The superpatient person is like one who has a very serious illness, who has come through the most dangerous phase of the illness yet later unexpectedly dies from a sudden relapse of fever; the fever was finally the cause of death.15 Again, the superpatient person is like a soldier who has had a great
victory in the field — the main
battle is over; going into the city thinking the
victory already secured, the negligent soldier is stupidly captured by a small,
insignificant force within the gates.