Heart Essence; death occurs when grass dries. (Like burning firewood, coming sharp like flame and going fast like extinction, this is a rootless pulse of the Fire organ, indicating deprivation of Heart Jing Qi. Summer Fire prosperity can still support it, but death occurs when grass dries, marking the exhaustion of Yang.) A pulse like scattered leaves indicates deficiency of Liver Qi; death occurs when tree leaves fall. (Scattered leaves mean floating and rootless, indicating severe Liver Qi deficiency with no convergence. Leaf falling represents Metal overcoming Wood failure, the time of Liver death.) A pulse like a visiting guest (Shengke), where the pulse is blocked yet beating, indicates insufficiency of Kidney Qi; death occurs when jujube flowers bloom and fall. (Shengke resembles a visiting guest, coming and going. Blocked means stopping; beating means pulsating. This indicates unstable Kidney origin without mastery. After jujube flowers is early summer. Xuan refers to blooming, Qu refers to falling. At the time of jujube flower bloom and fall, Fire is prosperous and Water fails; those with Kidney deficiency die.) A pulse like pill-shaped mud indicates insufficiency of Stomach Essence; death occurs when elm pods fall. (Pill-shaped mud implies hardness, shortness, and roughness, indicating insufficiency of Stomach Jing and Middle Qi. Elm pods are elm seeds. They fall in late spring when Wood is prosperous; Earth failure leads to death.) A pulse like a horizontal grid indicates insufficiency of Gallbladder Qi; death occurs when grains ripen. (Horizontal grid resembles a crossbar, long and firm under the finger, representing the true Zang pulse of Wood and insufficiency of Gallbladder Qi. Grains ripen in autumn when Metal commands; Wood failure leads to death.) A pulse like a string and thread indicates insufficiency of Bao (Uterus) Essence. The patient speaks excessively; death occurs at frost, but if silent, it is treatable. (String and thread resemble the urgency of a string and fineness of a thread, a pulse of True Yuan depletion. Bao refers to the uterus. Mingmen gathers Yuan Yang. The Bao meridian connects to the Kidney, and the Kidney meridian connects to the tongue base. Bao Qi insufficiency should result in silence and stillness. Excessive speech indicates Yin not storing and Deficient Yang revealing externally. At frost, Deficient Yang collapses and death occurs. Silence indicates Kidney Qi is still, so it is treatable.) A pulse like pouring lacquer (Jiaoqi), moving from left and right sides, indicates slight appearance; death occurs in thirty days. (Jiaoqi resembles intersecting poured lacquer. Left and right movement is tangled and unclear. Wei jian means first seen. Thirty days marks the change of the lunar month; Yin-Yang partial collapse lasts no more than one month.) A pulse like a gushing spring, floating and beating in the muscles, indicates insufficiency of Taiyang Qi, shortness of breath, and death when eating chive flowers. (Gushing spring rises without descending, floating and beating in muscles, indicating insufficiency of Foot Taiyang Bladder Qi. Bladder belongs to Three Yang and governs the exterior. Now exterior is solid and interior is empty, Yin Essence is insufficient, causing shortness of breath. Death occurs when eating chive flowers because winter ends and spring begins, and Water Qi gradually declines.) A pulse like crumbling earth, unobtainable upon pressure, indicates insufficiency of Muscle Qi; if black color appears first and white Lei erupts, death occurs. (Crumbling earth is void, large, and weak, unobtainable on pressure. Muscle Qi is Spleen Qi, as Spleen governs muscles. Black is the color of Water; extreme Earth failure allows Water to overcome it, hence death. Lei is synonymous with Feng. There are five types of Lei; White Lei erupts in Spring when Wood is prosperous, and Earth should fail.) A pulse like a uvula (Xuanyong), floating and pressing, becoming larger upon palpation, indicates insufficiency of the Twelve Shu points; death occurs when water freezes. (Uvula is the fleshy pendant in the throat. Floating and pressing, becoming larger, indicates floating, short, isolated, having up but no down. Shu points are on the back, connected to the Qi of the Twelve Meridians and Zang organs. Death when water freezes indicates excessive Yin and isolation of Yang. Chuai means striking water. Shu, pronounced Shu.) A pulse like a recumbent knife (Yandao), where superficial palpation is small and urgent, and deep palpation is firm, large, and urgent, indicates Five Zang stagnation heat, with Cold-Heat combining exclusively in the Kidney. Such a person cannot sit; death occurs at Lichun (Start of Spring). (Recumbent knife: superficial feels like the blade edge, deep feels like the blade back. Five Zang stagnation heat causes Cold-Heat. Yang prosperity consumes Yin, so it combines exclusively in the Kidney. The waist is the mansion of the Kidney; with Kidney Yin deficiency, one cannot rise or sit. At Lichun, Yang is prosperous and Yin declines daily, hence death.) A pulse like a pill, slippery and not straight to the hand (unobtainable upon pressure), indicates insufficiency of Large Intestine Qi; death occurs when jujube leaves grow. (Like a pill, short and small. Zhi means appropriate. Slippery, small, and rootless cannot withstand pressure. Large Intestine corresponds to Geng Metal. Jujube leaves grow in early summer when Fire is prosperous and Metal declines, hence death.) A pulse like a flower causes fear, unwillingness to sit or lie, walking and standing while listening constantly, indicating insufficiency of Small Intestine Qi; death occurs in late autumn. (Like a flower, light, floating, and weak. Small Intestine belongs to Bing Fire, exterior-interior with Heart. Small Intestine insufficiency allows Qi to connect to Heart. Fear and restlessness indicate Heart Qi timidity. Constant listening while moving indicates fear generating doubt. Bing Fire enters the tomb at Xu, hence death in late autumn.)
Form full but pulse thin, with shortness of breath insufficient for respiration, is critical. (Full form with thin pulse and shortness of breath indicates excess outside and deficiency inside, lush branches but empty root, hence near death.) Form emaciated but pulse large, with much Qi in the chest, is death. (Emaciated form with large pulse and excess Qi in chest indicates Yin deficiency and Yang excess. With Yin form destroyed, solitary Yang cannot remain alone, hence death.) When Form and Qi are compatible, life prevails. (Appearance is Form, Yin; operation is Qi, Yang. Yin governs stillness, Yang cannot exist without Yin. Yang governs movement, Yin cannot generate without Yang. Injury resides in Qi, Qi moves Form. Yin and Yang should harmonize and not lose each other. Full form with large pulse, emaciated form with thin pulse are both compatible. Compatibility brings life; the opposite brings danger.) Sanwu irregularity indicates disease. (San refers to comparing three, Wu refers to classifying five, called irregular. Any pulse varying in size or speed, coming and going without constant measure, is a disease pulse.) If all Nine Palpations are inconsistent, death occurs. (Nine Palpations losing their norm leads to death.) If pulses above, below, left, and right correspond like pestle pounding, disease is severe; if they are inconsistent and uncountable, death occurs. (Above, below, left, right refer to the Nine Palpations with left and right sides. Pestle pounding means numerous and beating, like a pestle, an extreme Yang pulse, hence "severe disease." Even more so, if breath and pulse counts are lost and uncountable, death is certain. One exhalation with two beats, one inhalation with two beats is "normal"; three beats is "departed from meridian"; four beats is "essence depletion"; five beats is "death"; six beats is "life end." Now inconsistency and uncountability exceed five or six beats, inevitably fatal. Chong, pronounced Chong.) If the Middle Pulse is uniquely regular but inconsistent with other Zang organs, death occurs; if the Middle Pulse decreases, death occurs. (Three parts: Head (Upper), Hand (Middle), Foot (Lower). If Middle pulse is regular but Head and Foot pulses are abnormal, death occurs. If Middle pulse is weaker than Upper and Lower, Middle Qi is greatly declined, also fatal.) Eyes sunken inward indicate death. (Essence of Five Zang and Six Fu organs ascends to the eyes. Sunken eyes indicate collapse of Yang Essence, hence fatal.) Press with the left hand five cun above the ankle, and strike the right foot at the ankle. (Collaterals of hands and feet can be tested. Above hand ankle is Hand Taiyin Lung collateral; above foot ankle is Foot Taiyin Spleen collateral. Lung stores Qi and governs regulation; Spleen belongs to Earth and governs irrigation, so they can be used to observe auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.) If the response exceeds five cun and feels like creeping insects (Ruru), there is no disease. If the response is rapid and feels turbid (Hunhun) in the hand, there is disease. If it feels slow (Xuxu), there is disease. If the response does not reach five cun, or striking elicits no response, death occurs. (Response means movement. Response exceeding five cun indicates abundant Qi and pulse. Ruru describes insect-like motion, smooth and harmonious, a non-disease pulse. Ji means rapid. Hunhun means turbid and chaotic. Xuxu means slow. Not reaching five cun indicates declining Qi and pulse; no response indicates exhausted Qi and pulse. Mild is disease, severe is death. Ru, pronounced Ru.) Therefore, flesh-shedding with heavy body unable to move indicates death. (Spleen and Stomach exhaustion causes muscle wasting; Liver and Kidney failure causes bone and tendon fatigue. Flesh shedding and heaviness mark the approach of death. Bu qu zhi means inability to move.) Irregularly sparse and rapid pulses in the Middle indicate death. (Middle refers to pulses of both hands. Irregular sparsity and rapidity indicate collapse and chaos of Qi and pulse, hence death.) A Dai (intermittent) and Gou (hooked) pulse indicates disease in the Collateral vessels. (Dai and Gou correspond to Summer Qi, and Summer Qi resides in the collaterals.) The correspondence of the Nine Palpations should be uniform, upper and lower not losing each other. (Uniformity means size and speed should be peaceful.) One palpation lagging indicates disease; two lagging indicates severe disease; three lagging indicates critical disease. "Lagging" means responses are not simultaneous. (Non-simultaneous response means pulse loses norm, disorderly and unnatural.) Observe the Zang and Fu organs to know the timing of death and life. (Timing is known by observing overcoming, harming, generating, and prospering.) One must first know the Jing (Meridian) pulses, then know the Disease pulses. (Jing are normal pulses; Disease are changed pulses. Without knowing the normal, one cannot know the changed.) Appearance of True Zang pulses leads to death at the time of their overcoming element. (Death by overcoming means dying at the time when the element overcomes the diseased organ, e.g., Liver appearing on Geng/Xin days, Spleen on Jia/Yi days.) Exhaustion of Foot Taiyang Qi causes inability to flex or extend the legs; death presents with upward staring eyes (Daiyan). (Foot Taiyang meridian goes down to popliteal fossa, penetrates inner leg, exits behind lateral malleolus; goes up from inner canthus, with a branch entering brain, connecting to eye roots, named "Eye System". Thus, Taiyang Qi exhaustion causes blood dryness and tendon urgency, leg immobility, and upward staring eyes. Daiyan means eyes looking up and staring. Zhuan, pronounced Zhuan. Deng, pronounced Deng.) If all Nine Palpations are deep, thin, suspended, and cut off, it is Yin, governing Winter, so death occurs at midnight. If they are surging, restless, panting, and rapid, it is Yang, governing Summer, so death occurs at noon. (Midnight is Winter of the day, Yin ends and Yang generates, so extreme Yin dies. Noon is Summer of the day, Yang ends and Yin generates, so extreme Yang dies.) Therefore, patients with Cold-Heat diseases die at dawn. (Dawn is Spring of the day, half Yin and half Yang, so Cold-Heat patients die during the transition of Yin and Yang.) Patients with Heat-in-the-Middle and Heat diseases die at noon. (Yang assists Yang, exhausting True Yin.) Patients with Wind diseases die at dusk. (Dusk is Autumn of the day. Wind and Wood share Qi, dying when Metal arrives.) Patients with Water diseases die at midnight. (Hai and Zi generate Wang, pathogen reaches extremity.) Pulses that are alternately sparse and rapid, slow and quick, indicate death during the Four Seasons of the Day. (Irregular pulses indicate central emptiness and lack of mastery. The Four Seasons of the Day are Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei. These are tombs of the Five Elements, so failing organs die when encountered.) If flesh and form are already shed, even if Nine Palpations are regular, death occurs. (Spleen governs muscles and is the root of Five Zang. No one survives Spleen Qi exhaustion, so even regular Nine Palpations lead to death.) If Seven Diagnoses are seen but Nine Palpations are compliant, death does not occur. (Compliant means following the seasons and meridian norms. Even with unique large or small pulses, it is not fatal.) The said non-death conditions apply to Wind diseases and Menstrual diseases, which resemble Seven Diagnosis diseases but are not, hence declared non-fatal. (Wind is Yang disease; occasional wind invasion makes Yang branch pulses large or rapid. Menstruation is a regular cycle; blood loss makes Yin branch pulses small, slow, or depressed. These resemble Seven Diagnosis pulses but are not, so death is not predicted. However, non-exterior contraction or menstrual diseases presenting Seven Diagnosis pulses are not auspicious.) If there are Seven Diagnosis diseases and the pulse condition also fails, death occurs,必定发哕噫 (must experience hiccups and belching). (Wind and Menstrual diseases are not of the Seven Diagnosis type; if the pulse and symptom condition truly fails...)