BMJ Christmas Issue

December 24, 2008 6:49 AM

Every year the British Medical Journal publishes a less-than-serious Christmas edition.

This year's edition includes:

• Rugby (the religion of Wales) and its influence on the Catholic church: should Pope Benedict XVI be worried?
• Frankincense: systematic review
• Billy Bunter and the obesogenic environment
• Coca-Cola douches and contraception
• Head and neck injury risks in heavy metal: head bangers stuck between rock and a hard bass
• Not becoming a communist doctor
• Back to the future: emergency departments and ancient Greek warfare
• Bumf: increasing exponentially
• The cult of the conference bag
• How to safeguard your ring in theatre
• Texting shows recovery after faint

[sort of via]

posted by alby (11 comments total)

I think this counts as a double.
posted by grouse at 7:50 AM on December 24, 2008

Ah, only the British.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:50 AM on December 24, 2008

The Coca Cola article uses a Fugs song as a reference. SO MANY <3>festive medical myths is good too.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:53 AM on December 24, 2008

> Bumf: increasing exponentially

As this reaches critical mass, the likelihood of bumcivilian dangerously increases.
posted by shadytrees at 7:59 AM on December 24, 2008 [1 favorite]

Festive medical myths is good too
Link
posted by alby at 8:00 AM on December 24, 2008

Yeah I need to cut it out with the AIMspeak hearts they ding up the html badly and it doesn't show up in preview.

NOW BRING ME SOME FUGGY PUDDING !
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:03 AM on December 24, 2008

I think I've seen all of these episodes on House MD.
posted by terranova at 10:01 AM on December 24, 2008

Oliver Twist’s heart rending pleas for more food seem to have no basis in fact: analysis of contemporary workhouse dietaries suggest that the little whinger would have had enough to eat

Finally my prejudices are confirmed in a respected medical journal!
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:38 AM on December 24, 2008

From the Head and neck injury one _{(Formatting added by me)}:

Possible interventions to reduce the risk of injury caused by head banging include limiting the range of neck motion through a

formal training programme delivered before a concert;

substitution of adult oriented rock and easy listening music such as the controls, or others including Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Enya, and Richard Clayderman, for heavy metal;

and personal protective equipment such as neck braces to limit range of motion.

Future research will involve neuropsychological testing of concert goers to validate the modelling presented in this paper, and randomised controlled trials of musical substitutes.

posted by bitteroldman at 12:02 PM on December 24, 2008

To improve efficacy, some Coca-Cola would have to be instilled into the vagina before ejaculation, but that would undoubtedly be messy. In addition, as anyone who has ever attempted sexual intercourse in a swimming pool or the sea can testify, excess watery intravaginal fluid can adversely affect lubrication.

I just liked this bit. That's all.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:58 PM on December 24, 2008

As this reaches critical mass, the likelihood of bumcivilian dangerously increases.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh
posted by danb at 7:48 PM on December 25, 2008