The recording of clinical features prior to any test result minimized the risk of observation bias, and the inclusion of clinical features other than the usual dengue signs and symptoms allowed us to identify some potentially useful new predictors.
But for the most part, he hid the severity of his symptoms from us.
We don't need a PhD in order to write them, we just see the symptoms around us and describe them as they appear.
Mr Baird draws inspiration from the medical world: "Today we manage oil wells as if the patient had to die before treatment, since wells cannot describe their symptoms to us.
This case suggests that a plasma sodium disorder must be compensated before surgery; the possibility of hyponatremia-induced neurological symptoms prevented us from switching to the awake phase.
John Browne, of Forestry Commission Wales, said: "We are urging those who have planted ash trees in the past five years to check on the health of these trees and to report any suspicious symptoms to us without delay.
"Compare the withdrawal symptoms for us and infants, the symptoms are relatively the same.
Symptoms keep us mesmerized in a blame game, to which ignorant judgements and band-aid solutions are slapped on top of deeper truths.
I think the Pope is right: there comes a time when the symptoms tell us our disease is not just cosmetic in nature, but systemic.
