Kutner’s interaction with the patient reveals that he likes to try new things to keep life interesting. The patient even tells Kutner to bring on the pain when Kutner draws spinal fluid, because it is a new experience. The patient also says he likes hot tubs, as if that is a new experience for him.

Foreman learns about himself from the patient as well. While talking to Cameron, Foreman maintains that he is unhappy being back at Princeton-Plainsboro, despite Cameron arguing that he likes his job. The patient echoes the same sentiments back to Foreman. He is happy to be back as part of House’s team. I think Foreman realizes that being a bit like House isn’t completely a bad thing either. House is annoying and hard to work with, but also a brilliant diagnostician.

Foreman even mimics House with the team members. Brennan objects to doing a biopsy of the patient’s heart after he suffered a heart attack. Foreman, acting very House-like, sarcastically suggests doing a biopsy of the patient’s toe instead. House and Foreman leave to biopsy the patient’s heart. On the way, House tells Foreman that he found him a job in another hospital. Foreman tells House that he doesn’t want another job. This annoys House and he sends Foreman to do the biopsy alone.

Thirteen and Cole return with the patient’s name and a small box of his belongings from the glove compartment. House wants to know why Thirteen volunteered to go in search of the car, and decides to use the patient’s mirror syndrome as a way of getting some information about her. Amusingly, the plan backfires. Thirteen replaces Foreman on the biopsy. But with House in the room, House is the dominant personality. The patient only mirrors the fact that House thinks Thirteen is hot and that House is frustrated at not learning anything personal about her. House leaves the room to get Kutner to replace him. While Thirteen is alone with the patient, we learn that she is scared. Her self-confidence has been shaken by the death of the patient in the wheelchair. When she reports the findings of the biopsy to House, she denies that the patient revealed anything about her, saying the patient is delightful and loves life. Her secrets are safe.

It is not until House dresses in the patient’s clothes and enters the room carrying the box of his belongings that we learn anything about the patient. House did everything to appear as similar to the patient as he could – he wore boring brown shoes and a sports jacket, combed his hair in a side part, walked without his cane and even spoke in a quiet voice. House began talking about the things in the patient’s box to try to stimulate some memories. The patient remembered eating in the restaurants that House named from reading the receipts in the box. House pulled out a tube of vapor rub from the box and handed it to the patient. The patient applied it to his nose, saying that it kept out the smell of dung. House realizes the problem. The patient sold farm equipment and had picked up an infection from pig poop. He just needed medication and would be cured.