Has Physical Examination Superannuated? …Not Yet!

摘要

Bedside evaluation is one of the most fascinating and gratifying exercises in the field of medicine. History ofphysical diagnosis dates back to Hippocrates and his colleagues but the foundations of modern physicalexamination as we practice today were laid in the eighteenth century. Its importance evolved over thedecades and perhaps attained its peak in the early and mid-twentieth century. Seminal contributions byluminaries in the eighteenth and nineteenth century need to be acknowledged. Notable among these includethe introduction of the technique of percussion by Auenbrugger and Corvisart, creation of the firststethoscope by Laennec, application of medical thermometry by Wunderlich, invention of the world's firstophthalmoscope by Helmholtz, description of plantar response by Babinski, use of a hammer to elicit musclestretch reflexes by Erb and Westphal and the development of sphygmomanometer by Riva Rocci, to name buta few.