Chapters 14 and 15 Summary

In Chapter 14, as Veronika returns to consciousness in Dr. Igor's consulting room, she overhears him comment to her that she could live to be a hundred. When she questions what he means, he dismisses her, telling her to lie down. After a deliberate silence, Dr. Igor leads her into a conversation about the schizophrenic patient Eduard who, Igor says, lives in and defines his own reality. This leads into a conversation about reality in general, which is, Igor says, "whatever the majority deems it to be...[and] supports the desires of society as a whole". In the middle of the conversation, Igor drifts into a contemplation of his theory of insanity, a theory that he believes and hopes will lead to recognition and acclaim. This is the idea that insanity is triggered by a substance called Vitriol, which Igor contends is...