The AFU and Urban Legend Archive
Animals
Gerbilling
 gerbilling reference




Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 23:27:36 -0500
From: "Leo G. Simonetta" <ARCLGS@langate.gsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Would you believe...?

Gerbils in a Medical Book?

This latest surfacing of the gerbilling legend started on March 8, 1997 when bikrbabe@aol.com (BikrBabe) posted the following:

"However, I did turn up the following amusing information:

It seems that the American Hospital Association published a book a few years ago relating to emergency room procedures. One of the items listed is "Rectal mass - gerbils". (Time approximate for removal: 25 minutes).

The book is called "The Hospital Emergency Department: A Guide to Operational Excellence". (ISBN 1-55648-088-1)"

Then several people posted unsuccessful attempts to track down the book, one of which noted that the book was available at a library near me. Then on March 20th I posted:

I have the book in question in my sweaty little hands. It has a whole bunch of table and charts but I have found it!

On Page 66 of the book in question it has a Figure 5-3. Sample ED (Emergency Department) Visit Classification Categories Category II 25 minutes does include "Rectal mass-gerbils"!

However, this is in a section on analyzing the operations of emergency departments by John A. Page, M.S. It concentrates primarily on data collection and organization - not medicine. Page is described as Executive Director of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society of Chicago.

None of the other categories jump out at me as being false but I am not in one of the health professions.

OK, now what?

Ian York suggested I try to hunt down Mr. Page and ask him where this particular entry had come from.

I used the website 411 to track down a John A. Page in Chicago and dropped him a line explaining a little about AFU and Urban Legends and asking him about the genesis of this entry.

Meanwhile Will Wheeler wrote:

"I did this a few days ago. Sorry it took so long to post, but I've been a little busy, especially to Leo, who has been doing some work."

"Via email, Mr. Page's first reaction was to laugh. He says that he didn't know the entry was in there, and I believe him (from the tone of his email). He says that the publication staff must have a sense of humor. So no, it doesn't look like a new lead."

Unfortunately I emailed a message to John Page just before receiving a note from Will telling me that he was ahead of me on this trail.

This is what Page sent me in response to my message.

From: John Page To: Leo G. Simonetta Subject: RE>A Quick Question

RE A Quick Question 3/21/97 Unfortunately for the urban legend folks the proofreader at the AHA obviously had a sense of humor. I had never even noticed it until a day or so ago when I got another message from one of your colleagues!

The rectal mass category was correct, but not the second. Amazing, after six years I have received two messages about the chapter. Good to hear that people are reading your work!! (colon period greater than snipped)

JP




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