Factual error: In this episode, Col. Potter's horse has a colic, and Hawkeye and BJ have to give it a colonic to relieve it. Colonics aren't administered to congested horses; in fact, attempting the procedure might kill the horse. To avoid unnecessary discussion: No, neither is the word "colonic" ever mentioned, nor is it seen (obviously). But from the dialogue "we have to clean it out", "do you want the other end?", etc., there really isn't any reasonable doubt that that's what they are doing.
Doc
7th Jun 2025
M*A*S*H (1972)
7th Jun 2024
M*A*S*H (1972)
Sometimes You Hear the Bullet - S1-E17
Factual error: We see Pvt. Wendel trying to hot-wire a jeep to escape. He wouldn't have to hot-wire it, because vehicles assigned to a combat zone were equipped with an ignition switch, not an ignition lock, for the simple reason that keys get lost or mislaid all the time and in an emergency, having to track down keys for vehicles would be extremely detrimental to an unit's combat effectiveness.
20th May 2020
M*A*S*H (1972)
Baby, It's Cold Outside - S7-E9
Factual error: As Hawkeye performs CPR on the hypothermic soldier, he pumps his arms from his ellbows. CPR is done by keeping the arms stiff and pumping with the whole upper body. Hawkeye as a surgeon would know that. Fun Fact: You can perform CPR one-handed in a pinch, but only as long as you keep your arms stiff.
31st Jan 2017
M*A*S*H (1972)
Factual error: Radar claims in his report that Father Mulchahy tried to calm the prisoner by saying "bang zhao", thinking it means "peace and friendship" when it really means "your daughter's pregnancy brings much joy to our village." There is, unsurprisingly, not even a remotely similar word in Chinese that means either of those things.
20th Feb 2013
M*A*S*H (1972)
Factual error: The MP describes the antique vase Burns is supposed to have bought as "An 800-year-old seladon vase of the Ko-Yu dynasty". Later, Burns packs up a white vase to send to his wife. Seladon is by definition green, and that kind of color glazing definitely wasn't around in the 13th century. What Burns packs up looks most like early to middle Quing period - or rather a contemporary ripoff. (00:09:00 - 00:14:00)
17th Mar 2012
M*A*S*H (1972)
Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen - S11-E16
Factual error: When Hawkeye leaves the tank after parking it in the trash heap, he comes out of the cupola hatch. He should be coming out of the driver's hatch, because he sure as hell didn't drive that tank from the turret.
24th Jan 2012
M*A*S*H (1972)
Factual error: Henry says that every Wednesday, his wife drives up Route 26 with some friends. US. Route 26 starts out in Nebraska and leads to Oregon. The closest thing that could be described as a "Route 26" would be the road leading from Princeton, IL to Dixon, IL which begins 85 miles from Bloomington. The writer probably meant Route 24, which passes about 20 miles north of Bloomington. (00:03:10)
22nd Jan 2012
M*A*S*H (1972)
Deal Me Out - S2-E13
Factual error: In this episode, Henry is seen handing Radar the keys to his jeep. While this probably benefited the understanding of the audience, it is historically incorrect. Jeeps assigned to a combat zone were outfitted with an ignition switch, not an ignition lock, for the simple reason that in an emergency the vehicle had to be useable by anyone. (00:03:40)
Suggested correction: True, but doing CPR the real way is going to likely seriously injure the actor it is being performed upon.
LorgSkyegon
Explaining why mistakes occur does not invalidate them.
Bishop73
Chest compressions can definitely be performed by pumping from the elbow, one or two handed. The first documented use was in 1891, so Hawkeye would be aware of it. However, modern CPR standards, including straight arm procedures, were not developed until at least 1960 by the American Heart Association. Using straight arms and bending at the hips uses the larger muscle groups of the core and legs, which provides more control, as well as stamina. This is not an error for the Korean War era.
Additionally, what Lorg said - you don't want to hurt the actor, you can see his shoulders rise as his arms straighten, giving the illusion of compressions. There is another episode where Hawkeye is performing chest compressions similarly, and yells at the unconscious patient that his arms are getting tired, which is what would happen with bent elbow compressions, and one of the reasons modern technique uses straight arms.
I didn't know that, but it makes sense that CPR procedures would evolve. You should submit that as a direct correction to my mistake.
Doc ★