散脉大而散，有表无里，涣漫不收，无统纪无拘束，至数不齐，或多来少去，或去多来
涣漫不收，如杨花散漫之象。又曰∶散似杨花散漫飞，去来无定至难齐，产为生兆胎为堕
，久病逢之不必医。戴氏曰∶心脉浮大而散，肺脉短涩而散，平脉也。心脉软散怔忡，肺脉
软散汗出，肝脉软散溢饮，脾脉软散 肿，病脉也。若肾脉软散，诸病脉代散，死脉也。《
难经》曰∶散脉独见则危。柳氏曰∶散为气血俱虚，根本脱离之脉，产妇得之生，孕妇得之
堕。李氏曰∶散脉无拘散漫然，濡来浮细水中绵，浮而迟大为虚脉，芤脉中空有两边。
主病 左寸怔忡右寸汗，溢饮左关应散漫，右关软散 肿，散居两尺魂应断。
戴氏曰∶脉必满十动，出自《难经》。而《脉诀》五脏歌，皆以四十五动为准，乖于经
柳氏曰∶古以动数候脉，是吃紧语，须候五十动，乃知至数缺失，今人指到脘臂，即云见了
，夫曰五十动，岂弹指间事耶？故学人，当诊脉、问证、听声、观色，斯备四诊而无失。
五十不止身无病，数内有止皆知定。四十一止一脏绝，四年之后多亡命。三十一止即三
年，二十一止二年应。十动一止一年殂，更观气色兼形证。
两动一止三四日，三四动止应六七，五六一止七八朝，次第推之自无失。
散脉的特征是脉体宽大且散漫，只有表浅的搏动而缺乏深层根基，涣散漫溢不能收敛，没有统摄和约束，脉搏节律不整齐，有时来多去少，有时去多来少。其形态如同杨花在空中飘散的样子。又有说法称：散脉像杨花一样散乱飞舞，来去不定，节律极难整齐；产妇出现此脉预示生产顺利，孕妇出现此脉则预示流产，久病之人遇到此脉则难以医治。戴氏说：心脉浮大而散，肺脉短涩而散，属于正常平脉。若心脉软散，主怔忡（心中悸动不安）；肺脉软散，主汗出；肝脉软散，主溢饮（水液泛滥肌肤）；脾脉软散，主肿胀，这些属于病脉。如果肾脉软散，或诸病脉象出现代散（间歇且散乱），则是死脉。《难经》说：单独见到散脉则病情危重。柳氏说：散脉代表气血俱虚，根本脱离，产妇得此脉可生，孕妇得此脉则堕胎。李氏说：散脉无拘束、散漫然，脉象濡软、浮细如水中绵絮，浮而迟大属于虚脉，芤脉则是中空两边有。主治病症方面：左寸部见散脉主怔忡，右寸部见散脉主汗出；左关部见散脉应验于溢饮，右关部见软散脉主肿胀；散脉出现在两尺部，则魂魄将断（预后不良）。
戴氏说：诊脉必须满五十动，这一观点出自《难经》。然而《脉诀》中五脏歌诀都以四十五动为标准，这与经典不符。柳氏说：古人以脉搏跳动次数来候察脉象，这是关键的话，必须候满五十动，才能知道脉搏节律是否有缺失。现在的人手指刚按到腕臂处，就说看见了脉象，所谓五十动，难道是弹指一挥间就能完成的事吗？所以学习中医的人，应当综合诊脉、问证、听声、观色，备齐四诊之法而无失误。脉搏连续跳动五十次以上身体无病，如果在五十次内有停顿，都知道是定数。四十一次停顿表示一脏气绝，四年之后大多死亡。三十一次停顿对应三年，二十一次停顿对应二年。十次跳动出现一次停顿，一年殂落，还需观察气色兼看形证。两次跳动出现一次停顿，三四日即亡；三四次跳动出现一次停顿，应验于六七日后；五六次跳动出现一次停顿，应验于七八朝后，依此类推自无失误。
The San pulse (Scattered Pulse) is large and scattered, presenting superficially without depth, diffused and unrestrained, lacking regulation and control. Its rhythm is irregular, sometimes with more arrivals than departures, or more departures than arrivals. It resembles the image of willow catkins drifting aimlessly in the air. Another saying states: "The Scattered pulse flies like scattered willow catkins, coming and going without certainty, its rhythm difficult to align; for a woman in labor, it signifies birth; for a pregnant woman, it signifies miscarriage; for chronic illness, it indicates incurability." Dai stated: A Heart pulse that is floating, large, and scattered, or a Lung pulse that is short, choppy, and scattered, are normal pulses (Ping Mai). However, if the Heart pulse is soft and scattered, it indicates palpitations (Zhengchong); if the Lung pulse is soft and scattered, it indicates sweating; if the Liver pulse is soft and scattered, it indicates Yi Yin (overflowing fluid); if the Spleen pulse is soft and scattered, it indicates swelling—these are pathological pulses. If the Kidney pulse is soft and scattered, or if various diseases present with Dai San pulses (intermittent and scattered), these are death pulses. The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "If the Scattered pulse appears alone, the condition is critical." Liu stated: "The Scattered pulse indicates deficiency of both Qi and Blood, with the root having detached. For a parturient, it signifies survival; for a pregnant woman, it signifies miscarriage." Li stated: "The Scattered pulse is unrestrained and diffused; it feels soft, floating, and fine, like cotton in water. Floating, slow, and large indicates a Deficient pulse; the Kou pulse (Cork-pulse) is hollow in the center but firm on the sides." Regarding main diseases: A Scattered pulse at the left Cun position indicates palpitations; at the right Cun position, it indicates sweating; at the left Guan position, it corresponds to Yi Yin (overflowing fluid); at the right Guan position, a soft and scattered pulse indicates swelling; if the Scattered pulse is located at both Chi positions, the soul is destined to break (indicating poor prognosis).
Dai stated: Pulse diagnosis must count fifty beats, a view originating from the *Nan Jing*. However, the Five Zang Song in the *Mai Jue* (Pulse Rhymes) uses forty-five beats as the standard, which deviates from the classics. Liu stated: "In ancient times, counting the beats was crucial; one must observe fifty beats to know if there are missing rhythms. Today's practitioners claim to have seen the pulse as soon as their finger touches the wrist and forearm. Is observing fifty beats really a matter of snapping fingers? Therefore, students should combine pulse diagnosis, inquiry into symptoms, listening to voice, and observation of complexion to complete the Four Diagnostic Methods without error." If the pulse beats fifty times without stopping, the body is disease-free. If there are stops within the fifty beats, it is a fixed sign of pathology. Forty-one beats followed by a stop indicate the failure of one Zang organ, with death likely occurring after four years. Thirty-one beats followed by a stop correspond to three years; twenty-one beats followed by a stop correspond to two years. A stop after every ten beats indicates death within one year; one must also observe complexion and physical signs. A stop after two beats predicts death in three to four days; a stop after three or four beats predicts death in six or seven days; a stop after five or six beats predicts death in seven or eight days. Following this sequence ensures accuracy.