Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 1.djvu/66

 into the system, and of the powers by which it is appropriated to the purposes of the economy, continually misleads; so prevalent is redundancy of blood, and the energetic circulation to which it gives rise, that a pulse of perfect health is rarely met with. The standard of force, by which most people judge of a healthy pulse, is much too high. The pulse of real health is singularly calm, soft, equal, compressible, conveying no impression of a stream labouring in its course, nor of an energetic propelling power. Many misconceive it as a pulse of debility, and, on the slightest indisposition, enjoin, on this ground alone, more nutritive diet, wine, and stimulants, in order to restore that vigour in which they deem the pulse deficient, quaintly assuring the parties that they are a cup too low. The counsel is palatable, and its early effects are well calculated to confirm both parties in their error. Truth, however, cannot be thus altered, and from those who sincerely seek it, it need not be long veiled. What is ordinarily regarded as a pulse of health, should much rather be deemed that of incipient plethora. When this commences, when in a healthy frame the balance of nutritive matter in the system inclines to excess, the earlier effects are, increased nutrition, a greater vigour in the several functions, a more florid aspect, in short, a series of changes which, collectively, seem to mark only an exuberance of health; and, up to this period it must be confessed, that no actual disease is present. But this stage is of limited duration. The excited powers are incapable of sustaining the overstrained exertion, and a stage of enfeebled power next ensues. The pulse, hitherto