Aph 89 - Organon 6

[Soroush Ebrahimi]

§ 89
When the patient (for it is on him we have chiefly to rely for a description of his sensations,
except in the case of feigned diseases) has by these details, given of his own accord and in answer
to inquiries, furnished the requisite information and traced a tolerably perfect picture of the
disease, the physician is at liberty and obliged (if he feels he has not yet gained all the
information he needs) to ask more precise, more special questions.1
1 For example, how often are his bowels moved? What is the exact character of the stools? Did the
whitish evacuation consist of mucus or faeces? Had he or had he not pains during the evacuation?
What was their exact character, and where were they seated? What did the patient vomit? Is the bad
taste in the mouth putrid, or bitter, or sour, or what? before or after eating, or during the
repast? At what period of the day was it worst? What is the taste of what is eructated? Does the
urine only become turbid on standing, or is it turbid when first discharged? What is its color when
first emitted? Of what color is the sediment? How does he behave during sleep? Does he whine, moan,
talk or cry out in his sleep? Does he start during sleep? Does he snore during inspiration, or
during expiration? Does he lie only on his back, or on which side? Does he cover himself well up, or
can he not bear the clothes on him? Does he easily awake, or does he sleep too soundly? How often
does this or that symptom occur? What is the cause that produces it each time it occurs? does it
come on whilst sitting, lying, standing, or when in motion? only when fasting, or in the morning, or
only in the evening, or only after a meal, or when does it usually appear? When did the rigor come
on? was it merely a chilly sensation, or was he actually cold at the same time? if so, in what
parts? or while feeling chilly, was he actually warm to the touch? was it merely a sensation of
cold, without shivering? was he hot without redness of the face? what parts of him were hot to the
touch? or did he complain of heat without being hot to the touch? How long did the chilliness last?
how long the hot stage? When did the thirst come on - during the cold stage? during the heat? or
previous to it? or subsequent to it? How great was the thirst, and what was the beverage desired?
When did the sweat come on - at the beginning or the end of the heat? or how many hours after the
heat? when asleep or when awake? How great was the sweat? was it warm or cold? on what parts? how
did it smell? What does he complain of before or during the cold stage? what during the hot stage?
what after it? what during or after the sweating stage?
(Added to the Sixth Edition)
In women, note the character of menstruation and other discharges, etc.