【方歌】痈疽伏脉理当明，毒闭于经六脉停，审证无凶宜穿发，
气通脉道自然行。
【注】痈疽二证，有见伏脉者，皆由于毒气闭塞经络，荣卫壅
滞之故，以致六脉停止，沈伏不见也。若审其证无凶象
，非死脉也。治之惟宜穿通经络，宣发荣卫，使气得通
，而脉道自然行矣。
【方歌】肿疡浮脉恐多虚，或有风寒在表居，溃后脉浮气外泻，
频加补剂始相宜。
【注】肿疡脉浮者，非气血不足，即为风寒在表，须详证施治
。溃疡脉浮者，乃气从外泻，须补剂调养，始为合法。
【方歌】肿疡沈脉多毒闭，溃后多毒在内存，无力须详毒内陷，
迟寒数热更当分。
【注】肿疡不当，脉沈而脉沈者，乃毒闭使然也。溃后而沈者
，是毒尚存于内也。若沈而无力，恐内虚毒陷，当详审
之，沈而迟则为兼寒，沈而数则为兼热，更当分别。
【方歌】肿疡数脉宜热毒，数且兼洪欲作脓，溃后洪大为病进，
脓出洪数治无功。
【注】肿疡脉数，作脓兼洪，皆正应之脉也。若溃后洪大，脓
出数洪者，皆为邪盛正虚，病脉相反，其病日进，治亦
无功。
【方歌】肿疡滑脉尚为顺，初起有痰治痰宜，溃后痰多恐气乏，
喘生毒陷死之机。
【注】滑主流通。肿疡初起，脉滑无痰，尚为顺脉。若有痰，
则当以治痰为急，恐溃后痰多气乏，必致喘生毒陷而死
也。
【方歌】痈疽（体表化脓性疾患）出现伏脉（脉搏深沉，重按至骨才能触及，甚至暂时摸不到），其道理应当明确：毒邪闭塞于经络，导致六部脉象停伏。仔细审查证候，如果没有凶险之象，适宜采用透脓排毒的方法；气机通畅后，脉道自然恢复运行。
【注】痈和疽这两种病证，如果出现伏脉，都是因为毒气闭塞经络，营卫之气壅滞不通的缘故，从而导致六部脉象沉伏不见。如果仔细审查证候，没有死亡的凶兆，这就不是死脉。治疗时只宜疏通经络，宣通发散营卫之气，使气机得以通畅，脉道自然会恢复正常运行。
【方歌】肿疡（未溃破的疮疡）出现浮脉（轻取即得，重按稍减而不空），恐怕多属虚证，或者是有风寒邪气停留在体表。溃疡（已溃破的疮疡）之后出现浮脉，是正气向外耗散的表现，此时频繁使用补益剂才适宜。
【注】肿疡出现浮脉，如果不是气血不足，就是风寒邪气在体表，必须详细审察证候来施治。溃疡出现浮脉，是因为气从外部耗散，必须用补益剂进行调养，这才是合法的治疗原则。
【方歌】肿疡出现沉脉（轻取不应，重按始得），多是毒邪闭塞；溃疡之后出现沉脉，多是毒邪仍存留体内。如果脉沉而无力，必须详细审察是否因内虚导致毒邪内陷；脉沉兼迟（脉搏跳动缓慢，一息不足四至）为兼有寒邪，脉沉兼数（脉搏跳动快速，一息五至以上）为兼有热邪，更应当加以区分。
【注】肿疡出现沉脉且脉象沉实，这是毒邪闭塞造成的。溃疡之后出现沉脉，说明毒邪仍然存在于体内。如果脉沉而无力，恐怕是内部虚弱导致毒邪内陷，应当详细审察。脉沉而迟则是兼夹寒邪，脉沉而数则是兼夹热邪，更应当分别对待。
【方歌】肿疡出现数脉，适宜判断为热毒；若数脉兼见洪大（脉体宽大，充实有力，来盛去衰），预示将要化脓。溃疡之后脉象洪大，表示病情进展；脓液流出后脉象仍洪数，治疗往往无效。
【注】肿疡脉象数，若作脓时兼见洪大，都是正应其证的脉象。如果溃疡后脉象洪大，或脓出后脉象仍洪数，这都是邪气盛而正气虚，病脉与病情相反，疾病日益加重，治疗也往往无功而返。
【方歌】肿疡出现滑脉（往来流利，如盘走珠），尚属顺证；初起若有痰湿，治疗应以化痰为宜。溃疡之后若痰多，恐怕是气虚乏力，若产生喘息，则是毒邪内陷的死症征兆。
【注】滑脉主流通顺畅。肿疡初起，脉滑若无痰湿，尚属顺脉。如果有痰湿，则当以治疗痰湿为急务，恐怕溃疡后痰多导致气虚乏力，必然会导致喘息发作、毒邪内陷而死。
[Verse] The rationale behind the hidden pulse (Fu Mai, a deep pulse felt only with heavy pressure) in carbuncles and sores should be understood: when pathogenic toxins block the meridians, the six pulses may cease to be palpable. Upon careful examination of the syndrome, if no ominous signs are present, it is appropriate to employ methods to penetrate and expel pus; once the Qi flows freely, the pulse channels will naturally resume their movement.
[Note] In cases of carbuncle or sore, the appearance of a hidden pulse is due to toxic qi blocking the meridians and the stagnation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) qi, causing the six pulses to sink and become imperceptible. If a careful review of the symptoms reveals no fatal indications, it is not a death pulse. Treatment should focus on unblocking the meridians and disseminating Ying and Wei qi, allowing Qi to flow freely so that the pulse channels naturally recover.
[Verse] A floating pulse (Fu Mai, a superficial pulse felt lightly) in an unruptured abscess suggests deficiency or the presence of wind-cold at the exterior. After rupture, a floating pulse indicates the leakage of Qi outward; frequent use of tonifying agents is then appropriate.
[Note] A floating pulse in an unruptured abscess, unless due to Qi and Blood deficiency, indicates wind-cold at the exterior; treatment must be tailored after detailed syndrome differentiation. A floating pulse after rupture signifies the outward leakage of Qi, requiring tonification for proper management.
[Verse] A deep pulse (Chen Mai, a deep pulse felt with heavy pressure) in an unruptured abscess often indicates blocked toxins; in a ruptured ulcer, it suggests toxins remaining inside. If the deep pulse is forceless, one must carefully examine whether internal deficiency has led to toxin sinking. A deep pulse with a slow rate (Chi Mai, <4 beats per respiration) indicates concomitant cold, while a deep pulse with a rapid rate (Shu Mai, >5 beats per respiration) indicates concomitant heat; these must be distinguished.
[Note] A deep pulse in an unruptured abscess is caused by toxin blockage. A deep pulse after rupture indicates that toxins remain within. If the deep pulse is forceless, it may indicate internal deficiency leading to toxin sinking, which requires careful assessment. A deep and slow pulse indicates concomitant cold, while a deep and rapid pulse indicates concomitant heat; these must be differentiated.
[Verse] A rapid pulse (Shu Mai) in an unruptured abscess suggests heat-toxin; if rapid and accompanied by a surging pulse (Hong Mai, wide and full), suppuration is imminent. A surging pulse after rupture indicates disease progression; if the pulse remains surging and rapid after pus discharge, treatment is likely ineffective.
[Note] A rapid pulse in an unruptured abscess, especially when becoming surging during suppuration, corresponds appropriately to the condition. However, a surging pulse after rupture, or a surging and rapid pulse after pus discharge, indicates excess pathogen and deficient healthy Qi, representing a mismatch between pulse and disease state. The disease will worsen daily, and treatment will likely fail.
[Verse] A slippery pulse (Hua Mai, smooth and rolling pulse) in an unruptured abscess is generally favorable; if phlegm is present at the onset, treating phlegm is indicated. After rupture, excessive phlegm suggests Qi exhaustion; if wheezing develops, it signals toxin sinking and impending death.
[Note] The slippery pulse indicates free flow. In the early stage of an unruptured abscess, a slippery pulse without phlegm is favorable. If phlegm is present, urgent treatment of phlegm is required to prevent post-rupture complications where excessive phlegm leads to Qi exhaustion, resulting in wheezing, toxin sinking, and death.