The Introduction provides an overview of the central questions raised in the book, the arguments presented, and the methodology employed. It frames key questions about the shifting meanings of childhood pain and its implications for the construction of adult worlds. Additionally, it highlights the interplay between the child as an object of clinical observation and as a symbolic figure within cultural and scientific narratives. Through this lens, it contributes to broader debates on the intersections of science, emotion, and society. The methodology used is one of interdisciplinary history, drawn largely from the history of medicine and cultural history, which assesses visual as well as written material.