OBJECTIVE:
To assess whether dog bites requiring hospital admission occur more at the full moon.
DESIGN:
Review of dates of admission for dog bites to accident and emergency departments, June 1997 to June 1998, compared with dates of the full moon.
SETTING:
All public hospitals in Australia.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Admissions for dog bites.
RESULTS:
12 peak clusters of admissions were unrelated to the time of the full moon.
CONCLUSION:
Dog bites are no more frequent on full moons than at any other time of the month. Sceptics rejoice.