THE HIPPOCKATICS 



its present action, its future course. Thus he 

 will be able to supplement the patient's faulty 

 statements, gain his confidence, keep clear of 

 blame and be the better able to manage a cure 

 when that is possible. 



In order that the physician may have such 

 knowledge, the Prognosis gives a close descrip- 

 tion of phenomena common to acute diseases: 

 describes the look of the countenance, the 

 patient's position in bed, the movements of his 

 hands, the respiration, sweats, the dropsies 

 which supervene, the sleep, the urine, faeces, 

 vomitings and sputa, — contrasting these phe- 

 nomena with those of the body in a state of 

 health. That his countenance be like that of a 

 person in health is the best of symptoms, while 

 the worst is that it should show a contrast in 

 every respect; to wit: " a sharp nose, hollow 

 eyes, collapsed temples; the ears cold, con- 

 tracted, and their lobes turned out; the skin 

 about the forehead being rough, distended and 

 parched; the color of the whole face being 

 green, black, livid, or lead colored." 15 Unless 

 such a face can be at once accounted for by 

 some special reason, like want of food or sleep, 

 the patient will surely die. 



This is the famous fades Hippocratica, the 



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