Part 1
Doctor: Good morning Ms. Brannigan. What seems to be the problem?
Samantha: Well, recently I’ve been a little under the weather. I’ve lost my appetite, and have been feeling a bit run down – it’s difficult to get out of bed in the morning.
Doctor: Any aches or pains?
Samantha: My muscles are a bit sore.
Doctor: And how long have you been feeling like this?
Samantha: About a week now. I thought it was just a cold, but it hasn’t cleared up. I’ve hardly eaten anything in the last 3 days.
Doctor: Have you been running a fever, or noticed any rashes?
Samantha: No, nothing like that.
Doctor: OK, it sounds like a virus, but I’d like to take some blood work just to be sure. I reckon a course of antibiotics will soon have you back on your feet.
Samantha: Thanks Doc.
ListenPart 2
Doctor: Hi there Mr. Adams. What seems to be the matter?
Dave: I’ve had this persistent cough for about 3 weeks now. It’s driving me mad.
Doctor: I see. How would you describe this cough? A tickle, or a hacking cough?
Dave: During the day it isn’t so bad, but at night and in the morning it’s awful. I’m coughing upall sorts of gunk.
Doctor: Any other symptoms?
Dave: Well, it started after a cold, but it’s just the cough that hasn’t cleared up.
Doctor: Do you smoke?
Dave: I used to, but I quit 5 years ago.
Doctor: It sounds like maybe an allergy, or a case of mild pneumonia.
Dave: That sounds serious.
Doctor: Oh, don’t worry, they’re both treatable with some medicine and some rest. Nonetheless, I’ll do a few tests just to rule some things out.
Part 3
My doctor is a complete quack; I don’t trust his opinion at all. Last year, for instance, I came to him with a rash all over my forearms. His verdict: an allergic reaction to my washing powder. Six months later I was back, this time with a sore throat that did not go away. I thought it was SARS, but he said it was because I smoked too much and didn’t get enough rest. Then last week I visited him because I had red spots all over my body. I was sure it was the Ebola virus, but he diagnosed it as chicken pox. Honestly, I don’t think he knows anything. Next time, I’m going to get a second opinion.
NotesPart 4
Over the course of history, there have been some strange medical cures. Sometimes this was because people didn’t really understand medicines: in the 19th century, for instance, children’s medicines included strong drugs such as morphine, and heroin was used to stop coughing. Mercury – a highly toxic element – was used for a long time to try and cure many different types of diseases.
Some medical cures used in the past sound insane to us now. Lobotomies (driving sticks into the brain), trepanation (making holes in the skull to cure headaches), and using tapeworms to lose weight are not things doctors usually recommend now, thankfully. Worse was that anesthetic was far less effective in the past (if used at all), meaning a lot of the medical practices were incredibly painful. However, there are some medical cures used today that also sound rather uncomfortable: bone-stretching, removing half the brain, or amputating everything below the waist are all still done in medicine.
Finally, some people still try unusual cures. Some pregnant women have dolphins ‘kiss’ their stomachs to try and improve the baby’s development, whilst there are people who sit in mud or sand to try and cure aches and pains. Laughter therapy – in which people try to laugh as much as possible – has become increasingly popular. The science may not be proven for these cures, but if it makes people feel better, then perhaps that is enough.
*You can read more at:
http://www.cracked.com/article_15669_the-10-most-insane-medical-practices-in-history_p2.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/most-repulsive-and-weird-medical-cures-around-world-552336