I came across an article yesterday that was a report on a study that said that men with index fingers longer than their ring fingers have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Rightly or wrongly (there is some criticism of the study), I found it interesting. Primarily because I have a prostate, I suppose. Therefore, I am drawn to things on the subject. Since my wife had breast cancer, I am also drawn to stories, studies, and reports on that. I do not believe in the concept of "idle curiosity", I think there are always motives behind it.
But I digress.
This study raised a question in my mind... What triggered the study? Think about it, why fingers? What was in the mind of the researcher who conjured up the relationship of finger size ratios to a disease we do not yet fully understand? It makes me wonder about the scientific process and if it is in good hands.
The study reminded me of something called Phrenology. A Phrenologist was a real head doctor, not a psychiatrist. He would feel the head of his patient and determine (by the bumps and their placement) to determine personality traits. This has fallen out of favor though I see vestiges of it in our general attitude toward head shape. Don't ask me to elaborate on this last statement. It would take way too many words to explain and I would just end up looking (more) foolish,
What next? Bring back leeches as medical treatment? Oh wait, that already happened back in the 80's...
Maggots and leeches make a comeback
3 comments:
It's probably just confirmation bias, but you'll often hear that gay men have ring fingers longer than their middle fingers. Whenever that "factoid" enters the discussion, it always seems borne out in the subsequent surveys of the party.
But of course, we're barely starting to understand genes and how they're interrelated, so you never know, it could be a statistically significant trait.
Or not.
I read this with fascination since I no longer have a prostate and sometimes wish I did. My middle finger is quite much longer than my index finger so I guess I, unfortunately beat the odds. It does seem that every doctor that examined me did not have long enough fingers because they all seemed to miss it until it was too late. Of course, now I'm very happy to have a long middle finger because it is, at least, operational.
It's probably just confirmation bias, but you'll often hear that gay men have ring fingers longer than their middle fingers. Whenever that "factoid" enters the discussion, it always seems borne out in the subsequent surveys of the party.
But of course, we're barely starting to understand genes and how they're interrelated, so you never know, it could be a statistically significant trait.
Or not.
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