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(seq. 67)
30 Lect 2
The Antients made but very little Use of the Pulse. Hippocrates knew the Pulse, & attended to it in Diseases, but not so much as the modern Physicians do, the Discovery of the Circulation having thrown great Light on this Affair. The Knowledge of the Pulse is to be acquired with great Difficulty, for the Pulse is altered from many Circumstances, as size, Age &c - It is said to be quicker in the Evening than the Morning. Exercise and Hearty Meals also increase it, as does also Weather & State of the Mind, & even sometimes an Alteration in Dress. The Pulse is quicker in small than large Animals, in Younger than Old. Great Attention ought therefore to be given to the Pulse. As it depends upon so many Circumstances, & is of such Importance in forming Prognosis - An Accurate Knowledge of it is acquired by nice Observation & Practice, & we ought to be encouraged in the Pursuit of this, when we reflect on the Instances which are given of exquisite Accuracy of the Touch, insomuch that blind Men by close & diligent Application have arrived to such a Degree of Perfection by the Touch, as by that alone to distinguish Colours -
Of the Diseases of Arteries
These are various, & first of the Aneurism, this is of two Kinds when all the Coats are stretched or swelled, 'tis called a true Aneurism, but if an Artery is [torn?] or wounded & the Blood makes a Tumor, 'tis called a false Aneurism - An Artery does not easily suppurate; or is not easily melted down by Matter, which is a very happy Case, as Arteries lie in the
(seq. 69)
31 Lec. 2
Interstices of Muscles & are often dissected by matter lying about them. Aneurisms seldom happen from internal Causes. Ossifications of Arteries are more frequent. It begins on the Inside of an Artery & shoots outward. It ossifies in the Extremities first, as in the Case of a Person at Georges Hospital, where the Artery of the Wrist was ossified, so that at each Pulse a Clackling might be perceived. In old People who have Mortifications, the Arteries are often Ossified, which takes off the Impetus of the Blood. Authors say, that our Solids grow more dense, rigid, tough & hard, & nearer to Bone, as we advance in Years, & this is the Reason of Ossifi- cations being found in old People. It appears highly probable, that a Peculiarity of Constitution lays the chief Foundation, as some Constitutions have a Propensity to generate the Stone in the Bladder, Exostores in the Bones &c. and that it is not Principally the Effect of Old Age. Dr. Hunter dissected a Man 105 Years of Age; & took particular Notion of the Arteries expecting to find large Ossifications, but found none of them in the least ossified. In Mortification the Blood coagulates in the Arteries, which hinders the Circulation of Blood in that Part, this is the Reason, why the Antients before lying up of the Vessels was practised chose to cut off the Limb in the mortified Part, & not above that part as is done now, because then there was no Bleeding. But this was very troublesome, it taking up a long Time, before the mortified