Pulse Rate
It is not necessary to take the pulse of the infant, but it might be well to know what the normal pulse rate is at different ages. The following table will give the desired information:
| At birth the pulse rate is from | 130 to 150 per minute |
| One month of age | 120 to 130”” |
| One year of age | 108 to 120”” |
| Two years of age | 90 to 108”” |
| Three years of age | 80 to 90”” |
| Seven years of age | 72”” |
Very slight disturbances will often increase the pulse rate out of all proportion to the severity of the condition. The heart will beat very much faster just from the handling of the child in making the analysis, or as a result of any excitement or crying. It may be very difficult to count the pulse because of its rapidity.
Often a very moderate incoördination will result in a marked increase in the pulse rate and especially is this true in cases in which there is slight fever.
An increase of the heart action does not, necessarily, mean that heart place should be adjusted. This increased action may be due to the natural adaptation because of handling or to nervousness at the presence of strangers. Especially is this likely to be true of the child that is old enough to notice things. It is not uncommon to have the pulse beat increased as much as 25 beats per minute in this way.
During sleep the pulse may be slightly irregular, even when the child is normal. In cerebral disturbances it will be slow and irregular. In cerebral tumor it may be as slow as 40 or 50 beats per minute. In acute incoördinations the pulse rate may be very greatly increased. With incoördinations in such families as the poison, fever, degeneration, and some incoördinations in the spasms family, the pulse rate may be very high, even when the condition is not at all alarming. It is well to take this into consideration when observing a case so that the chiropractor will not be misled in making the analysis and that the objective symptoms may be of greatest value to him.