An Infected Toe

To the Editor: A 65-year-old diabetic man had, for about eight months, been seen at our OPD clinics for an infected toe. When I saw him he was obviously depressed although his legs and feet were much improved since his last visit. I had little success in trying to understand this man's depression until he said to me, “Doctor, for months it has seemed to me as if every physician in this hospital has covered my whole body with a blanket. They are interested in my toe only. These are some of the things I overheard: 'Dr. X, would you ….