The Art of Physical Diagnosis

Abstract

While newer laboratory and mechanical methods for establishing or confirming certain diagnoses are important and often essential, there is no substitute for the careful use of physical diagnostic procedures. Superfluous or unnecessary use of the laboratory not only lessens the acuity of the clinician's powers of clinical observation-it also leads to delays in diagnosis and, consequently, costly delays in the institution of effective therapy and control measures. Moreover, too great a reliance on the laboratory or on mechanical aids often leads to inexcusable failure to establish a correct diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to review some of the methods of physical diagnosis and to emphasize their importance and utilization with examples and applications in the field.