Trick or Treat - a survival guide to health care
7 One symptom does not make a syndrome The Spendthrift and the Swallow: A spendthrift had spent all his fortune. He
had nothing left save the fine woollen clothes on his body. It was early spring and he wondered where his next meal would come from. Then he spotted a swallow and perked up. He thought, "Ah! There is a swallow. Summer has arrived. I do not need these winter clothes anymore," and sold all his woollen clothes. The
weather unexpectedly reverted and there was a sharp frost that killed the swallow. When the spendthrift saw the dead bird, he cried, "You foolish bird! Thanks to you, I believed that summer has arrived. Now I am also freezing to death in the cold."
Velan, a 60-year old man who had been a hypochondriac throughout his life, woke
up with hiccups. He remembered a Tamil proverb that states, he who has hiccoughs, will
reach the heaven. He thought, "I am sure I have some terminal illness. I already feel weak
and infirm."
Velan consulted many doctors, underwent very many tests and took various
medicines. He spent all his savings on treating the hiccup which persisted for weeks. One fine morning the hiccups just disappeared as unexpectedly as it had started. Velan
lamented, "You miserable hiccup! I thought I was going to die and spent all my savings
on treatment. Now you have vanished and I am broke!"
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