DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES. 17 



► The difficulties encountered in diagnosing internal dis- 

 eases vary considerably ; in some cases a good anamnesis suf- 

 fices as a basis for making a definite diagnosis : epilepsy, par- 

 turient paresis. In other cases the experienced practitioner 

 requires but a glance at the patient : tetanus. The rule, how- 

 ever, is never to make a diagnosis until a thorough and careful 

 examination of the patient has been made ; but here, too, care- 

 fully cultivated powers of observation and extensive experience 

 go a good way. To acquire either of these, of course, requires 

 continued carefully and methodically conducted examinations. 

 The same diseases do not ahva.ys present the same set of symp- 

 toms. Therefore, the more often a disease is seen by the prac- 

 titioner, the more readily will he recognize it. The diagnos- 

 tician should be like the experienced botanist who recognizes 

 a plant in all its stages of vegetation. There will alwavs 

 remain a few cases the symptoms of which are so atypical that 

 an exact diagnosis is impossible. 



If the diagnosis cannot be made definite in every respect, 

 be cautious in your prognosis and therapeutics. 



