5. Between Two Boys on Injuries

B: (Seeing his friend come out of the doctor's office.) Hello, Mike, what happened to you? Why is your arm in a sling?

M: I had a bad fall from a bicycle and broke my arm.

B: How awful! Have you any pain now?

M: It still hurts, but not so much as before. The fractured bone has been set and now my arm is in plaster of Paris.

B: So you can't use your arm now, can you?

M: I shan't be able to use it until the plaster is taken off. And now what are you doing here?

B: You see, I sprained my ankle today when jumping over a gym-horse.

M: Well, it's nothing much to come to the doctor with. Apply a cold compress to it overnight and you'll get the swelling down, I'm sure. I had that sort of thing a year ago. I was limping for a few days, that's all.

6. At the Dentist's

D: What's troubling you?

A: One of my front teeth is working loose, and there's a big one (a wisdom tooth) at the back that wants seeing to.

D: You have to have this one out. It is a pity you didn't have it looked at before.

A: I wish to goodness I had.

D: Does that other tooth pain you now?

A: Not particularly, just a dull steady pain.

D: The tooth is decaying and must be stopped... (The doctor reaches for the drill, then cleans and drills the tooth with it, inserts a piece of cottonwool in the cavity (hole) and proceeds to make a filling.) This will be a temporary filling, I'll make a permanent one next time... Now we'll attend to the front tooth. Shall I apply an anaesthetic to deaden the pain?

A: Yes, if you please.

D: Here is your tooth extracted. Now rinse your mouth, please.

A: (Rising from the chair and looking into the mirror.) The empty space doesn’t improve my looks any. How about having a false tooth put in?

D: You’ll have to have a small bridge made and two crowns on which to suspend the false tooth. I may direct you to a dental mechanic and he will do this for you.

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

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

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

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...

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 pain.

It's like a knife.

My chest feels raw inside.

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.

2. Asking all the above questions, fill in the Case History.

Surname First Name

Age Sex Martial Status

Occupation

Present Complain: