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The second finger on the right hand corresponds to the Spleen pulse. If the pulse beats forty-five times without any pause, there is no need for doubt.
This refers to the physician using the middle finger of the right hand to palpate the Guan position (middle position) of the patient's right wrist, which represents the Spleen pulse. It must also conform to the number mentioned previously, a multiple of nine totaling forty-five beats, without cessation; thus, one need not suspect the presence of disease.

A rapid and urgent beating indicates extreme Spleen Heat. The inability to digest food is precisely due to this condition.
The Spleen pulse should be harmonious and slow. Now that it beats rapidly and urgently, it signifies that Spleen Earth has been invaded by Wind-Heat pathogenic factors, losing its mechanism of transformation and transportation. Consequently, it cannot grind grain and digest food.

To know if the illness is mostly caused by Cold, feel under the fingers for a pulse that is extremely slow and delayed.
The Spleen prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Now, upon palpation, the pulse is found to be slow and delayed. A delayed pulse indicates Cold; therefore, it can be known that the disease generated is due to Cold.

Vomiting and regurgitation are irregular and persist for ten days or more; how long can the Stomach Qi sustain itself?
The Spleen belongs to Earth, and in terms of pathological changes, it manifests as hiccups (Yue). Now, vomiting and regurgitation are irregular and have persisted for a full "Xun" (ten days). In the generative numbers of Earth, the generative number is five, and the completion number is ten. If vomiting persists from five days to ten days, both the generative and completion numbers are exceeded, yet the vomiting remains unresolved; this indicates the failure of the Spleen Qi. When the Spleen fails, turbid Qi rushes to attack the Stomach. The Stomach is located below the Heart. The Heart is the official of the sovereign; if it is invaded by turbid Qi, even if life continues, for how long will it last?

Below the third finger on the right hand lies the Mingmen (Gate of Life) pulse. If the pulse beats forty-five times without pause, there is no need to fear. If the pulse beats only nineteen times and is silent and deep, it signifies death with no hope of life.
Humans possess Five Zang organs and Six Fu organs, though some theories speak of six Zang and five Fu. The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) has already discussed this, yet the explanation is not fully thorough. Heaven has Five Elements: Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth. Humans have Five Zang organs: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. However, within each of the Five Elements, there is Yin and Yang, combining to form the Ten Heavenly Stems. Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren are Yang; Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui are Yin. In humans, there is also Yin and Yang. Yin constitutes the Zang organs: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney. Yang constitutes the Fu organs: Gallbladder, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Bladder. If so, these are merely Five Zang and Six Fu. Why then are there Twelve Meridians? It is unknown that Heaven has Ten Heavenly Stems and Earth has Twelve Earthly Branches; similarly, humans have twelve Zang-Fu pairs to correspond to the Three Yin and Three Yang of Heaven (Wind, Heat, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Cold). Thus, the classics state: Above Jueyin, Wind Qi dominates, revealing Shaoyang internally; above Shaoyang, Fire Qi dominates, revealing Jueyin internally. Therefore, in the human body, the Liver connects with the Gallbladder, and the Gallbladder connects with the Liver; the Pericardium connects with the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and the Sanjiao connects with the Pericardium. It is also stated: Above Taiyin, Dampness Qi dominates, revealing Yangming internally; above Yangming, Dryness Qi dominates, revealing Taiyin internally. Therefore, in the human body, the Spleen connects with the Stomach, and the Stomach connects with the Spleen; the Lung connects with the Large Intestine, and the Large Intestine connects with the Lung. Furthermore: Above Shaoyin, Heat Qi dominates, revealing Taiyang internally; above Taiyang, Cold Qi dominates, revealing Shaoyin internally. Therefore, in the human body, the Heart connects with the Small Intestine, and the Small Intestine connects with the Heart; the Kidney connects with the Bladder, and the Bladder connects with the Kidney. Thus, the twelve meridians of the human body are examined at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions of both left and right hands. Superficial palpation examines the exterior; deep palpation examines the interior. Superficial palpation examines Fu organs; deep palpation examines Zang organs. This is an unchangeable principle. However, the left Cun examines the Heart and Small Intestine; the left Guan examines the Liver and Gallbladder; the left Chi examines the Kidney and Bladder; the right Cun examines the Lung and Large Intestine; the right Guan examines the Spleen and Stomach. Then, where else can the Pericardium and Sanjiao be examined except at the right Chi? Both Chi positions correspond to the Kidney. The left is called Kidney, and the right is called Mingmen (Gate of Life). The Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian thrive here. Jueyin belongs to Wind-Wood, and Shaoyang belongs to Ministerial Fire. Since the Hand Jueyin is Wind-Wood, its principles of generation and restriction should share the same preferences as the Foot Jueyin Liver-Wood. Hence, the verse states: "Below the third finger on the right hand is the Mingmen." This means the physician uses the third finger (ring finger) to palpate the right Chi position of the patient, which is the Mingmen pulse. Its pulse should also conform to the aforementioned "Nine Categories" number, beating forty-five times without pause, indicating sufficient Qi of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium; thus, it says, "No need to fear." If the pulse beats only nineteen times and is silent and deep, dividing by three and five leaves a remainder of four; four is the generative number of Metal. Dividing by two and five leaves a remainder of nine; nine is the completion number of Metal. Combining these, the generative and completion numbers all belong to Metal, meaning the generating Qi of Wind-Wood is restricted. Thus, it says, "Death is certain, life is severed."

According to Liu Shouzhen (Liu Wansu): The classic states, "Beside the seventh vertebra from the bottom, there is the 'Small Heart'." Yang Shangshan, annotating the *Tai Su*, said: The human spine has twenty-one segments. Beside the seventh segment from the bottom, the left side is the Kidney, and the right side is the Mingmen. The Mingmen is the "Small Heart." It is further stated: The right Kidney, Mingmen, and "Small Heart" constitute the storage of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium, hence they are interior-exterior partners with the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao, and their pulses emerge together at the right Chi position.

If the pulse feels urgent and beats like a string under the fingers, Wind in the Kidneys is particularly difficult to treat.
This describes palpating the right Mingmen pulse as urgent, beating rapidly and tightly like a string. The right Chi also governs the Shaoyang Ministerial Fire. Shaoyang represents the Wood of spring growth, and Ministerial Fire is the fire of dragons and thunder. Now, finding the pulse tight and urgent indicates that Wind and Fire are fanning each other. One must know that both Fire and Wind consume Water, damaging Kidney Water. Therefore, it says, "Wind in the Kidneys is particularly difficult to treat."

If the pulse beats only seven times, sinks deeply, and does not return, striving through today implies death.
This explains that the right Chi is also the seat of the True Fire of the Mingmen. Its pulse should be slippery, flowing, and deep. Now, above the seventh beat, the pulse sinks deeply and does not rebound. Seven is the completion number of Fire. If the pulse sinks and fails to appear at the seventh beat, the True Fire of the Mingmen is extinguished. However, this single point of True Fire is the root of human life. Now that it is extinguished, how can one expect to survive much longer?