Cello scrotum
Encyclopedia
Cello scrotum is a hoax
medical condition originally published as a brief case report
in the British Medical Journal
in 1974. As its name suggests, it was purportedly an affliction of the scrotum
affecting male players of the cello
.
but signed by her husband as a joke to compare with a previous letter regarding 'guitar nipple', a condition reportedly occurring when some styles of guitar
playing excessively irritate the player's nipple
(a form of contact dermatitis similar to Jogger's nipple
), which Murphy and her husband believed was likely a joke. Murphy now points out that even a cursory study of the cellist's posture would show that the 'cello scrotum' complaint would not occur. The unlikeliness of a cellist's posture contributing to scrotal injury was raised back in 1974, but seems to have been overlooked.
Murphy admitted the hoax in 2009 in another letter to the BMJ after an article in the 2008 Christmas edition of the BMJ made reference to the complaint. The truth of the case report had already been questioned in the medical literature in 1991. Others have cited it, though expressing scepticism.
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
medical condition originally published as a brief case report
Case report
In medicine, a case report is a detailed report of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports may contain a demographic profile of the patient, but usually describe an unusual or novel occurrence....
in the British Medical Journal
British Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
in 1974. As its name suggests, it was purportedly an affliction of the scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
affecting male players of the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
.
History
The original letter was written by Dr Elaine MurphyElaine Murphy, Baroness Murphy
Elaine Murphy, Baroness Murphy is a British politician and a member of the House of Lords.After qualifying as a doctor and later teaching as an academic in the National Health Service for 25 years, she spent a period as a Health Service general manager between 1984 and 1990 which included the post...
but signed by her husband as a joke to compare with a previous letter regarding 'guitar nipple', a condition reportedly occurring when some styles of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
playing excessively irritate the player's nipple
Nipple
In its most general form, a nipple is a structure from which a fluid emanates. More specifically, it is the projection on the breasts or udder of a mammal by which breast milk is delivered to a mother's young. In this sense, it is often called a teat, especially when referring to non-humans, and...
(a form of contact dermatitis similar to Jogger's nipple
Jogger's nipple
Fissure of the nipple, also known as jogger's nipple, is a condition that can be caused by friction that can result in soreness, dryness or irritation to, or bleeding of, one or both nipples during and/or following running or other physical exercise...
), which Murphy and her husband believed was likely a joke. Murphy now points out that even a cursory study of the cellist's posture would show that the 'cello scrotum' complaint would not occur. The unlikeliness of a cellist's posture contributing to scrotal injury was raised back in 1974, but seems to have been overlooked.
Murphy admitted the hoax in 2009 in another letter to the BMJ after an article in the 2008 Christmas edition of the BMJ made reference to the complaint. The truth of the case report had already been questioned in the medical literature in 1991. Others have cited it, though expressing scepticism.
See also
- Coalworker's pneumoconiosisCoalworker's pneumoconiosisCoal workers' pneumoconiosis , colloquially referred to as black lung disease, is caused by long exposure to coal dust. It is a common affliction of coal miners and others who work with coal, similar to both silicosis from inhaling silica dust, and to the long-term effects of tobacco smoking...
- Golfer's elbowGolfer's elbowGolfer's elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is an inflammatory condition of the medial epicondyle of the elbow. It is in some ways similar to tennis elbow....
- Jogger's nippleJogger's nippleFissure of the nipple, also known as jogger's nipple, is a condition that can be caused by friction that can result in soreness, dryness or irritation to, or bleeding of, one or both nipples during and/or following running or other physical exercise...
- Nintendo thumbNintendo thumbNintendo thumb, known also as gamer's grip, Nintendinitis and similar names, is a video game-related health problem classified as a form of repetitive strain injury . The symptoms are the blistering, paraesthesia and swelling of the thumbs, mainly through use of the D-pad, though any finger can be...
- Radium jawRadium jawRadium jaw is an occupational disease brought on by the ingestion and subsequent absorption of radium into the bones of radium dial painters. The symptoms are necrosis of the mandible and the maxilla as well as constant bleeding of the gums and after some time, severe distortion due to bone...
- Surfer's earSurfer's EarSurfer's ear is the common name for an exostosis or abnormal bone growth within the ear canal. Surfer's ear is not the same as swimmer's ear, although infection can result as a side effect....
- Tennis elbowTennis elbowLateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia, also known as tennis elbow, shooter's elbow and archer's elbow, is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender...