COURSE AND TERMINATION OF DISEASE; 

 SYMPTOMATOLOGY; DIAGNOSIS 



The disturbances of function which indicate the existence 

 of disease, as well as anatomical or chemical organic changes, are 

 spoken of as the signs or symptoms of disease; the branch of 

 study dealing with these as semeiology or symptomatology 

 {t6 <7r),xdov from ai)iJ.aivui, to denote ; (Jv^x-lvl^^TeLv, to happen with, that 

 is, in connection with certain disease states).* 



The art of concluding from symptoms the existence of definite 

 morbid changes in the body, of determining the nature and loca- 

 tion of disease, is known as Diagnosis or establishment of 

 a diagnosis (i, d^dy,u,^is, differentiation or thorough knowledge; 

 from 7a•"i'T^-«^ ^o recognize). Formerly when the anatomical 

 and chemical faults which underlie disease were unknown it was 

 deemed sufficient for the physician to merely appreciate the ex- 

 ternal manifestations of disease, and such terms as dropsy, jaun- 

 dice, fever and marasmus were used without attempt at nearer 

 approach to the causes of these symptoms. Even to-day there 

 may now and again be times when it is necessary to rest satisfied 

 with no more than such a symptomatic diagnosis. However, as 

 far as it is possible to conclude from symptoms that definite ana- 

 tomical changes exist, or as far as such are directly manifest, 

 we are accustomed in these days to make anatomical diagnoses; 

 and as far as it is possible to determine the development of any 

 aft'ection, to make also an (etiological diagnosis. The aim of 

 modern diagnosis is the study of the disease from all three of 

 these points of view and the appreciation of the condition of all 

 the organs in their relation to each other, so as to permit of the 

 recognition of how a given local condition must influence the 

 rest of the organs of the body generally. 



'The prlnclpaT features of tbls chapter have been In Part adapted from 

 Handbuch der aUgem. Pathologie, Fhl und Wagner (Leipzig, 1870). 



