t withou t warning . Th e fourt h floo r als o house s th e clini c an d laboratory , a small researc h library , an da surgica l theater.
Ward s On e an d Tw o ar e no t restricte d i n mos t cases , an d th e patient s ar e fre e t o mingle . I n practice, thi s take s plac e primaril y i n th e exercise/recreatio n an d dinin g room s (Ward s Thre e an d Fou r maintain separat e facilities) . Withi n eac h ward , o f course , ther e ar e segregate d sleepin g an d bathin g area s fo r men an d women . Th e staff , incidentally , maintain s office s an d examinin g room s o n th e fift h floor ; i t i s a commo n jok e amon g th e patient s tha t w e ar e th e crazies t inmate s o f all . Finally , th e kitchen s ar e spread ove r severa l floors , th e laundry , heating , air-conditioning , an d maintenanc e facilitie s ar e locate d i n the basement , an d ther e i s a n amphitheate r o n (an d between ) th e firs t an d secon d floors , fo r classe s and seminars.
Befor e becomin g actin g directo r o f th e hospita l I usuall y spen t a n hou r o r tw o eac h wee k i n the ward s jus t talkin g wit h m y patients , o n a n informa l basis , t o ge t a sens e o f thei r rat e o f progress , i f any. Unfortunately , th e pres s o f administrativ e dutie s pu t a n en d t o tha t custom , bu tI stil l tr y t o hav e lunc h with the m occasionall y an d han g aroun d unti l m y firs t intervie w o r committe e meetin g o r afternoo n lecture . On th e da y afte r th e Memoria l Da y weeken d I decide d t o ea t i n War d Thre e befor e lookin g ove r m y notes fo r m y thre e o'cloc k class.
Beside s th e autist s an d catatonics , thi s war d i s populate d b y patient s wit h certai n disorder s which woul d mak e i t difficul t fo r the m t o interac t wit h thos e i n Ward s On e an d Two . Fo r example , ther e are severa l compulsiv e eaters , wh o wil l devou r anythin g the y ca n ge t thei r hand s on-rocks , paper , weeds, silverware ;a coprophagi c whos e onl y desir e i s t o consum e hi s own , an d sometime s others' , feces ; an d a numbe r o f patient s wit h sever e sexua l problems.
On e o f th e latter, - dubbe d "Whacky " b y a comedi c studen t som e tim e ago , i s a youn g ma n who diddle s wit h himsel f almos t constantly . Virtuall y anythin g set s hi m off : arms , legs , beds , bathrooms-you nam e it.
Whack y i s th e so n o fa prominen t Ne w Yor k attorne y an d hi s ex-wife , a well-know n televisio n soap oper a actress . A s fa r a s w e kno w h e enjoye da fairl y norma l childhood , i.e. , h e wasn' t sexuall y repressed o r abuse d i n an y way , h e owne da Lione l trai n an d Lincol n logs , playe d basebal l an d basketball , like d to read , h e ha d friends . I n hig h schoo l h e wa s sh y aroun d girls , bu t i n colleg e h e becam e engage d t o a beautifu l coed . Althoug h convivia l an d outgoing , sh e wa s nevertheles s extremel y coquettish , leadin g him o n an d o n bu t neve r quit e goin g "al l th e way. " Craze d wit h desire , Whack y remaine d a s virgina l as Russel l fo r tw o agonizin g years-h e wa s savin g himsel f fo r th e woma n h e loved.
Bu t o n thei r
Ward s On e an d Tw o ar e no t restricte d i n mos t cases , an d th e patient s ar e fre e t o mingle . I n practice, thi s take s plac e primaril y i n th e exercise/recreatio n an d dinin g room s (Ward s Thre e an d Fou r maintain separat e facilities) . Withi n eac h ward , o f course , ther e ar e segregate d sleepin g an d bathin g area s fo r men an d women . Th e staff , incidentally , maintain s office s an d examinin g room s o n th e fift h floor ; i t i s a commo n jok e amon g th e patient s tha t w e ar e th e crazies t inmate s o f all . Finally , th e kitchen s ar e spread ove r severa l floors , th e laundry , heating , air-conditioning , an d maintenanc e facilitie s ar e locate d i n the basement , an d ther e i s a n amphitheate r o n (an d between ) th e firs t an d secon d floors , fo r classe s and seminars.
Befor e becomin g actin g directo r o f th e hospita l I usuall y spen t a n hou r o r tw o eac h wee k i n the ward s jus t talkin g wit h m y patients , o n a n informa l basis , t o ge t a sens e o f thei r rat e o f progress , i f any. Unfortunately , th e pres s o f administrativ e dutie s pu t a n en d t o tha t custom , bu tI stil l tr y t o hav e lunc h with the m occasionall y an d han g aroun d unti l m y firs t intervie w o r committe e meetin g o r afternoo n lecture . On th e da y afte r th e Memoria l Da y weeken d I decide d t o ea t i n War d Thre e befor e lookin g ove r m y notes fo r m y thre e o'cloc k class.
Beside s th e autist s an d catatonics , thi s war d i s populate d b y patient s wit h certai n disorder s which woul d mak e i t difficul t fo r the m t o interac t wit h thos e i n Ward s On e an d Two . Fo r example , ther e are severa l compulsiv e eaters , wh o wil l devou r anythin g the y ca n ge t thei r hand s on-rocks , paper , weeds, silverware ;a coprophagi c whos e onl y desir e i s t o consum e hi s own , an d sometime s others' , feces ; an d a numbe r o f patient s wit h sever e sexua l problems.
On e o f th e latter, - dubbe d "Whacky " b y a comedi c studen t som e tim e ago , i s a youn g ma n who diddle s wit h himsel f almos t constantly . Virtuall y anythin g set s hi m off : arms , legs , beds , bathrooms-you nam e it.
Whack y i s th e so n o fa prominen t Ne w Yor k attorne y an d hi s ex-wife , a well-know n televisio n soap oper a actress . A s fa r a s w e kno w h e enjoye da fairl y norma l childhood , i.e. , h e wasn' t sexuall y repressed o r abuse d i n an y way , h e owne da Lione l trai n an d Lincol n logs , playe d basebal l an d basketball , like d to read , h e ha d friends . I n hig h schoo l h e wa s sh y aroun d girls , bu t i n colleg e h e becam e engage d t o a beautifu l coed . Althoug h convivia l an d outgoing , sh e wa s nevertheles s extremel y coquettish , leadin g him o n an d o n bu t neve r quit e goin g "al l th e way. " Craze d wit h desire , Whack y remaine d a s virgina l as Russel l fo r tw o agonizin g years-h e wa s savin g himsel f fo r th e woma n h e loved.
Bu t o n thei r
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