nderstood, that pain is an unpleasant sensation, nothing
more, and is _never_ imagined. Imagination may be its
cause, but the pain thus produced hurts just as truly as
pain produced by a real disease. Pain is only a phenomenon
of consciousness; it is always real, even that felt in a
dream. If the patient is too unconscious to feel it, there
simply is no pain, no matter how badly the person's body is
injured." (Emerson: Essentials of Medicine, p. 356.)

One should remember that no possible method exists to measure the
intensity of pain exactly, or to describe its quality accurately.
Therefore in describing pain, it is best to use the patient's own
language. Four points should especially be observed, (1) its location;
(2) its character, which may be dull or sharp, stabbing, throbbing or
continuous, slight or severe; (3) the time at which it is worst; certain
diseases, for instance, are characterized by more severe pain at night;
(4) it should be noticed whether the pain is relieved or increased by
change of position, eating or drinking, heat or cold, or the like. Pain
may be felt in a part far from the place where the trouble really lies;
thus a dislocated shoulder causes pain in the elbow.

Pain is always a danger signal, although the significance is not always
so great as the sufferer thinks. The more attention a patient gives to
his pain, the more severe it always becomes, therefore his attention
should not be called to it unnecessarily. A good observer, however, can
get much information by noticing the patient's expression, position,
motions, etc., without constantly asking him how he feels. Although many
persons overestimate pain, others persistently disregard it, either
because they are unwilling to take the necessary measures to remedy it,
or because they wish to appear heroic. Both courses of action are
mistaken; everyone should realize the folly and danger of bearing pain
if it is possible to remove the cause.

Nausea, fatigue and malaise are other subjective symptoms; malaise is
the name given to a general feeling of physical discomfort not
restricted to any one part of the body. All three are abnormal when
there is not apparent or sufficient cause.

RECORDS.--An accurate record should be kept of the patient's symptoms,
medicine, diet, treatment, etc., so that the doctor may have a
continuous record, and so that another person taking charge temporarily
may know just