Dialogue between a Mother (M), her Son (S) and the Doctor (D)

M: Your nose is clogged up, your voice is hoarse and your face flushed. You must have a cold. I’m sure. I hope it’s nothing more. When did you manage to get it?

S: I don’t know myself. I must have caught cold last night after a game of football when I felt so hot that even took my jacket off.

M: How thoughtless (careless) of you, the evening was chilly and windy. Now you’ll have to stay in. Here’s the thermometer, take your temperature.

S: Oh, I’ll be all right in a few hours.

M: Now, you do, what you are told. Put the thermometer under your arm (in the armpit)… Oh, it’s thirty eight point three. You’ll have to stay away from classes today. I’ll call the doctor (I’ll have the doctor in).

(She phones to the local out-patient hospital and is told that the doctor will come while making his daily round of the district).

D: What do you complain of, my boy?

S: I have a bad (splitting) headache and a sore throat. I feel sort of feverish.

D: Let me feel your pulse. Open your mouth, please. I see you tongue is coated and your throat inflamed. Now, strip to the waist, please. (The doctor sounds the boy’s lungs). Take a deep breath… (To the mother). Your son is to keep his bed for three days. Here is the prescription. The medicine is to be taken three times before meals, two tablespoonfuls each time. It will help to keep the fever down. (To the son.) Blow your nose gently, young man, or else you’ll have an earache… Nothing serious, but don’t get up before Wednesday, as there might be complications (bad after-affects).

Notes:

Your nose is clogged up – У тебя заложило нос.

I feel sort of feverish – Меня будто лихорадит.

coated - зд. покрыт налётом.

To strip to the waist – раздеться до пояса.

To keep the fever down – понизить жар, температуру.

XIII. Working in pairs use the following variations to make up short dialogues between a doctor and a patient.

1. D: Well, Mr. Black. What’s brought you along today? What can I do for you? What seems to be the problem? P: I’ve got a bad flu. terrible headache swollen ankles a pain in my stomach	2.D: How long has it been bothering you? How long have you had it? P: Two or three days. A fortnight Since Tuesday For almost a month
3. D: Where does it hurt? Where is it sore? P: Here, just under my ribs. Right across here/down here. It’s my chest/back/leg…	4.D: Can you describe the pain? What is the pain like? What kind of pain is it? P: It’s like a heavy weight pressing on my chest. It’s a sharp, stabbing (колющая) pain. It’s like a knife. My chest feels raw inside.
5. D: Does anything make it better/worse?   P: If I stop for a bit, it goes away. If I take a deep breath When I cough, it hurts most. If I eat, it gets better. Food makes it worse..

XIV. Use the following information and questions from “Fundamentals of diagnosis” to make up dialogues between a patient and a doctor.