喘急息肩浮滑者顺沉涩肢寒散脉逆证此言喘急之脉证宜别也呼吸疾速曰喘气息短促曰急
呼吸不利故肩亦为之耸动耳浮为阳为表为风滑为阳为痰为食盖因外邪闭遏胸膈痞塞而为喘急
息肩者有矣若能散其邪痞塞可通故曰顺脉沉涩者沉为阴为里涩为阴为虚乃元气不能接续而四
肢加寒也若更见散脉则真元将随喘而散死亡必矣故曰逆证
病热有火洪数可医沉微无火无根者危此言火热为病也病热而有火证是火病也火则脉应洪
数脉
骨蒸发热脉数而虚热而涩小必殒其躯此言骨蒸脉证宜别也骨蒸发热者内伤虚劳之热脉数
而虚是其本然若骨蒸热而见涩小之脉涩则精血少小则元气衰真阴日损必至于殒其躯也
劳极诸虚浮软微弱土败双弦火炎急数此言劳极兼诸脉证也劳极者五劳六极也(巢元方病
源论云)肺劳者气短而面肿鼻不闻香臭肝劳者面目干黑口苦精神不守恐畏不能独卧目视不明
心劳者忽忽喜忘大便苦难或时鸭溏口内生疮脾劳者舌苦直不得咽唾肾劳者背难以俯仰小便不
利色赤黄而有余沥茎内痛阴湿囊生疮小腹满急此五劳各见五脏也六极者一曰气极二曰血极三
曰筋极四曰骨极五曰肌极六曰精极是即五脏所合之病虚损而至于极处也肾则多一精极故为六
极夫劳极损伤气血日耗形体渐衰所见之脉随病呈象如空虚之浮不鼓之软欲绝之微无力之弱虽
云病脉犹相宜也至若双弦乃知土败急数定为火炎盖弦为肝木双弦则木太盛久病之土故知其必
败也急数则躁疾直强邪火炎盛真阴自绝两皆不治矣
If panting and urgency are accompanied by shrugging of the shoulders, and the pulse is floating (Fu, superficial) and slippery (Hua, smooth), it is a favorable condition (Shun). If the pulse is deep (Chen, profound) and choppy (Se, rough), with cold limbs, or if a scattered (San, dispersed) pulse appears, it is an unfavorable condition (Ni). This passage explains that the pulses and syndromes of panting and urgency should be distinguished. Rapid breathing is called "panting" (Chuan); shortness of breath is called "urgency" (Ji). Because respiration is obstructed, the shoulders rise accordingly. A floating pulse belongs to Yang, indicates the Exterior, and relates to Wind; a slippery pulse belongs to Yang and relates to Phlegm and Food Stagnation. Generally, external pathogens obstruct the chest and diaphragm, causing stagnation and leading to panting and shoulder shrugging. If the pathogenic factors can be dissipated and the stagnation cleared, it is termed favorable. A deep and choppy pulse: deep indicates Yin and the Interior; choppy indicates Yin and Deficiency. This signifies that Yuan Qi (Original Qi) cannot connect continuously, resulting in cold limbs. If a scattered pulse is also seen, the True Yuan Qi will dissipate along with the panting, inevitably leading to death; thus, it is termed an unfavorable syndrome.
In cases of heat disease with Fire manifestations, if the pulse is surging (Hong, full) and rapid (Shu, fast), it is treatable; if the pulse is deep and minute (Wei, faint), without Fire signs and rootless, it is critical. This passage discusses diseases caused by Fire and Heat. When heat disease presents with Fire symptoms, it is a Fire disease, and the pulse should be surging and rapid.
Bone-steaming fever with a rapid but deficient pulse is manageable; however, if fever is accompanied by a choppy and small pulse, death is inevitable. This passage explains that the pulses and syndromes of bone-steaming fever should be distinguished. Bone-steaming fever refers to the heat arising from internal injury and deficiency consumption. A rapid and deficient pulse is its natural presentation. However, if bone-steaming fever presents with choppy and small pulses, a choppy pulse indicates scarcity of Essence and Blood, and a small pulse indicates decline of Yuan Qi. As True Yin is daily depleted, death will inevitably occur.
Exhaustion due to overwork (Lao Ji) and various deficiencies present with floating, soft, minute, and weak pulses, indicating the failure of Earth (Spleen/Stomach); double wiry (Xian, string-like) pulses indicate the failure of Earth due to excessive Wood (Liver); urgent and rapid pulses indicate blazing Fire (Heart/Liver). This passage discusses the syndromes of Lao Ji combined with other pulse patterns. "Lao Ji" refers to the Five Labors and Six Extremities. According to *Chao Yuanfang's Treatise on Disease Sources*: Lung Labor manifests as shortness of breath, facial edema, and loss of smell; Liver Labor manifests as dry and dark complexion, bitter taste, mental unrest, fearfulness, inability to sleep alone, and blurred vision; Heart Labor manifests as mental confusion, forgetfulness, difficult defecation or loose stools resembling duck droppings, and oral ulcers; Spleen Labor manifests as tongue stiffness and difficulty swallowing saliva; Kidney Labor manifests as back stiffness preventing bending and stretching, dysuria, reddish-yellow urine with dribbling, pain inside the penis, dampness in the genitalia, sores on the scrotum, and fullness/urgency in the lower abdomen. These five labors correspond to the five Zang organs. The Six Extremities are: 1. Qi Extremity, 2. Blood Extremity, 3. Sinew Extremity, 4. Bone Extremity, 5. Flesh Extremity, 6. Essence Extremity. These are diseases associated with the five Zang organs, representing deficiency damage reaching the extreme. The Kidney has one additional category, Essence Extremity, hence there are six extremities. Lao Ji damages Qi and Blood, causing daily depletion and gradual physical decline. The observed pulses reflect the disease state, such as floating like emptiness, soft like lack of strength, minute like about to vanish, and weak without power. Although these are pathological pulses, they are relatively appropriate. However, double wiry pulses indicate the failure of Earth (due to excessive Liver Wood attacking weakened Spleen Earth); urgent and rapid pulses indicate blazing Fire. Wiry pulses belong to Liver Wood; double wiry pulses indicate excessive Wood overcoming long-standing diseased Earth, indicating inevitable failure. Urgent and rapid pulses are restless and forceful, indicating flourishing pathogenic Fire and extinction of True Yin; both conditions are untreatable.