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The Fuyang pulse is slow and moderate, indicating that the Stomach Qi is in its normal state (as per the classic pattern). If the Fuyang pulse is floating and rapid, a floating pulse indicates injury to the Stomach, and a rapid pulse indicates disturbance of the Spleen. This is not the original disease but the result of a physician's inappropriate use of purgation. The Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi have sunk inward. If the rapid pulse first becomes faint, and the pulse appears only floating without being rapid, the person will certainly suffer from hard stool, and symptoms will resolve after belching. Why is this? Originally, the rapid pulse disturbs the Spleen Earth. If the rapid pulse first changes to a faint pulse, it indicates dysfunction of the Spleen Qi, leading to hard stool, which resolves after belching. Now, the pulse is instead floating, and the rapid pulse has changed to faint, leaving pathogenic heat alone. The heart feels hungry, but the pathogenic heat cannot digest food, resulting in tidal fever and thirst. A rapid pulse should transform into a slow and moderate one. If the pulse changes before and after according to proper rules, the patient will feel hunger and digest food; if the rapid pulse appears intermittently, malignant sores will arise.

A Fuyang pulse that is slow and moderate indicates that the Stomach Qi is normal. If the Fuyang pulse is floating and rapid, it is no longer the common pulse of the Stomach. Floating injures the Stomach, and rapid disturbs the Spleen. Because the Stomach belongs to Yangming and governs descending, a rapid pulse does not injure the Stomach; rather, a floating pulse causes Qi rebellion and injures the Stomach. The Spleen belongs to Taiyin and governs ascending, so a floating pulse does not disturb the Spleen; rather, a rapid pulse scorches Yin fluids and disturbs the Spleen. The Fuyang pulse is originally slow and moderate; suddenly appearing as floating and rapid means the Stomach is injured and the Spleen is disturbed. What is the reason? It is likely not an inherent disease of the Stomach family but caused by a physician's specific use of purgation. If purgation leads to the sinking of Ying and Wei Qi, the original rapid pulse first transforms into a faint pulse. The current floating-rapid pulse would instead be only floating without rapidity (i.e., first floating and faint). Such a person will certainly have hard stool, and symptoms will resolve after belching. How do we know? Originally, the Spleen is Yin Earth, and a rapid pulse easily disturbs Stomach Qi. If floating-rapid first becomes floating-faint, this is merely weak Stomach Qi, constrained and uncomfortable. If purgation is applied then, feces will be small and hard, upper Qi transformation will stagnate, but if Spleen Qi remains undisturbed, the Middle Jiao will open, and both upper and lower will heal. Thus, knowing that dysfunctional Spleen Qi leads to hard stool and resolution after belaching, because opening above allows descent below. Now, the pulse is instead floating and rapid, changing from faint to floating-rapid, meaning the Spleen Qi is disturbed. Floating and rapid pulses indicate pathogenic heat lingering alone, scorching Spleen Yin and slightly consuming Heart fluids, causing hunger in the heart. Although hungry, food is not digested because pathogenic heat cannot "kill grain" (digest food); there is only a sensation of tidal fever and thirst. A rapid pulse is not a normal pulse for the Stomach; a slow and moderate pulse should be seen. If the pulse returns to rapidity before and after, following the laws of entry/exit and ascent/descent, conforming to time measures, with harmonious Earth Qi, the patient will digest grain and feel hunger. This is the restoration of Central Qi, not hunger caused by lingering pathogenic heat. If a rapid pulse disturbs the Spleen, causing the depletion of essence and blood, the harm is significant, extending beyond mere fever and thirst, leading to intermittent malignant sores.