The verification of the death pulse is extremely accurate, focusing on the two characters "body fatigue" (shen juan). At this time, patients generally have clear consciousness and loud voices but lie prostrate for a long time, unable to turn over or change position.
Whenever the liver pulse is thin (xi) while the other pulses are harmonious and moderate (he huan), Zhou Shenzhai uses Buzhong Tang (Tonify the Middle Decoction) added with Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus) to achieve a cure, because Gouqizi tonifies the liver.
Whenever the cun (inch) pulse is large (da), indicating that yang pathogenic factors prevail, the patient speaks incoherently and mentions spirits; if yin pulses prevail, the patient speaks incoherently and mentions ghosts.
When the disease is severe, medication should be light and minimal, using only three or four herbs from a formula to secure the middle jiao, gradually achieving efficacy. (This merely states that yang and yin pathogenic factors are not clearly distinguished: when qi is above blood, there is much talk of spirits; excess leads to auspiciousness, dispersion leads to inauspiciousness; when blood is above qi, there is much talk of ghosts; stagnation leads to auspiciousness, sinking leads to inauspiciousness. Excess and stagnation are treatable, whereas dispersion and sinking indicate collapse.)
Generally speaking, extreme vomiting is extremely difficult to treat, and extreme diarrhea is extremely difficult to treat.