A sick man received a visit from his doctor, who asked him how he was.
"Fairly well, doctor," said he, "but I find I sweat a great deal."
"Ah," said the doctor, "that's a good sign."
On his next visit, the doctor asked the same question. His patient replied, "I'm much as usual, but I've taken to having shivering fits, which leave me cold all over."
"Ah," said the doctor, "that's a good sign too."
When the doctor came the third time and inquired as before, the sick man said that he felt very feverish.
"A very good sign," said the doctor. "You are doing very nicely indeed."
Afterwards, a friend came to see the invalid. On asking him how he was, the friend received this reply: "My dear friend, I'm dying of good signs."