【方歌】肿疡涩脉属毒滞，有力为实无力虚，溃后脉涩为伤血，
急补气血莫迟疑。
【注】涩主滞涩。肿疡初起脉涩者，乃气血为毒滞之征。若按
之有力，毒滞为实；按之无力，正损为虚，不可不辨。
若溃后脉涩，为伤血不足之象，急当大补气血，莫迟疑
也。
【方歌】肿疡脉虚宜内托，溃后内虚大补甯，肿疡脉实宜消散，
溃后如实毒未清。
【注】肿疡未溃脉虚者，不须攻毒，惟宜内托；已溃脉应虚者
，急当以大补收功。如肿疡未溃，脉实者，当消毒散毒
；已溃脉实者，乃毒气犹未清也。
【方歌】肿疡长脉为有余，消散之方任所施，溃后得之为气治，
条然和畅不须医。
【注】肿疡见脉长者，乃气血有余，消散之方，任意施治。溃
后脉长者，乃气之畅也，故曰气治，不待医药自能愈也
。
【方歌】肿疡短脉元气虚，大加补剂如相宜，溃后脉短为虚甚，
补之仍短决死期。
【注】肿疡脉短者，元气虚也，非大加补益之剂不可。溃后脉
短者，虚之甚也，若补之而脉仍短者，则为败证，其死
必矣。
【方歌】肿疡洪脉阳热盛，宣热攻毒必有功，溃后洪脉毒留内，
治之不退自然凶。
【注】肿疡未溃，脉洪者热盛也，宣热攻毒之法可施；若溃后
脉洪者，邪盛也服药而脉洪不退者，为正虚邪盛，其凶
不免。
[Verse] A choppy pulse (Se Mai, 涩脉) in a swelling and ulceration indicates toxin stagnation; if forceful it is excess, if weak it is deficiency. After ulceration, a choppy pulse indicates blood injury; urgently tonify Qi and Blood without hesitation.
[Note] Choppy pulse signifies stagnation. If a choppy pulse appears at the onset of a swelling/ulcer, it is a sign that Qi and Blood are stagnated by toxins. If palpable with force, the toxin stagnation is an Excess pattern; if palpable without force, the righteous Qi is damaged, indicating a Deficiency pattern. This must be distinguished. If a choppy pulse appears after ulceration, it is a manifestation of insufficient injured Blood. One should urgently employ major tonification of Qi and Blood without hesitation.
[Verse] For a swelling/ulcer with a deficient pulse, internal support (Nei Tuo, 内托) is appropriate; after ulceration, for internal deficiency, major tonification is necessary. For a swelling/ulcer with an excess pulse, resolution (Xiao San, 消散) is appropriate; after ulceration, if the pulse remains excess, the toxin has not cleared.
[Note] If the pulse is deficient before ulceration, attacking the toxin is unnecessary; only internal support is suitable. If the pulse is appropriately deficient after ulceration, urgent major tonification should be used to conclude treatment. If the pulse is excess before ulceration, detoxification and resolving toxins should be applied; if the pulse is excess after ulceration, it means the toxic Qi has not yet cleared.
[Verse] A long pulse (Chang Mai, 长脉) in a swelling/ulcer indicates surplus; resolution formulas may be applied as desired. If a long pulse appears after ulceration, it indicates harmonious Qi; smooth and unobstructed, no treatment is needed.
[Note] When a long pulse appears in a swelling/ulcer, it indicates abundant Qi and Blood; resolution formulas can be applied freely. When a long pulse appears after ulceration, it indicates free-flowing Qi, hence termed "Qi Harmonized"; it will heal spontaneously without waiting for medical intervention.
[Verse] A short pulse (Duan Mai, 短脉) in a swelling/ulcer indicates deficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi); adding large doses of tonifying agents is appropriate. If a short pulse appears after ulceration, it indicates severe deficiency; if the pulse remains short after tonification, the time of death is determined.
[Note] A short pulse in a swelling/ulcer indicates deficiency of Yuan Qi; only large doses of tonifying agents will suffice. A short pulse after ulceration indicates severe deficiency; if the pulse remains short despite tonification, it constitutes a failure syndrome (Bai Zheng, 败证), and death is inevitable.
[Verse] A surging pulse (Hong Mai, 洪脉) in a swelling/ulcer indicates excessive Yang-Heat; dispersing heat and attacking toxins will surely succeed. If a surging pulse appears after ulceration, the toxin remains inside; if treatment fails to reduce it, the prognosis is naturally ominous.
[Note] In a swelling/ulcer that has not ulcerated, a surging pulse indicates excessive Heat; methods of dispersing heat and attacking toxins can be applied. If a surging pulse appears after ulceration, it indicates flourishing pathogenic factors. If the surging pulse does not recede after taking medicine, it indicates deficiency of Righteous Qi and flourishing pathogens, making the ominous outcome unavoidable.