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The pulse of infants and young children, specifically those between three and five years of age, can be observed and diagnosed, differing from that of adults. Eight pulsations per respiration cycle is the normal state. Nine pulsations indicate disease, while ten pulsations indicate a critical and distressed condition.

A tight pulse in a child indicates Feng Xian (wind-induced epilepsy). A deep pulse indicates indigestion of milk. A wiry and rapid pulse indicates Ke Wu (external pathogenic invasion or fright-induced acute convulsion). A deep and rapid pulse indicates coldness in the bones. A floating, rapid, and long pulse appearing intermittently is often seen during Bian Zheng (physiological growth and development phases in infants). At this time, the body may be feverish with a chaotic pulse, sweating, anorexia for milk, and vomiting after feeding; medication should not be used, as spontaneous recovery will occur.

If a critically ill child sweats profusely like pearls that adhere to the skin without flowing, the condition is incurable.

If a child suffers from chronic dysentery accompanied by a floating pulse and abdominal pain, the condition is incurable.

If a sick child presents with sunken chest, dry lips, staring eyes, cold breath, drooping head, inability to turn over while lying down, flaccid limbs, rigid body, and cold palms, these signs indicate an incurable condition.

One pulsation followed by one pause predicts death in two days; another text states one day. Two pulsations followed by one pause predict death in three days. Three pulsations followed by one pause predict death in four or five days.

Fifty pulsations without any pause indicate that all five Zang organs are receiving Qi, Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) Qi are intact, and there is no disease. Forty pulsations with one pause indicate that one Zang organ lacks Qi... [Text corruption/omission in source].

A pulse that lingers long after one beat indicates pathology in the Heart Master. After two beats, it indicates pathology in the Liver branches. After three beats, it indicates pathology below the Spleen. After four beats, it indicates pathology in the Kidney region. After five beats, it indicates pathology in the Lung branches.

Five types of pulses indicating deficiency and emaciation lead to death if found in a patient. This is because neither medicine nor acupuncture can effectively treat such cases. However, robust individuals may still be curable due to sufficient Yuan Qi (Original Qi).

When the physical appearance does not match the pulse: if the patient appears healthy but the pulse resembles "House Leaking" (irregular, intermittent drops) or "Sparrow Pecking" (rapid, jerky strikes), death ensues. "House Leaking" refers to pulses that stop intermittently and restart without continuity. "Sparrow Pecking" refers to rapid, frequent strikes. Another classic states that if, after seven or eight days of illness, the pulse resembles House Leaking or Sparrow Pecking, death occurs. A pulse that feels like millet seeds striking the finger is also ominous.

A pulse coming hard like a bouncing stone and going scattered like untying a knot indicates death. "Bouncing Stone" means hard and urgent. "Untying a Knot" means rapid yet disordered and scattered without sequence. Following the natural order leads to life; reversing it leads to death. "Following" means warm extremities; "Reversing" means cold extremities. A pulse resembling a swimming shrimp or a gliding fish indicates death. "Swimming Shrimp" refers to a faint pulse that rises slightly then vanishes, reappearing only after a long delay, slowly rising and quickly disappearing. "Gliding Fish" refers to a pulse that seems stationary but moves its tail and head, lingering long during diagnosis.

A floating and short pulse indicates lung injury and scarcity of Qi, leading to death within a year, typically accompanied by coughing. A pulse like rolling beans indicates death. A pulse like an inverted knife (sharp edge) indicates death. A surging pulse that does not recede indicates death. A divided and severed pulse indicates dispersion and death.

A pulse present on the exterior but absent on the interior indicates death, termed "Jie Qu" (Knot Departure). In "Jie Qu," the pulse feels like moving hemp seeds under the fingers, associated with the Kidneys. [Text corruption/omission in source].

A洪大 (Hong Da - Vast and Large) pulse that is vigorous and hard indicates excess of both Blood and Qi.

If a patient closes their eyes and avoids people, the pulse should be soft/sweating-type; if instead a Lung pulse (floating, short, and choppy) is found, death ensues.

If a patient keeps their eyes open, feels thirsty, and has hardness in the epigastrium, the pulse should be tight, solid, and rapid; if instead a soggy and fine pulse is found, death ensues.

If a patient vomits blood and suffers epistaxis, the pulse should be deep and fine; if instead a floating, large, and firm pulse is found, death ensues.

If a patient speaks deliriously with hallucinations and has fever, the pulse should be vast and large; if instead extremities are cold (Si Ni) and the pulse is fine and minute, death ensues.

If a patient suffers from intestinal diarrhea, the pulse should be fine, minute, and choppy; if instead a tight, large, and slippery pulse is found, death ensues.

Furthermore, if the physical symptoms contradict the pulse, death ensues.

Headache and eye pain with a contrary short and choppy pulse indicate death. Abdominal pain with a contrary floating, large, and long pulse indicates death. Abdominal fullness with wheezing and a contrary slippery pulse indicate death. Extremity coldness (Si Ni) with a contrary floating, large, and short pulse indicates death. Deafness with a contrary floating, large, and choppy pulse indicates death. Headache with a contrary large and slow pulse indicates death.

Pain on the left side when the disease is on the right, or pain above when the disease is below, constitutes a Reversal (Ni). Reversals are incurable.

A pulse that is absent and soggy on deep pressure but unceasing on superficial pressure, with the hand pulse ceasing upon pushing, predicts death in half a month.

If the body is diseased but the pulse is normal, life is preserved. If the pulse is diseased but the body appears normal, death ensues.

In cases of Shi Jue (Corpse Fainting) where the patient is unresponsive to calls, a ceased pulse indicates death. A pulse that should be large but becomes small also indicates death.

A thin person with a wiry pulse like silk about to cease dies. An emaciated person with a restless pulse dies. If a person's constitution is rough/choppy but the pulse is smooth, they die. If a person's constitution is smooth but the pulse is rough/choppy, they die. If a person's pulse is naturally small but becomes large, they die. If naturally short but becomes long, they die. If naturally long but becomes short, they die.

Diagnosis of the Five Zang, Six Fu, and Twelve Meridians involves checking for contradictions. Any single contradiction indicates a fatal prognosis.