An Emergency Medicine resident in the deep south blogs about thoughts and experiences both inside and out of the Emergency Room
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Digitus impudicus
THESE FILMS, OF A DISLOCATED MIDDLE FINGER, PROVOKED MUCH DISCUSSION AND HEATED DEBATE AMONG THE PHYSICIANS IN OUR ED RECENTLY. Jokes were made about the middle finger, and then a statement was made that the origin of the obscene gesture is from the battle of agincourt during the hundred year's war. It was said that the french had threatened the feared english archers, saying that after they won the battle they would cut off all their middle fingers so they would no longer be able to draw a bow. After the English won the battle, they showed the still attached middle fingers to the french. Some of us doubted the truth of this story, so we looked it up on wiki. Turns out that the agincourt story is just one of many myths in regards to the origins of the "fuck you" gesture. In truth, references are found as far back as ancient rome, byzantium, and egypt. The gestures popularity in the roman empire would explain the widespread prevalence of it and similar gestures. In many older writings it was associated with such other superstitions as the evil eye as well. Regardless, this guy will have trouble flipping the digitus impudicus with that hand for a while.
Although some parts of this blog may be based on real life events, the patients represented are either completely fictional characters, or the details of the clinical circumstances are so drastically changed that a connection should never be made with an actual person or event. Those seeking to make such a connection would do better to look inside their own hearts and in their own communities because this blog is about a large part of America
THESE FILMS, OF A DISLOCATED MIDDLE FINGER, PROVOKED MUCH DISCUSSION AND HEATED DEBATE AMONG THE PHYSICIANS IN OUR ED RECENTLY. Jokes were made about the middle finger, and then a statement was made that the origin of the obscene gesture is from the battle of agincourt during the hundred year's war. It was said that the french had threatened the feared english archers, saying that after they won the battle they would cut off all their middle fingers so they would no longer be able to draw a bow. After the English won the battle, they showed the still attached middle fingers to the french. Some of us doubted the truth of this story, so we looked it up on wiki. Turns out that the agincourt story is just one of many myths in regards to the origins of the "fuck you" gesture. In truth, references are found as far back as ancient rome, byzantium, and egypt. The gestures popularity in the roman empire would explain the widespread prevalence of it and similar gestures. In many older writings it was associated with such other superstitions as the evil eye as well. Regardless, this guy will have trouble flipping the digitus impudicus with that hand for a while.
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