ABSTRACT
The hospital sign was missing letters. Doctor's Offices had become D TOR OFF. The dayroom was the color of Tang and was filled with blue-gray cigarette smoke. The lighter was bolted to a large white post in the middle of the room, sparking just enough to light a cigarette. Lunch was at noon, followed by recreational therapy in mid-afternoon, which meant an outing for those with off-ward privileges. Dinner at 5:00, then community meeting or bingo. Visiting hours were at 7:00, then a sleeping pill and bedtime. An old woman in one session said she was in the hospital because her husband had died and she was depressed. The night nurse looked up from the notes she did made on my chart. It shows signs of dependency on others, suspicion, lack of appetite.
