夫人生气健壮者，外色光华，内脉平调。五脏六腑之气，消耗则脉无所根据，色无所泽，
如是者百无一生。虽能饮食行立，而端然不误，不知死之逼矣。为少具大法，列之于后∶
病证目引水，心下牢满，其脉濡而微者死；病吐衄泻血，其脉浮大牢数者死；病妄言身热手
足冷，其脉细微者死；病大泄不止，其脉紧大而滑者死；病头目痛，其脉涩短者死；病腹中
痛，其脉浮大而长者死；病腹痛而喘，其脉滑而利，数而紧者死；病四逆者，其脉浮大而短
者死；病耳无闻，其脉浮大而涩者死；病恼痛，其脉缓而大者死。左痛右痛上痛下痛者死；
下痛而脉病者死；病厥逆，呼之不应，脉绝者死。病患脉宜大，反小者死；肥人脉细欲绝者
死；瘦人脉躁者死。人脉本滑利，而反涩者死；人脉本长，而反短者死，人尺脉上应寸口太
迟者死。温病三四日未汗，脉太疾者死；温病脉细微而往来不快，胸中闭者死；温病发热甚，
脉反小者死。病甚脉往来不调者死。温病腹中痛，下利者死；温病汗不出，出不至足者死。
病疟腰脊强急，螈 者死；病心腹胀满，痛不止，脉坚大洪者死。痢血不止，身热脉数者死；
病胀满四逆，脉长者死。热病七八日，汗当出反不出，脉绝者死；热病七八日，不汗躁狂，
口舌焦黑，脉反细弱者死。热病未汗出，而脉大盛者死；热病汗出，脉未尽，往来转大者死。
病咳
脉弦欲绝者死；病诸咳喘，脉沉而浮者死；病上气，脉数者死；病肌热，形瘦脱肛，热不去
，脉甚紧急者死。病肠癖，转筋，脉极数者死；病中风，痿厥不仁，脉紧急者死。病上喘，
气急四匝，脉涩者死。病寒热，螈 ，脉大者死。病金疮，血不止，脉大者死；病坠损，内
伤，脉小弱者死。病伤寒，身热甚，脉反小者死；病厥逆，汗出，脉虚而缓者死；病洞泄，
不下食，脉急者死。病肠 ，下白脓者死；病肠 ，下脓血，脉悬绝者死；病肠 ，下脓血，
身有寒，脉绝者死。病咳嗽，脉沉坚者死；病肠中有积聚，脉虚弱者死；病水气，脉微而小
者死；病水胀如鼓，脉小涩者死；病泄注，脉浮大而滑者死。病内外俱虚，卧不得安，身冷，
脉细微，呕则不食者死。病冷气上攻，脉逆而涩者死。卒病，脉坚而细微者死。热病三五
日，头痛身热，食如故，脉直而疾者八日死。久病，脉实者死。又虚缓、虚微、滑弦急者死。
卒病，脉弦而数者死。凡此凶脉，十死十，百死百，不可治也。
凡是人体元气充沛、体质强健的人，外表面色光泽明亮，内部脉象平和协调。如果五脏六腑的元气耗损，脉象就会失去依托，面色也会失去润泽，像这样的情况，一百个人中没有一个能存活。虽然患者还能饮食、行走和站立，看似端正无误，但实际上并不知道死亡的危险已经逼近了。为了简要列举这些大法的征候，列述如下：
患某种病证表现为牵引饮水，心下部位坚硬胀满，脉象濡软而微弱的，主死；患呕吐、衄血或泻血病，脉象浮大、坚实且数急的，主死；患胡言乱语、身体发热但手足冰冷的病，脉象细微的，主死；患严重腹泻不止的病，脉象紧大而滑的，主死；患头目疼痛的病，脉象涩滞短促的，主死；患腹中疼痛的病，脉象浮大而长的，主死；患腹痛兼有气喘的病，脉象滑利且伴有泄利，或数急而紧的，主死；患四肢逆冷的病，脉象浮大而短的，主死；患耳聋听不见声音的病，脉象浮大而涩的，主死；患头痛（注：原文“恼痛”疑为“头痛”之误，此处依文意译为头痛或泛指头部疼痛），脉象缓大而的，主死。左、右、上、下各处疼痛的，主死；下部疼痛而脉象异常的，主死；患厥逆病，呼叫没有反应，脉象断绝的，主死。
病人脉象本应盛大，反而细小的，主死；肥胖之人脉象细弱欲绝的，主死；消瘦之人脉象躁动不安的，主死。人的脉象本来应当滑利，反而涩滞的，主死；人的脉象本来应当长，反而短的，主死；人尺部脉象向上对应寸口脉搏跳动过于迟缓的，主死。温病经过三四天还没有发汗，脉象过于疾速的，主死；温病脉象细微且往来不畅，胸中闭塞的，主死；温病发热严重，脉象反而小的，主死。病情严重而脉象往来不调的，主死。温病腹中疼痛，伴有泄利的，主死；温病不出汗，或者出汗不到足部的，主死。
患疟疾病，腰脊僵硬紧急，出现抽搐（注：原文“螈”指抽搐），主死；患心腹胀满，疼痛不止，脉象坚大洪盛的，主死。痢疾出血不止，身体发热脉数急的，主死；患胀满伴四肢逆冷，脉象长的，主死。热病经过七八天，本该出汗却反而出不来，脉象断绝的，主死；热病经过七八天，无汗且烦躁狂乱，口舌焦黑，脉象反而细弱的，主死。热病尚未出汗，而脉象盛大旺盛的，主死；热病已经出汗，但脉象未退尽，往来转大的，主死。
患咳嗽病，脉象弦急欲绝的，主死；患各种咳嗽气喘病，脉象沉而浮的，主死；患气逆上冲病，脉象数急的，主死；患肌肉发热，形体消瘦脱肛，热势不退，脉象非常紧急的，主死。患肠癖（注：指痢疾或肠道疾患），发生转筋，脉象极数的，主死；患中风病，肢体痿废厥冷不知痛痒，脉象紧急的，主死。患气逆气喘，呼吸急促四周紧迫，脉象涩滞的，主死。患寒热病，出现抽搐，脉象大的，主死。患金疮（刀箭创伤），血流不止，脉象大的，主死；患坠落损伤，内伤，脉象小弱者的，主死。患伤寒病，身体发热严重，脉象反而小的，主死；患厥逆病，出汗，脉象虚而缓的，主死；患洞泄（严重腹泻），不能进食，脉象急迫的，主死。
患肠澼（痢疾），排出白色脓液的，主死；患肠澼，排出脓血，脉象悬绝的，主死；患肠澼，排出脓血，身体寒冷，脉象断绝的，主死。患咳嗽病，脉象沉坚的，主死；患肠中有积聚病，脉象虚弱的，主死；患水气病，脉象微而小的，主死；患水胀如鼓，脉象小涩的，主死；患泄注（急性腹泻），脉象浮大而滑的，主死。患内外俱虚，卧床不得安宁，身体冰冷，脉象细微，呕吐则不能进食的，主死。患冷气上攻，脉象逆乱而涩滞的，主死。突发疾病，脉象坚实而细微的，主死。热病经过三五天，头痛身热，饮食如常，脉象直而疾速的，八天后会死。久病，脉象实大的，主死。又见虚缓、虚微、滑弦急的脉象，主死。突发疾病，脉象弦而数急的，主死。凡此凶险脉象，十例死十例，百例死百例，是不可治愈的。
In individuals with abundant vital energy and robust constitution, the external complexion is lustrous and bright, while the internal pulse is harmonious and balanced. If the Qi of the five zang organs and six fu organs is depleted, the pulse loses its foundation, and the complexion loses its luster; in such cases, not one out of a hundred will survive. Although they may still be able to eat, drink, walk, and stand upright without apparent error, they are unaware that death is imminent. To briefly outline these major principles, they are listed below:
If a patient exhibits symptoms of craving water due to disease, with hardness and fullness in the epigastrium, and the pulse is soggy (Ru) and faint, death ensues. If a patient suffers from vomiting, nasal bleeding (Xun), or bloody diarrhea, and the pulse is floating (Fu), large (Da), firm (Lao), and rapid (Shu), death ensues. If a patient speaks deliriously, has body heat but cold hands and feet, and the pulse is minute (Xi) and fine (Wei), death ensues. If a patient suffers from severe, unceasing diarrhea, and the pulse is tight (Jin), large, and slippery (Hua), death ensues. If a patient suffers from headache and eye pain, and the pulse is choppy (Se) and short (Duan), death ensues. If a patient suffers from abdominal pain, and the pulse is floating and long (Chang), death ensues. If a patient suffers from abdominal pain accompanied by asthma/wheezing, and the pulse is slippery and associated with loose stools, or rapid and tight, death ensues. If a patient suffers from four-inverse (Si Ni, cold extremities), and the pulse is floating and short, death ensues. If a patient suffers from deafness, and the pulse is floating and choppy, death ensues. If a patient suffers from headache, and the pulse is slow (Huan) and large, death ensues. Pain occurring on the left, right, upper, or lower parts indicates death; pain in the lower part with an abnormal pulse indicates death. If a patient suffers from Jue-Ni (reversal cold), does not respond when called, and the pulse is cut off (Jue), death ensues.
If a patient's pulse should be large but is instead small, death ensues. In obese persons, if the pulse is thin and nearly cut off, death ensues. In emaciated persons, if the pulse is restless (Zao), death ensues. The human pulse should naturally be smooth and slippery; if it is instead choppy, death ensues. The human pulse should naturally be long; if it is instead short, death ensues. If the Chi pulse at the cun kou position beats significantly slower than normal, death ensues. In Warm Disease (Wen Bing), if three or four days have passed without sweating, and the pulse is excessively rapid (Ji), death ensues. In Warm Disease, if the pulse is minute and sluggish in movement, with chest obstruction, death ensues. In Warm Disease, if fever is severe but the pulse is instead small, death ensues. If the disease is severe but the pulse is irregular in its coming and going, death ensues. In Warm Disease, if there is abdominal pain and diarrhea, death ensues. In Warm Disease, if there is no sweating, or if sweating does not reach the feet, death ensues.
In Malaria (Nue), if the waist and spine are stiff and urgent, accompanied by convulsions (Yong), death ensues. If there is heart and abdominal distension and fullness, with unceasing pain, and the pulse is firm, large, and surging (Hong), death ensues. If dysentery involves unceasing blood loss, with body heat and a rapid pulse, death ensues. If there is distension and fullness with four-inverse, and the pulse is long, death ensues. In Heat Disease (Re Bing), after seven or eight days, if sweating should occur but does not, and the pulse is cut off, death ensues. In Heat Disease, after seven or eight days, if there is no sweating, restlessness, and mania, with blackened mouth and tongue, and the pulse is instead fine and weak, death ensues. In Heat Disease, if there is no sweating yet the pulse is excessively vigorous, death ensues. In Heat Disease, if sweating has occurred but the pulse has not subsided, and becomes larger in its movement, death ensues.
In coughing diseases, if the pulse is wiry (Xian) and nearly cut off, death ensues. In various coughing and wheezing diseases, if the pulse is deep (Chen) and floating, death ensues. In diseases of rebellious Qi ascending, if the pulse is rapid, death ensues. In diseases of muscle heat, with emaciation and rectal prolapse, where heat persists, and the pulse is extremely urgent, death ensues. In intestinal disorders (Chang Pi), with tetany/cramps, if the pulse is extremely rapid, death ensues. In Wind-Stroke (Zhong Feng), with flaccidity, four-inverse, and numbness, if the pulse is urgent, death ensues. In diseases of rebellious asthma, with rapid breathing and urgency around the four extremities, if the pulse is choppy, death ensues. In diseases of chills and fever, with convulsions, if the pulse is large, death ensues. In metal wounds (Jin Chuang), with unceasing bleeding, if the pulse is large, death ensues. In falls and injuries with internal trauma, if the pulse is small and weak, death ensues. In Cold Damage (Shang Han), if body heat is severe but the pulse is instead small, death ensues. In Jue-Ni with sweating, if the pulse is deficient (Xu) and slow, death ensues. In Dong-Xie (profuse diarrhea), with inability to eat, if the pulse is urgent, death ensues.
In Chang Pi (dysentery), if white pus is discharged, death ensues. In Chang Pi, if pus and blood are discharged, and the pulse is suspended and absolute (Xuan Jue), death ensues. In Chang Pi, if pus and blood are discharged, the body is cold, and the pulse is cut off, death ensues. In coughing diseases, if the pulse is deep and firm, death ensues. In diseases of accumulation and mass in the intestines, if the pulse is deficient and weak, death ensues. In Water-Qi (Shui Qi) diseases, if the pulse is faint and small, death ensues. In Water Distension resembling a drum, if the pulse is small and choppy, death ensues. In acute diarrhea (Xie Zhu), if the pulse is floating, large, and slippery, death ensues. In diseases where both interior and exterior are deficient, with inability to sleep peacefully, cold body, minute pulse, and vomiting leading to inability to eat, death ensues. In diseases of cold qi attacking upward, if the pulse is rebellious and choppy, death ensues. In sudden acute diseases, if the pulse is firm yet minute, death ensues. In Heat Disease after three to five days, with headache and body heat, normal appetite, but a straight and rapid pulse, death occurs on the eighth day. In chronic diseases, if the pulse is excess (Shi), death ensues. Additionally, deficient-slow, deficient-fine, slippery-wiry-urgent pulses indicate death. In sudden acute diseases, if the pulse is wiry and rapid, death ensues. All these ominous pulses indicate certain death; ten cases yield ten deaths, a hundred cases yield a hundred deaths, and they are incurable.