“Three cases are presented of porcelain lavatory pans collapsing under body weight, producing wounds which required hospital treatment. Excessive age of the toilets was implicated as a causative factor. As many toilets get older episodes of collapse may become more common, resulting in further injuries.”
Thanks to Tobias for posting this ROFL on his blog [note: text in German]!
July 6th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Via my last place of employment, I am aquainted to the last Author, Dr Willie Tullett, Western Infirmary, Glasgow and have discussed this work before. The team won an Ig Nobel for this ground breaking piece of work as documented in PMC. (Don't appear to be able to cut 'n paste here so) Google PMCID: PMC1118723
July 6th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
What I want to know is, has there been a follow-up study in the intervening 16 years? They can't just make these dark predictions and then not tell us if they came to pass!
July 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Fair point, Ms Avery.
I'll see if I can track Willie down, alert him to this thread, and see if I can get a comment from him.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Update. One has now tracked down Willie Tullett and sent him a link to this post. Let's see what happens….