Cello scrotum

[1][2][3] As its name suggests, it was purportedly an affliction of the scrotum affecting male players of the cello.

The original letter[1] was written by Elaine Murphy but signed by her husband John.

Murphy now points out that even a cursory study of the cellist's posture would show that the 'cello scrotum' complaint would not occur.

The unlikelihood of a cellist's posture contributing to scrotal injury was raised back in 1974, but seems to have been overlooked.

[11][12] The implications of this and other hoax medical letters for evidence-based medicine and public understanding of science were discussed by Séamus Mac Suibhne.