The young man was quite adamant. He insisted to the surgeon that he wanted to be castrated. The surgeon pointed out that this was a drastic step for a young man to take and strongly urged him to reconsider his request.

"No," said the young man, "I have thought long and hard about it, I have read all there is about it and my mind is made up. I must have the operation."

The operation was duly carried out and when he had recovered from the anaesthetic and was back in the ward he got to talking to the other patients.

"And what are you in here for?" he asked th fellow in the next bed.

"To be circumcised."

"DAMN, THAT was the word I meant !"