Medical practice...

and practice, and practice some more until they get it right.  I've now been to five (count 'em, five) different doctors.  This last one, however, is the first one to openly and freely admit that medicine is mainly a trial and error proposition.  He is also the first one to tell me that he believes there is a 99% chance that his recommendations will alleviate my sore throat and hoarseness within three to four weeks.  We'll see.  I've already had it for eight weeks, so we'll see.