One of my most amusing cases concerned two young fellows who had spent a day on the town doing some considerable celebrating. To prepare for more of the same that night one of them decided to clean his teeth. In the course of this procedure he managed to swallow his toothbrush.

I was unbelieving when first I heard this story, but, despite his inebriation, the patient was obviously distressed, so oesophagoscopy was indicated. A toothbrush was removed from the upper oesophagus.

My relieved patient, hearing my name, said he was used to consulting Dr Beer regularly, and thought that more beer was sure to help him.