WinAce

OK, I know this is kinda weird but bear with me here. My mom bases her beliefs on "stuff that science can't explain". Her most recent example was remembering some cases she either read about or heard about (much earlier in life, so she doesn't have the sources; go figure) where:

(A) Female infants are sometimes born ... pregnant (which subsequently causes their swift death)

(B) Surgeons uncovering various weird items such as feathers, hair, and teeth inside the human body (such as a non-decayed human tooth in an appendix, feathers and hair in the uterus, etc.)

Now, my reaction to the first claim especially was "WTF?!". Even if true, how "birth defect that causes pathologically premature pregnancy" translates to "Goddidit" is beyond me. But that's not my point. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

I would like to know if there is ANY basis for these alleged occurences, as they sound completely like the "100 interesting facts" that spread over email like wildfire. I was unable to find anything at numerous urban legend sites and a quick search of Google revealed nothing.

I could understand about a tooth or feather getting stuck inside the body somehow (heck, it might have CAUSED the appendicitis in the first place) but the pregnant infant claim is just freaky.

I took the time to explain what a "God of the Gaps" argument is and why second hand testimony is next to useless in science but didn't pursue the matter further. I respect agnosticism more than any religious belief, and hers is basically a combo of that and monotheism, so I leave her be in matters like this.

However, if her claims WERE true I'd like to know the latest medical news about these freak occurences. Call it a morbid curiosity, if you will. A scientific name for these occurences would be extremely valuable in doing further research, that is, if this isn't just the same old bullshit on a stick that these gullible people unsuspectingly buy into.

Thanks for any help

Viti

Wow...Argument from Tabloid Stories??

Seriously, do a search for Germ Cell tumors, Dermoid Cysts and/or Teratoma. I am sure these real medical problems were the basis for the stories and were then exagerated to include feathers and pregnant babies.

Christopher Lord

Yea, tumors can trigger the genes for the generation of various parts of an animal, theoretically including the eye, teeth, bones, etc.

I imagine its quite rare.

Abacus

I remember a few years ago, a cousin of mine had some sort of cyst removed from inside of her. I guess it even had a tooth growing in it. Freaky! But not supernatural.

MrDarwin

These things are unusual but not unknown. Yes, babies are sometimes born who have "absorbed" a twin. Sometimes it causes the death of the baby; sometimes the child even grow to adulthood, never knowing they carry a "twin" inside them until they have surgery for completely unrelated reasons.

The above is one reason for finding odd bits of tissue out of place in the body, but as others have noted there are also certain kinds of tumors that can generate these specialized tissues.

Try searching using keywords or phrases like "teratoma", "conjoined twins", "parasitic twin", "medical oddities", or "birth defects" (but be prepared with a strong stomach).

As for feathers, well, I think your mom made that one up.

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: MrDarwin ]</p>

Echo

My college roommate had an ovarian cyst removed that contained hair, teeth, and bone fragments.

That might be an interesting question for a creationist or intelligent design proponent: If the parts of our body are products of purposeful design, then what was the purpose of putting teeth in an ovary??

Bizarre.

butswana

Didn't anyone ever tell you that a vagina has teeth in it so it can bite off the weiners of naughty little boys?
(I heard that when I was old enough to know better.)

WinAce

Thanks for the enlightening replies, all.

At least it wasn't the infamous Argument from Pizza that I remember from way back when I was a lurker here...

That explanation sounds about right.

*Shudder* A tumor with eyes. What will God think of next?

A strong stomache is a necessary prerequisite when browsing medical sites, I'm afraid. As for the feathers,

Everyone knows it's not up to us to question God

You poor child! Well, there a pretty good way to test that hypothesis...