Shall we try these?
Aches and pains.
Obviously, the two
terms signify different effects though not well understood by most of us – me included.
The sheer logic is there are two words; so, they connote similar but not
identical states. Often these two are used interchangeably at least until something
odd irks us. As for instance we use head ache, tooth ache and body pain.[but
not tooth pain or head pain]. Also stomach ache and abdominal pain appear as
legitimate usages
Ache is persistent pain. Pain is a sensation
characterized by physical discomfort. This cannot suffice as an answer. Does it mean that ache is a
persistent sensation? Another interpretation is as under:
All aches are pains,
but not all pains are aches. The sensation seems
to be mostly defined by how one feels regarding the pain. An
injection causes a pain as the needle goes in; later, the surrounding area gives
off ache.
Also
the injured part feels pain upon
injury and subsequently the healing process causes ache.
Another pair is ‘Drug’ and ‘Medicine’.
Medicine is a substance or preparation formulated
for treating disease. But, drug is any
chemicalcompound either synthesized in laboratory or by plant, animal or by marine organisms which can bring forth change in normal physiological functions of body. A little more elaboration can clarify that Drugs are derived from natural sources [though these days drugs are also synthesized] and medicines are formulated by combining different chemical substances. Also there are ‘Drug addicts’ and not medicine addicts.
Another pair is ‘Drug’ and ‘Vaccine’
A drug is a curative while a vaccine is a
preventive. Drug administration begins after the onset of a disease / disorder;
A vaccine is to be administered as a precaution or preemptive medical strategy before
the onset of disease in an individual. Vaccines are more specific and precise
[of extremely
narrow spectrum in applicability] while drugs can be of broad spectrum utility.
Prof. K. Raman
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