Upscale responds:

And I have to wonder, too, if figures exist do they count such
"amputations" as
one an uncle of mine got a decade or so ago. He ran his finger tip over
the
1/8" or so of blade above the wood, and lost about 1/8" of the fingertip.
Hurts. Bleeds a lot. Amputation or cut?

A fingertip probably qualifies. The dictionary defines it as "cut off part
of body: to cut off a limb or other appendage of the body, especially in a
surgical operation". I'd guess if it was something that doesn't grow back,
then it qualifies as being amputated.


You're probably right. But if his fingertips are like mine, he can spare 1/8"
without hitting bone, or at least without hitting it hard. My concept, if not
definition, of amputation has always involved bone.

Enough. This is making my fingernails itch.

Charlie Self
"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would
promise them missionaries for dinner." H. L. Mencken