Indication, n.
Etymology: [L. indicatio: cf. F. indication.]
1. Act of pointing out or indicating.
2. That which serves to indicate or point out; mark; token; sign; symptom; evidence. The frequent stops they make in the most convenient places are plain indications of their weariness. Addison.
3. Discovery made; information. Bentley.
4. Explanation; display. [Obs.] Bacon.
3 more senses
5. (Med.)
Any symptom or occurrence in a disease, which serves to direct to suitable remedies.
Syn. -- Proof; demonstration; sign; token; mark; evidence; signal.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for indication; he lists it under characteristic, sign.
Where he writes about it:
A symptom is a vital phenomenon resulting from a diseased condition; in medical language a sign is an indication of any physical condition, whether morbid or healthy; thus, a hot skin and rapid pulse are symptoms of pneumonia; dulness of some portion of the lungs under percussion is one of the physical signs. — from sign