[Anamnesis and clinical examination--also today still principles of sensible diagnosis?]

The way to diagnosis goes over many parts, the end of which in each case means testing the obtained facts, critical overthinking and establishing the next steps up to the ascertainment of the real cause of the disease. At the beginning unchangedly stands the obtaining of the anamnesis of the patient and his disease by the physician himself who apart from the spoken word shall recognize, collect and classify plenty of observations at the patient with the help of as many senses as possible. This process is continued in the following physical examination of the patient with an immediate manual contact between the doctor's hand and the patient's skin. New findings are obtained, speculations will be approved or rejected. But finally in most cases the relationship between doctor and patient has become closer. A repeated critical consideration at the end of the physical examination with reasonable inclusion of the anamnestic data leads to the preliminary diagnosis. Only now the statements for further aimed diagnostic steps are done. Thus it is clearly to be stated that the fundaments of a reasonable diagnosis are the results of an integrated and critical synopsis of the objective and subjective findings at the patient by the doctor. History and physical examination are the unalterable condition before using technical possibilities.