Articella (The Little Art of Medicine)

we weigh them down. Let us come, therefore, to those things that are not natural: these are the signs: baths, food, the drinking of much wine, and the drinking of much water. Similarly, in those things that are beyond nature: that is, causes, illnesses, and accidents, one must similarly consider them according to the aforementioned. It must be known, indeed, that of those things which are natural and those which are not natural, if they occur immoderately, the pulse is turned toward that which is beyond nature.

How many things are to be observed in the cognition of the pulse.

When, therefore, you come to a sick person whom you have never seen, attend to the pulse: that is, whether they are male or female, and if male, observe the pulse of a male; if female, that of a female. Then consider their nature and age; and after this, the time of year and the region. By comparing everything and forming a conjecture of what kind of pulse the patient should have had when they were healthy, you will then knowingly recognize the magnitude of the pulse's change beyond nature. How many are the genera of the pulse? Ten. Behold the first genus of the pulse, which is considered according to the quantity of three dimensions: according to length, width, and depth. Therefore, that which is increased according to these three dimensions, exceeding the mode, is called a large pulse. The second genus of the pulse is according to the quantity of the movement of the artery, the diastole expansion and systole contraction, in which is considered the quick, the slow, and the medium. The third genus of the pulse is according to the nature of the strength, in which is considered the strong, the weak, and the medium. For frequency, taking in magnitude, makes it valid; when the strength is truly confirmed, then it becomes more valid, and vice versa. The fourth genus of the pulse is according to the constitution of the organ of the body—I speak of the artery of the body—in which is considered the hard, the soft, and the medium. The fifth genus of the pulse is according to the quantity of rest, in which the dense and the rare are considered. A brief time of rest signifies the dense; a long time, the rare. The sixth genus of the pulse is because of the equality and inequality which is observed in one pulse or in many; in one, indeed, as in a leaping pulse, but when it occurs in many it is called a consistent inequality; where there is inequality, there is disorder, as in all things. For either one percussion drops out or it strikes, and this happens when the strength is burdened and afflicted by some cause. The seventh genus is according to full order and disorder: for an incision from an equal pulse makes it unequal, and the unequal according to periods becomes disordered; and this, again, is considered according to one percussion and according to many returns. The eighth genus of pulses is according to the full and the empty, this is according to the figure of the artery: for every vessel is either full or empty. The ninth genus of pulses is according to concord, in which the proportion of time to time is measured, whence deficient and incident pulses are known. The tenth genus of pulses is considered according to the heat which is returned throughout the whole body of the artery, in which is considered the quality of the underlying matter of the body by touch, such as intemperate and mozdar a specific form of pulse disturbance.

The ten genera of the pulse having been stated, let us say briefly a few causes and their differences. If anyone wishes to attain a diligence in them, let them know that there are sixteen books concerning the business of pulses. I, however, will state the length of these in a few chapters, [and] a few differences and causes of pulses in brief. For what reason do the arteries pulsate? So that heat may be preserved moderately according to nature for the heart and all parts. What differs between a leap and a pulse? Because a leap occurs in the whole body because of incident spirit, but the pulse moves in the operation of strength and in the arteries alone. What differs between a large pulse and a valid one? Because the large is observed according to three dimensions; the valid, however, according to the movement. For it signifies the tenor of strength. What differs between a dense pulse and a quick one according to the continuous and the discrete? We call the dense, indeed, continuous; the quick, however, discrete, just as if someone runs quickly and then stands. What differs between a rare pulse and a slow one? Because the rare is made more from a weaker strength; for rare pulses are more difficult. The slow can be made from a mere defect of heat. The rare, however, signifies a greater defect of strength. How many differences of the pulse are there in diastole? Eight: magnitude, smallness, validity, weakness, velocity, slowness, hardness, and softness. How many are the indicators of the pulse? Two: intellect and sense. Sense, indeed, indicates the present; the intellect, the past and the future. How many are

the efficient causes of the pulse? Two: the strength making it, and that which moves the body of the vessel, and the utility for which that which is moved, moves. In how many ways is a moderate and immoderate pulse considered? Fourfold: according to magnitude, according to velocity, according to validity, and according to density. What differs between the unequal and the disordered? Because the unequal is observed in one pulse and in many; for either according to one diastole and systole, or according to many gathered, which is called consistent inequality, considered in the multitude of pulses. The immoderate, however, occurs according to rithinon rhythm/number: as if after three large pulses and one small, two large ones follow. What differs between the deficient and the incident? Because the deficient are made from a weaker strength; for when burdened and failing, they fail. The incident, however, [occurs] while fighting and resisting. For the strength contains itself, exciting itself, wishing to repel contraries; and they seem to be the contraries of the deficient. What differs between the spasmodic and the branching? Because in the spasmodic, the artery is stretched like a cord, but in the branching, it moves to the right and left. How do fluctuating pulses occur? From an abundance of contained humor more than is fitting, infusing the body of the artery, as in hyposarca a type of fluid retention or hydropisis dropsy/edema. What differs between a goat-leap pulse and a double-beating one? Because the goat-leap, indeed, in one diastole makes different movements, as a goat leaping upwards jumps twice with its feet in the air; this, in truth, occurs because the strength is compelled and burdened by some cause troubling it. But the double-beating [pulse] beats twice and according to the same percussion; this, in truth, happens because of the hardness of the body of the artery. For the spirit, rebounding and again running violently, comes into the second percussion, as a hammer on an anvil. What differs between the vermicular and the formicating? Because the vermicular, indeed, is turned much and comes to the better, and has a more manifest inequality; the formicating, however, not contained by such strength but dissolved and deleted, occurs and signifies death. But let these suffice for you concerning the pulse for the present.

HERE BEGINS THE BOOK OF URINES OF THEOPHILUS.

Concerning the difference of urines, many of the old physicians have attempted to write. The first of all of these was Hypochous an early physician, to whose books we have been accustomed. But after such times, Galen, a wonderful physician, approached it and wrote; hence, after him, a great physician, a sophist. These men, therefore, are worthy of praise, because they were the first to study to find something useful in life; nevertheless, none of these men made a perfect and undiminished doctrine. For Hypochous, explaining the urines, touching here and there in his treatises on the genera and species and differences of urines, and from them, the cognitions of future dispositions of parts beyond nature, and in healthy bodies, and in acute illnesses, left a doctrine that is lacking. And similarly, also after him, Galen, composing in his treatise Perycrileon On Urine, left many things indeterminate and obscure according to genera and species and differences. Consequently, a great physician by reason coming after them, yet having approached the matter ineptly, he himself [also] began to write about these, [working] from the art and according to division, and [to write down] their differences and species, and the prognostic signs that are made from them,