Disco Felon
A "disco felon" is a medical condition caused by snapping one's fingers too much to disco music. It was first reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The original article is behind a paywall, but Edward Nash provided some details in the journal Science Year 1982:
A correspondent to the NEJM later suggested that "disco digit" might be a less confusing name for the condition.
The original article is behind a paywall, but Edward Nash provided some details in the journal Science Year 1982:
"Disco felon"... was reported to NEJM by Frederick W. Walker and other doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in July 1979. "A 17-year-old girl came to the emergency room complaining of an infected finger," they wrote. "Physical examination showed... a classic felon [a painful inflammation of the finger, usually near the fingernail] of the left middle finger... the patient had noticed a small crack on her finger... She thought that the crack might have resulted from snapping her fingers while she was disco dancing..."
The doctors treated the girl by draining and bandaging the inflammation. She recovered, but Walker and his associates sounded a dire warning to other disco dancers and their doctors. "Disco dancing may eventually be shown to damage a variety of body systems: namely visual, auditory, orthopedic, and nutritional. [Nutritional] damage might result from self-imposed starvation in an attempt... to wear the latest outfits."
The doctors treated the girl by draining and bandaging the inflammation. She recovered, but Walker and his associates sounded a dire warning to other disco dancers and their doctors. "Disco dancing may eventually be shown to damage a variety of body systems: namely visual, auditory, orthopedic, and nutritional. [Nutritional] damage might result from self-imposed starvation in an attempt... to wear the latest outfits."
A correspondent to the NEJM later suggested that "disco digit" might be a less confusing name for the condition.
Comments
I'm guessing it's still a "felon", as this term fits much better into the medical profession's love of obfuscation.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 07/27/21 at 07:30 AM
Wonder when was the last time someone was diagnosed with this condition.
Posted by Brian on 07/29/21 at 10:00 AM
These days they have rapper felons.
Posted by ges on 07/30/21 at 10:08 AM
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Category: Health | Music | 1970s