In the natural sciences, and in medicine in particular, the isolation of specialized fields has resulted in pain being assigned to physiology and psychology. Each of these disciplines studies pain from a particular theoretical position. The monographs themselves are carefully sealed off from one another; a general unifying framework is lacking...on the other had there are two reasons which argue against the division of science into separate departments, which serve to advance human knowledge of man as a whole. First, medicine serves science and forces it again and again to return to the original unity of nature, in order to rediscover the deeper significance of independent obsrvations and experiments, the true nature of the facts which are identified, and to determine the priciples underlying a comprehensive approach. Secondly, medicine, that is, practical medicine, requires the maintenance of a certain niveau with regard to the attiude to man. The only way to achieve this is to grasp the personal significance of existence in sickness and health alike. For this is the orbit of both nature and culture. An examination of the theory of practical pain, the results of which constitute this book, goes beyond the boundaries of technical study for these two reasons. It is a problem which has been treated with a certain awe and emotion by people of all ages...limitations in the study of pain have become apparent, as well as the need for a synthesis of the issues. This is only possible if we turn anew to the functional and genetic pheonmena of If we come face to face with man. For man is a creature, who, despite all moral and religious ties, remains physically and pycholigically vulnerable in his extential loneliness and desire for society.