spondylitis) and we believe that he did not have ankylosing spondylitis, but a condition, perhaps an acute viral arthralgia, that resolved spontaneously, despite, rather than because of, therapy with laughter and high doses of intravenous vitamin C.
2. Dr Dalal reminds us that laughter can sometimes harm others, as well as those experiencing it. Leaving aside the social disbenefits of adverse reactions to medicines, and the adverse effects of passive smoking, it is rare for drugs to cause harms beyond those who take them. However, contact dermatitis can occur in nurses or other carers, or in workers in pharmaceutical companies who have to handle compounds not intended for their own use. Contact dermatitis and fixed drug eruptions have also been reported after coital transfer. Precocious puberty has sometimes been attributed to transfer of topical testosterone from others.
3. Finally, We are surprised that a lull in activity in the classics faculty in Oxford has led Dr D'Angour to take refuge in the pages of the Xmas issue of the BMJ, but flattered that he should have thought it worth while to comment on our article.
We agree that the Greek ἄσβεστος literally translates as "unquenchable" (in contrast to modern asbestos, which is incombustible), but we feel that "uncontrollable" is the corresponding mot juste when describing laughter. Robert Fagles, whose translations of Homer have been justly praised, renders the relevant lines thus:
Rapid Response:
Re: Laughter and MIRTH (Methodical Investigation of Risibility, Therapeutic and Harmful): narrative synthesis
We are grateful to those who have commented on our article.
1. We are aware of Norman Cousins's report (http://www.patientstales.org/home/chronic-health-issues#TOC-Ankylosing-
spondylitis) and we believe that he did not have ankylosing spondylitis, but a condition, perhaps an acute viral arthralgia, that resolved spontaneously, despite, rather than because of, therapy with laughter and high doses of intravenous vitamin C.
2. Dr Dalal reminds us that laughter can sometimes harm others, as well as those experiencing it. Leaving aside the social disbenefits of adverse reactions to medicines, and the adverse effects of passive smoking, it is rare for drugs to cause harms beyond those who take them. However, contact dermatitis can occur in nurses or other carers, or in workers in pharmaceutical companies who have to handle compounds not intended for their own use. Contact dermatitis and fixed drug eruptions have also been reported after coital transfer. Precocious puberty has sometimes been attributed to transfer of topical testosterone from others.
3. Finally, We are surprised that a lull in activity in the classics faculty in Oxford has led Dr D'Angour to take refuge in the pages of the Xmas issue of the BMJ, but flattered that he should have thought it worth while to comment on our article.
We agree that the Greek ἄσβεστος literally translates as "unquenchable" (in contrast to modern asbestos, which is incombustible), but we feel that "uncontrollable" is the corresponding mot juste when describing laughter. Robert Fagles, whose translations of Homer have been justly praised, renders the relevant lines thus:
ἄσβεστος δ' ἄρ' ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν
ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα
"And uncontrollable laughter broke from the happy gods
as they they watched the god of fire breathing hard
and bustling through the halls."
We thought that whatever was good enough for Professor Fagles would be good enough for us.
Competing interests: As declared in the original article