Farting as a defence against unspeakable dread

Journal of Analytical Psychology
Volume 41, Issue 2, pages 165–178, April 1996
DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-5922.1996.00165.x

Mara Sidoli

Washington

This paper describes some features of the behaviour of a severely disturbed adopted latency boy. Peter was born premature, suffered several early hospitalizations and surgical operations, and at 2 months of age was removed from his mother's care by Social Services for neglect and abandonment.

Although his subsequent development has been clouded by a series of losses and sudden changes of caregivers, Peter has maintained an unexpected desire to relate, showing considerable innate resilience. When feeling endangered, Peter had developed a defensive olfactive container using his bodily smell and farts to envelop himself in a protective cloud of familiarity against the dread of falling apart, and to hold his personality together.

In the paper Fordham's views of development and Anzieu's concept of psychic envelopes constitute the theoretical underpinning. Bion's concepts of beta- and alpha-elements are discussed in relation to Jung's views on symbolic development and psychological containment.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-5922.1996.00165.x/abstract

The collapse of toilets in Glasgow

Scottish Medical Journal [1993, 38(6):185]

Wyatt JP, McNaughton GW, Tullett WM

Department of Accident and Emergency, Western Infirmary, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

Abstract

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.

http://scm.sagepub.com/content/38/6/185.abstract

A matter of large body passing through a small hole: the holeproof out the window

Forensic Science International
Volume 56, Issue 2, October 1992, Pages 183–188

Patel F.

Department of Forensic Medicine, UMDS Guy's Hospital, University of London, UK

Abstract

A baffling case of fall-from-height is described focusing on aspects of a human body passing through a small hole, within a holeproof window. It is a classic example of an unsatisfactory outcome when a scene of death is modified adversely due to delay in the commencement of scene management. The operative factors may be entirely outside the control of scene investigators. The primary medical attendant is reminded of the forensic obligations at a scene of unnatural death. Reporting this case might encourage forensic practitioners having experience of a similar case to respond through this journal.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1452109

The Effect of Country Music on Suicide

Social Forces
Vol. 71, No. 1 (Sep., 1992), pp. 211-218
Published by: Oxford University Press

Steven Stack, Wayne State University
Jim Gundlach, Auburn University

Abstract

This article assesses the link between country music and metropolitan suicide rates. Country music is hypothesized to nurture a suicidal mood through its concerns with problems common in the suicidal population, such as marital discord, alcohol abuse, and alienation from work. The results of a multiple regression analysis of 49 metropolitan areas show that the greater the airtime devoted to country music, the greater the white suicide rate. The effect is independent of divorce, southernness, poverty, and gun availability. The existence of a country music subculture is thought to reinforce the link between country music and suicide. Our model explains 51% of the variance in urban white suicide rates.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2579974