Death has a different meaning for everyone it touches, and these meanings have serious impact on how each person communicates with others as they deal with it together. This paper is a reflection on clinical experience in dealing with the dying and their caregivers in a comprehensive cancer center. By "mortal time," we mean the psychological state human beings enter when confronted with the prospect of death. Our focus is on a particular and powerful instance of the entry into mortal time--the diagnosis of a terminal illness. The experience of mortal time is profoundly subjective. Authentic conversation has the power not only to enhance how people cope practically with dying, but to illuminate and enrich the very meaning of life for patients and caregivers alike, as they enter the sacred moment of mortal time together.

MMPIs were obtained from eight groups of black and white, schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic, and highly educated and poorly educated psychiatric patients. Profiles were classified blindly by use of two rules (Sc greater than 70; Sc greater than PT). All but poorly educated blacks were classified correctly beyond a chance level. Almost half of the poorly educated black nonschizophrenics were misclassified as schizophrenic. Implications for diagnostic work were discussed.

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for palmaris hyperhidrosis. Compensatory sweating occurs in more than 50% of patients but is tolerable in most. The majority of patients are satisfied with their short-term outcomes.

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