Cello Scrotum... HOAX?

surface_tension · Post by **surface_tension** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:03 pm

Doc’s confession: We made up ‘cello scrotum’
Hoax inspired by reports of similar musician’s ailment called ‘guitar nipple’

Reuters
updated 11:01 a.m. ET, Wed., Jan. 28, 2009

"Cello scrotum," a nasty ailment allegedly suffered by musicians, does not exist and the condition was just a hoax, a senior British doctor has admitted.

In a letter to prominent medical magazine, the British Medical Journal in 1974, Elaine Murphy reported that cellists suffered from the painful complaint caused by their instrument repeatedly rubbing against their body.

The claim had been inspired by reports in the BMJ about the alleged condition "guitar nipple," caused by irritation when the guitar was pressed against the chest.

But Murphy, now a baroness and a former professor of psychiatry of old age at Guy's Hospital in London, has admitted her supposed medical complaint was a spoof.

"Perhaps after 34 years it's time for us to confess we invented cello scrotum," she wrote with her husband John, who had signed the original letter, which was published in the BMJ on Wednesday. "Anyone who has ever watched a cello being played would realize the physical impossibility of our claim."

Murphy, who said the couple had been "dining out" on their story ever since they made it up, said they had decided to reveal the hoax after it was referred to in a recent BMJ article on health problems associated with making music.

She also said she suspected "guitar nipple" had been a joke.

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:08 pm

the person who wrote the hoax letter was just on radio 4 about 30 minutes ago.

surface_tension · Post by **surface_tension** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:22 pm

Damn, I need to move to the UK... this is what they have on the Radio there?

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:24 pm

yeah radio 4 is really good

sang-froid · Post by **sang-froid** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:46 pm

Surface_Tension wrote:Damn, I need to move to the UK... this is what they have on the Radio there?

Yeah, Radio 4 is what will bring me back to Blighty. That, and the weather!

Lol

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sang-froid · Post by **sang-froid** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:50 pm

metalboxproducts wrote:yeah radio 4 is really good

Big up the Beeb ! Well. . . . sometimes.

doomtube · Post by **doomtube** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:30 pm

RADIO 4 ..... DUSTEP FORUM!!!! NO I AM SMILING LETS VOTE ON IT RADIO 4 IS THE FUCKING BOOLOCKS!!!!

doomtube · Post by **doomtube** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:31 pm

sorry sunday lunch in the pub lead to that erratic out burst....

firky · Post by **firky** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:24 pm

doomtube wrote:RADIO 4 ..... DUSTEP FORUM!!!! NO I AM SMILING LETS VOTE ON IT RADIO 4 IS THE FUCKING BOOLOCKS!!!!

I listen to Radio 4 everyday when I am in work and I'm sat at the computer. It is pretty good but you do feel like a bit of an old man listening to it

thinking · Post by **thinking** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:09 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

can't beat a bit of You & Yours.

sang-froid · Post by **sang-froid** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:56 am

Firky wrote:
doomtube wrote:RADIO 4 ..... DUSTEP FORUM!!!! NO I AM SMILING LETS VOTE ON IT RADIO 4 IS THE FUCKING BOOLOCKS!!!!

I listen to Radio 4 everyday when I am in work and I'm sat at the computer. It is pretty good but you do feel like a bit of an old man listening to it

[/quote

Errr.. well no, you do.

funky stanton · Post by **funky stanton** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:37 pm

Radio 4 is aces, though John Humpries seems like an utter buffoon.

Cello Scrotum... HOAX?

Cello Scrotum... HOAX?

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