Dr. Robert Lopez Infects Himself with Cat Ear Mites

Yesterday, Alex regaled us with the report of a fellow who swallowed a giraffe liver parasite in the pursuit of knowledge.

Well, here's another scientist who wanted to learn what cats went through with an ear mite infestation, choosing to insert them into his own ears.

There's a tremendous long piece about him here, even including a video!

     Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 24, 2024
     Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests | Hobbies and DIY | Insects and Spiders | Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains | Science | Cats | 1990s





Comments
The 1994 Ig Nobel Awards:
https://improbable.com/ig/winners/#ig1994

"ENTOMOLOGY: Robert A. Lopez of Westport, NY, valiant veterinarian and friend of all creatures great and small, for his series of experiments in obtaining ear mites from cats, inserting them into his own ear, and carefully observing and analyzing the results. [Published as “Of Mites and Man,” The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 203, no. 5, Sept. 1, 1993, pp. 606-7.]"
Posted by crc on 07/24/24 at 01:15 PM
Did he determine anything profound? or did he just put bugs in his ears?
Posted by Teri on 07/25/24 at 12:55 AM
Teri,

Read the article, its good. He discovered an activity pattern for the mites and was able to recommend a better treatment time for cats. He also found that, with repeated applications of mites the infestation was progressively milder.
Posted by crc on 07/25/24 at 05:03 AM
This is what the Ignobels are about, in fact: to first make you laugh, and then make you think.
Posted by Richard Bos on 07/27/24 at 08:52 AM
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