Barking mad? Another lunatic hypothesis bites the dust. Issue 7276 (23rd December 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chapman, Simon; Morrell, Stephen
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 321:Issue 7276(2000)
• Page Start: 1561
• Page End: 1563
• Publication Date: 2000-12-23
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7276.1561
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To assess whether dog bites requiring hospital admission occur more at the full moon. Design: Review of dates of admission for dog bites to accident and emergency departments, June 1997 to June 1998, compared with dates of the full moon. Setting: All public hospitals in Australia. Main outcome measures: Admissions for dog bites. Results: 12 peak clusters of admissions were unrelated to the time of the full moon. Conclusion: Dog bites are no more frequent on full moons than at any other time of the month. Sceptics rejoice.