On Eating Shit

We had our regular teaching rounds with one of the professors today. My colleague presented a case about a baby who passed pale colored stool since birth, which really pissed the professor off, saying we didn't digest whatever information we get from the patient, that we're only a reporter.

So he asked, "Why is it impossible for a new born to pass out pale coloured stool?"

Someone answered, "Because they usually pass out meconium first."

Then he asked again, "Yes, what is meconium?"

"Have you tasted meconium?" Which cracked everyone up. But just for a while. "I mean have you seen meconium? Haven't you done your obstetrics posting?"

"So what is meconium?" He asked again, sternly.

"Dead cells in the uterus that the baby ingested during pregnancy."

"Yes! They don't eat anything, they only swallow the amniotic fluid. Or the dead cells inside there, or whatever it is inside there. Maybe I should get the nurses to get you to eat the meconium for once."

Shocked. Stunned for a second.

We just ate shit.