I actually wasn't trying to be funny there, even though I'm glad you thought it was. Everything else (except the pronouns) was important to both 1889 Watson and 2023 Watson. I wanted to add a detail that matters now and not then: the possibility of reattachment.
For 1889 Watson, of course, reattachment is a pipedream. For 2023 Watson, what matters is the condition of the thumb:
Yes, thumb is in great condition. Let's do this!
Vs
No, thumb was crushed by whatever tore it off.
No, thumb was damaged by something dumb the patient did to preserve it, like putting it directly on ice. (Sadly, this happens.)
no subject
I actually wasn't trying to be funny there, even though I'm glad you thought it was. Everything else (except the pronouns) was important to both 1889 Watson and 2023 Watson. I wanted to add a detail that matters now and not then: the possibility of reattachment.
For 1889 Watson, of course, reattachment is a pipedream. For 2023 Watson, what matters is the condition of the thumb:
Yes, thumb is in great condition. Let's do this!
Vs
No, thumb was crushed by whatever tore it off.
No, thumb was damaged by something dumb the patient did to preserve it, like putting it directly on ice. (Sadly, this happens.)
Or as here,
No, we don't have the thumb.