Medicine may have made enormous strides forward in the last few years with some fantastic advances in surgery and treatments of common ailments.
But despite some of these almost space-age changes, many old-fashioned myths and old wives' tales still persist.
I am constantly surprised by the things people believe in. Here are some of the craziest I've come across recently.
•If an attack of shingles encircles the body, then the patient will die. Not true at all, I'm pleased to say.
• Acrobats are double-jointed. Not true either. Acrobats and contortionists don't have double joints - they often have stretched ligaments.
• Sitting on cold stone surfaces produces piles. I don't know where that one came from, but I can't think there is any tmth in it.
• Baldness is caused by wearing a hat that is too tight. No truth in that one either.
Teacher: Michael
Many articles taken from 'A word with the doctor', by Dr. John Windsor.
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