【方歌】肿疡濡弱脉不足，扶虚托里始能痊，溃后虽为脉病应，
但无虚候始得安。
【注】肿疡脉见濡弱不足者，必用扶元托里之剂，始能痊也。
溃后脉见濡弱，虽为脉病相应，但无虚证，始得安全。
若精神疲惫，饮食不思，亦危候也。
歌诀；肿疡散脉最可愁，毒盛气散不能收，溃后见散亦为逆，
急投补固或无忧。
【注】肿疡最忌散脉，盖散脉为毒盛气散，不能收功之诊。溃
后见之，亦主逆也。急投补虚收固之剂，或有生者。
【方歌】肿疡脉大为顺候，溃后脉大不相宜，肿疡溃后脉细小，
总主痈疽气血虚。
【注】肿疡脉大为正实，毒必易出，为顺候也。溃后脉大为病
进，其毒虽化，为不宜也。肿疡、溃疡，脉见细小者，
总属气血两虚，惟宜大补为主。
【方歌】促脉无分肿溃疡，总为阳结不宜常，渐退毒散犹可愈，
常进不退必然亡。
【注】肿疡、溃疡脉见促者，皆为阳结，但宜暂而不宜常也。
如促脉渐渐而退，则毒亦渐渐而散，犹或可愈。若常进
不退，其亡必矣。
【方歌】肿疡结脉为阴结，急宜温解始能康，溃后见结阴虚歇，
如代之歇定然亡。
【注】肿疡脉结者，乃阴结也。急用温散解毒之剂，始可获效
。若溃后见结脉，则为阴虚之歇止，尚不主死。若如代
脉之歇，动而中止，不能自还，则为真脏之脉，见定主
亡也。
[Verse] The presence of a soggy and weak pulse (Ru Ruo Mai, soggy and weak pulse) in an un-ulcerated abscess indicates deficiency of healthy qi; only by using formulas to support the upright and expel toxins can recovery be achieved. Although a soggy and weak pulse after ulceration corresponds to the disease state, safety is ensured only if there are no signs of deficiency.
[Annotation] When the pulse in an un-ulcerated abscess appears soggy, weak, and insufficient, it is necessary to use decoctions that tonify the primordial qi and push out toxins internally to achieve recovery. A soggy and weak pulse after ulceration, although corresponding to the disease, ensures safety only in the absence of deficiency syndromes. However, mental fatigue and loss of appetite are also critical signs.
[Verse] The appearance of a scattered pulse (San Mai, scattered pulse) in an un-ulcerated abscess is most worrying, as it indicates abundant toxins and dispersed healthy qi that cannot consolidate. Seeing a scattered pulse after ulceration is also an adverse sign; urgently administering tonifying and consolidating agents may bring relief without worry.
[Annotation] An un-ulcerated abscess most fears the scattered pulse, for the scattered pulse signifies abundant toxins and dispersed healthy qi, indicating a diagnosis where treatment cannot succeed. Its appearance after ulceration also indicates an adverse condition. Urgently administering tonifying and consolidating decoctions may offer a chance of survival.
[Verse] A large pulse (Da Mai, large pulse) in an un-ulcerated abscess is a favorable sign; however, a large pulse after ulceration is inappropriate. Whether in an un-ulcerated or ulcerated stage, a fine/small pulse (Xi Xiao Mai, fine and small pulse) generally indicates deficiency of both qi and blood.
[Annotation] A large pulse in an un-ulcerated abscess reflects sufficient righteous qi, allowing toxins to be easily expelled, which is a favorable sign. A large pulse after ulceration indicates disease progression; although toxins have transformed, this is inappropriate. For both un-ulcerated and ulcerated conditions, a fine/small pulse belongs entirely to deficiency of both qi and blood, requiring major tonification as the primary treatment.
[Verse] The rapid-intermittent pulse (Cu Mai, rapid-intermittent pulse) applies to both un-ulcerated and ulcerated abscesses, always indicating yang stagnation, which should not persist. If it gradually recedes and toxins dissipate, recovery is possible; if it persists and does not recede, death is inevitable.
[Annotation] The appearance of a rapid-intermittent pulse in un-ulcerated or ulcerated abscesses indicates yang stagnation, which should be temporary rather than persistent. If the rapid-intermittent pulse gradually recedes, toxins will also dissipate, and recovery may still be possible. If it persists and does not recede, death is certain.
[Verse] The knotted pulse (Jie Mai, knotted pulse) in an un-ulcerated abscess indicates yin stagnation, requiring urgent warming and resolution for recovery. If a knotted pulse appears after ulceration due to yin deficiency with intermittent pauses, it is not necessarily fatal. However, if the pauses resemble those of a substitute pulse (Dai Mai, substitute pulse), death is certain.
[Annotation] A knotted pulse in an un-ulcerated abscess indicates yin stagnation. Urgent use of warming, dispersing, and detoxifying decoctions is required for efficacy. If a knotted pulse appears after ulceration, it represents intermittent pauses due to yin deficiency and does not necessarily indicate death. However, if the pauses are like those of a substitute pulse—where the beat stops and cannot return spontaneously—it is a true organ pulse, and its appearance definitely indicates death.