止歇之脉，有无关败坏者，以其气结也；亦有见于阳气将舒之际者，正伸而邪不肯伏，
所谓
龙战于野，其血元黄也。大旨与上编伏脉之义相近，但有脉已浮盛，仍自参伍不调，或夹一
二至小弱无力，或径停止一二至；又有过服寒降，胃阳内陷，右关独沉，或初来大，渐渐小
，更来渐渐大，即仲景所谓厥脉也。其渐小之时，有小至于无，相间二三十至之久，而始复
渐出者。此脉须与证相参，有阴阳格拒之证，且指下不散不断，尺中见弦，有力有神，即是
阳气初伸未畅，进退交争之象；若尺中散断无力，气脱何疑?又尝见痘疹、瘟疫、痈疸大
证，伏气将发未发，其脉每先于半月十日前，忽见结涩，疏密不一，参伍不调，此阴阳邪正
已交争于内也；亦是气机将欲发动之兆，而吉凶未分。大抵弦细而疾者多凶，宜预为补气益血
；洪缓而数者少凶，宜预为生津活血也。
《脉简补义》叙短脉详矣，然犹有未畅也。凡脉形短缩，不能上寸者，有气虚与气郁之
辨。察
其关之前半部紧而有力，似欲上鼓而不得者，是气郁也，必有实邪，察其风寒痰饮，分表里
治之。若软散无力，无上鼓之势者，是气虚也。其虚又有肺、脾、肾之辨。脾、肺气虚者，
关后脉平；肾气虚者，尺中必陷而起伏小也。至于厥厥累累，如豆如珠，亦短脉也，必形坚
有力，乃为阴阳邪正之相搏；若漉漉欲脱，驶而无力，气衰不续也，关后尺中见之，尤为气
脱无根之兆。
脉搏出现间歇停顿的情况，有的与脏腑败坏无关，是因为气机郁结所致；也有出现在阳气即将舒展之际的，此时正气欲伸展而邪气不肯潜伏，
这就是所谓的“龙战于野，其血玄黄”（比喻阴阳剧烈交争）。大旨意与上编中关于伏脉（深伏于筋骨之间，重按推筋着骨始得之脉）的含义相近，但区别在于：有的脉象已经浮盛，仍然参差不齐、节律不调，或者夹杂一两次微弱无力的脉动，或者直接停止一两次搏动；又有因为过服寒凉降逆药物，导致胃阳内陷，右关部（候脾胃）独见沉脉，或者初起脉来盛大，渐渐变小，再次来时又渐渐变大，这就是张仲景所说的厥脉（指四肢厥冷时的脉象变化）。在脉势渐渐变小的时候，有微小至似无，间隔二三十次搏动的时间，然后才逐渐恢复出现的。这种脉象必须与症状相互参照，如果有阴阳格拒（阴寒与阳热相互排斥阻隔）的症状，且手指下感觉脉象不散乱、不中断，尺部（候肾）见到弦脉，有力且有神，这就是阳气初伸但未畅达，进退交争的现象；如果尺部脉象散乱、中断且无力，难道不是气脱吗？我又曾见过痘疹、瘟疫、痈疽黄疸等重大病症，伏邪之气将发未发之时，其脉象往往在发病前半月或十日前，忽然出现结脉（缓而时止，止无定数）和涩脉（往来艰涩，如轻刀刮竹），疏密不一，参差不齐，这是阴阳邪正之气已在体内交争的表现；这也是气机即将发动的征兆，但吉凶尚未分明。大致而言，脉象弦细而疾速的多主凶险，应当预先补气益血；脉象洪大而缓急并见的少主凶险，应当预先生津活血。
《脉简补义》对短脉（首尾俱短，不能满本位）叙述得很详细了，然而还有不够详尽之处。凡是脉形短缩，不能到达寸部的，有气虚和气郁的区别。观察关部之前半部紧束而有力，似乎想要向上鼓动却不得升发的，是气郁，必定有实邪，需察辨是风寒还是痰饮，分别按照表证或里证治疗。如果脉象软弱散漫无力，没有向上鼓动的态势，就是气虚。其中的虚损又有肺、脾、肾的区别。脾、肺气虚者，关后（尺部）脉象平和；肾气虚者，尺部必然陷入且起伏细小。至于脉象累累如豆如珠，也是短脉的一种，必定形体坚实有力，这才是阴阳邪正相搏的表现；如果脉象漉漉欲脱，急促而无力，则是气衰不能接续，如果在关后尺部见到这种情况，更是气脱无根的征兆。
Pulses with intermittent pauses may not necessarily indicate organ failure; they can result from Qi stagnation. Alternatively, they may appear when Yang Qi is about to expand, where the righteous Qi attempts to extend but the pathogenic factor refuses to subside. This is described as "the dragon fights in the wild, its blood is black and yellow" (a metaphor for intense struggle between Yin and Yang). The general principle is similar to the discussion on Hidden Pulse (Fu Mai, a pulse that lies deep and requires heavy pressure to feel) in the previous section, but with distinctions: some pulses are already floating and full yet remain irregular or uneven in rhythm, occasionally interspersed with one or two weak beats, or simply stopping for one or two beats. Another scenario involves excessive use of cold and descending herbs, causing Stomach Yang to sink inward, resulting in a solitary sinking pulse at the Right Guan position (which reflects the Spleen and Stomach), or a pulse that initially appears large, gradually becomes small, and then grows large again upon subsequent palpation; this corresponds to what Zhang Zhongjing referred to as Jue Pulse (pulse changes associated with limb coldness). During the phase where the pulse gradually diminishes, it may become so faint as to be imperceptible, pausing for twenty to thirty beats before gradually reappearing. This type of pulse must be correlated with clinical manifestations. If there are signs of Yin-Yang repulsion (mutual rejection between Yin cold and Yang heat), and under the fingers the pulse feels neither scattered nor interrupted, with a wiry quality at the Chi position (reflecting the Kidney), possessing force and spirit, it indicates that Yang Qi has just begun to extend but is not yet smooth, representing a state of advancing and retreating conflict. Conversely, if the Chi pulse is scattered, interrupted, and weak, is there any doubt that it signifies Qi collapse? I have also observed that in severe conditions such as smallpox/rubella, epidemic febrile diseases, carbuncles, and jaundice, when latent pathogenic factors are about to erupt but have not yet fully manifested, the pulse often suddenly presents as Knotted (Jie Mai, slow with irregular pauses) and Choppy (Se Mai, rough and hesitant) half a month or ten days prior to onset. The pulse frequency varies, appearing irregular and uneven, indicating an internal struggle between righteous and pathogenic Qi. This is also a sign that the Qi mechanism is about to mobilize, though auspicious or ominous outcomes remain undetermined. Generally, wiry, thin, and rapid pulses often portend bad prognosis, warranting preemptive supplementation of Qi and nourishment of Blood; whereas surging, slow, and frequent pulses less commonly indicate danger, requiring preemptive generation of fluids and promotion of blood circulation.
"Mai Jian Bu Yi" provides a detailed exposition on Short Pulse (Duan Mai, a pulse that is short at both ends and does not fill its proper position), yet some aspects remain unclarified. Whenever the pulse form is shortened and fails to reach the Cun position (distal wrist position), differentiation must be made between Qi deficiency and Qi stagnation. If the anterior half of the Guan position (middle wrist position) feels tight and forceful, seemingly attempting to surge upward but failing to do so, this indicates Qi stagnation accompanied by excess pathogens; one must differentiate between Wind-Cold and Phlegm-Fluid retention and treat according to exterior or interior patterns. If the pulse is soft, scattered, and weak, lacking any upward surging tendency, it indicates Qi deficiency. Within Qi deficiency, further differentiation exists among Lung, Spleen, and Kidney. In cases of Spleen and Lung Qi deficiency, the posterior pulse (Chi position) remains normal; in Kidney Qi deficiency, the Chi position will inevitably present as depressed with small amplitude fluctuations. Furthermore, a pulse that feels like beads or pearls piled up is also considered a Short Pulse; if it is firm and forceful, it signifies the struggle between Yin-Yang, righteous, and pathogenic factors. However, if the pulse feels slippery yet detached, rapid yet weak, indicating declining Qi unable to continue, and especially if seen at the posterior Guan and Chi positions, it is a particularly ominous sign of Qi collapse and rootlessness.