1638, Francis Bacon, History of Life and Death, section IX:
And the mortal labouring of the pulse has a remarkable quickness; the heart trembling towards the article of death, and almost confounding its systole and diastole.
1823, Andrew Reed, Martha:
What can it materially signify in the article of death, how the corporeal or mental powers are tried and distressed, if the soul is safe, the blest reversion of immortality secure?
