In Mens Health magazine recent research has shown that the human thumb is a very dirty digit compared to the other digits. Overall 78 percent of men and 73 percent of females have dirtier thumbs than their other fingers.
This is due to when washing your hands with soap and the interlocking of fingers, the thumb is not included in individual scrubbing.
I thought what hogwash until I examined myself washing my hands, and yes my thumbs were left out in the ritual scrubbing of the hands!!!
Please try this at home and go through your normal routine and see if your thumbs are not given equal attention.
Doing my training for the RAMC I was taught to hum the tune "happy birthday to you" at least 6 times whilst scrupulously (sp)? scrubbing ALL digits, before carrying out medical procedures, (apart from life saving Battlefield First Aid of course)I still do this to this day.
actually i think i wash my thumbs more than my fingers!
i do a sort of ''handshake'' with myself and grasp my thumbs and turning them... if you get me...