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New Message on Irish Fencing Forum
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From: Eoin
Message 1 in Discussion
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Comic book hero Tintin never aged during his 50-year career
because the repeated blows he took to the head triggered a growth hormone
deficiency, according to an analysis in the Christmas edition of a Canadian
medical journal.
AFP/HO-MOULINSART Photo
Claude Cyr, a professor of medicine at Quebec's Sherbrooke University, said a
study of the 23 hugely popular Tintin books showed the intrepid Belgian
reporter suffered 50 significant losses of consciousness during his many
adventures.
"We hypothesize that Tintin has growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadotropic
hypogonadism (a disorder of the pituitary gland) from repeated trauma. This
could explain his delayed statural growth, delayed onset of puberty and lack of
libido," Cyr wrote.
His article was in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which has a
tradition of publishing studies into the ailments of fictional characters in
its Christmas edition.
Tintin was created by Belgium's Georges Remi under the pen name Herge. The
teenage character first appeared in 1929 and despite the passing of almost five
decades was as fresh-faced as ever in the pages of the last book to feature
him, which appeared in 1976.
Cyr, who wrote the study with the help of his two young sons, noted that Tintin
had been knocked out 43 times by serious blows to the head.
"We identified the cause of the trauma, the length of loss of consciousness
(calculated by the number of cartoon frames before Tintin returns to normal
activity) and the apparent severity of the trauma (indicated by the number of
objects e.g., stars, candles revolving above Tintin's head)," he said.
Among the main reasons for Tintin's injuries were blows from a club, bullet
wounds, explosions, car accidents, chloroform poisoning and falls.
"Unfortunately, no brain imaging was performed," Cyr lamented.
Tintin travelled all over the world with his white terrier Snowy as he battled
foes as varied as drug dealers, Incan priests, slave traders and the Abominable
Snowman. The books have been translated into 60 languages and have sold 200
million copies.
In 2000 the Canadian Medical Association Journal caused something of an uproar
by revealing that Winnie the Pooh's continuous search for honey was caused by
obsessive compulsive disorder, Piglet needed anti-panic medication, while
Eeyore was massively depressed.
Another study surmised that Beatrix Potter's ever energetic Squirrel Nutkin
character was in fact autistic
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