9. A visit to the doctor

- Well, what's the matter with you, Mr. Walker?

-You'd better ask me what is not the matter with me, doctor. I seem to be suffering from all the illnesses imagin­able: insomnia, headaches, backache, indigestion, constipation and pains in the stomach. To make things still worse, I've caught a cold, I've got a sore throat and I'm constantly sneezing and coughing. To crown it all, I had an accident the other day, hurt my right shoulder, leg and knee, and nearly broke my neck. If I take a long walk, I get short of breath. In fact, I feel more dead than alive.

• I'm sorry to hear that. Anyhow, I hope things aren't as bad as you imagine. Let me examine you. Your heart, chest and lungs seem to be all right. Now open your mouth and show me your tongue. Now breathe in deeply, through the nose... There doesn't seem to be anything radically wrong with you, but it's quite clear that you're run down, and if you don't take care of yourself, you may have a nervous breakdown and have to go to hospital I advise you, first of all, to stop worrying. Take a long rest, have regular meals, keep to a diet of salads and fruit, and very little meat. Keep off alcohol. If possible, give up smoking, at least for a time. Have this tonic made up and take two tablespoonfuls three times a day before meals. If you do this, Ї can promise you full recovery within two or three months.

• And if I don't, doctor?

- Then you'd better make your will, if you haven't yet done so.

— I see. Well, thank you, doctor, I’ll think it over and decide which is the lesser evil or prepare for a better world.

10 Questions: When were you ill last? Did you have to keep your bed? How long did you have to keep your bed? 2. Did you call in a doctor when you fell ill? What did you complain of? Did the doctor give you a sick-note? 3. What examination did the doctor give you? What treatment did he prescribe? How long did it take you to get well? 4. What diseases did you have in your childhood? Are you subject to colds now? 5. What do you usually take for a headache? Do you often suffer from headaches? What is the best remedy for a headache? 6. What are the symptoms of pneumonia? What are the symptoms of quinsy? 7. Is scarlet fever an infectious disease? What other infectious diseases do you know? 8. What do we do with the doctor's prescription? Did you follow the doctor's advice? 9. Have you ever had complications after a disease?

11 Dialogues 1. A visit to a doctor. . The doctor: What can I do for you? What are you complaining of? What troubles you? Where exactly is the pain? When do you get it? How long have you had this pain? When you get the pain, how long does it last? Do you have any other symptoms? I'm afraid you've got... Here is a prescription for .... Take two tablets night and morning until you feel better. The pain will go away. This is nothing to worry about.

The patient: Symptoms: I feel hot (cold, sick, feverish). It hurts in my chest (ear), I've got stomachache (toothache, earache). I’ve got a sore throat (eye). I've got a pain in my leg (chest). I've got a high temperature (a fast pulse, a high blood pressure, a bad cough). The pain is mild (quite bad, severe). What medicine is this ? Can I get it without a prescription? How do I take this medicine? How often should I take it?