Normally  the  pulse-waves  penetrate  to  the  smallest  arteries  but  are
lost  m  the  capillaries.  Under  certain  circmnstances,  however,  the  pulse  is
manifest  in  the  capillaries  and  shows  itself  upon  inspection  as  a  pulsatile
flushing  and  fading  of  the  surface.  Conditions  which  especially  favor  the  de-
velopment of  the  capillary  pulse  are  relaxation  of  the  peripheral  circulation
and  rapid  discharge  of  a  large  amount  of  blood  from  the  ventricle  into  the
arterial  system — pulsus  celer.  Capillary  pulse  is  occasionally  seen  in  areas
of  local  hyperaemia  and  inflammation,  as  in  whitlow,  and  patients  often  rec-
ognize this  increased  pulsation  in  the  throbbing  character  of  the  pain.  Of
greater  interest  is  the  capillary  pulse  of  aortic  incompetence.  It  is  seen  in
the  pulsatile  changing  in  the  color  intensity  of  the  nail-bed — subungual  pube
— a  phenomenon  which  becomes  more  marked  when  the  nail  is  slightly  pressed
near  its  edge  so  that  the  underlying  tissue  is  momentarily  pale.  The  border
line  between  the  pink  and  white  advances  and  recedes  with  each  cardiac  revo-
lution. The  capillary  pulse  can  be  distinguished  in  the  ear,  lips,  cheek,  and
especially  distinctly  upon  the  forehead  at  a  point  where  it  is  reddened  by  light
rubbing.  The  capillary  pulse  shows  clearly  through  a  piece  of  glass  pressed
upon  the  mucous  surface  of  the  everted  Up.  It  is,  however,  not  confined  to
aortic  regurgitation,  but  occurs  also  in  pyrexia,  chlorosis,  and  other  forms  d
anaemia,  neurasthenia,  and  exophthalmic  goitre.  The  capillary  pulse  of  acHik
incompetency  is  more  marked  in  stages  in  which  the  compensation  is  good
and  disappears  upon  the  failure  of  compensation.
VENOUS  PULSE.
