# Black Tarry Bowel Movements
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 12, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452 "2005-01-12T22:19:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/1 "2005-01-12T22:19:54Z")
A very long time ago (back in the early 90’s), a woman I worked with had to take a written psychological examination in order to qualify for a criminal justice job. Specifically, it was for a corrections position with Kern County, CA Department of Corrections. One of the questions on the examination was ‘have you ever had a black, tarry bowel movement?’ What on Earth could this possibly mean? This has been dogging me ever since she told me about it. I can think of absolutely no reasonable explanation for this question. Does anybody know the significance of this question, and why it was on the examination?
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/2 "2005-01-12T22:22:01Z")
Some of the major inventories (e.g., the MMPI) have a hypochondria subscale. That question might have been one of the items.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/3 "2005-01-12T22:22:46Z")
Very very speculative answer here, but “black tarry stools” could mean blood. Which I guess could mean ulcers. Which could mean not suitable for a stressful job.
But it would be an amazingly oblique way of asking the question.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/4 "2005-01-12T22:40:36Z")
[Bloody or Tarry Stools](http://health.allrefer.com/health/stools-bloody-info.html)
> [@](#):
>
> Alternate Names : Hematochezia, Melena, Stools - Black or Tarry, Stools - Bloody
>
> Definition
>
> Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term “melena” to describe black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools or “hematochezia” to describe reBlood in the stool can originate from anywhere along your digestive tract from your mouth to your anus. It may be present in such small amounts that you cannot actually see it, but is only detectable by a chemical test (called fecal occult blood test). When there is enough blood to change the appearance of your stools, the doctor will typically want to know the exact color in order to try to estimate the site of bleeding. To make a definite diagnosis, however, endoscopy or special x-ray studies are needed.
>
> A black stool usually means that the blood is coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, or first part of the small intestine. The reason is that blood will typically appear like tar after it has been exposed to the body’s digestive juices. Stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin) are common causes of upper GI bleeding.
>
> Maroon-colored stools or bright red blood usually suggests that the blood is coming from the lower part of the GI tract (large bowel or rectum). However, sometimes massive or very rapid bleeding in the stomach causes bright red stools. Hemmorhoids and diverticulitis (inflammation of an abnormal pouch in the colon called a diverticulum) are the most common causes of lower GI bleeding.
>
> Consuming black licorice, lead, iron pills, bismuth medicines like Pepto-Bismol, or blueberries can also cause black stools. Beets and tomatoes can sometimes make stools appear reddish. In these cases, your doctor can test the stool with a chemical to rule out the presence of blood.
>
> Brisk bleeding in the esophagus or stomach (such as peptic ulcer disease), can also cause you to vomit blood.
> d or maroon-colored stools.
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### Author:  [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/5 "2005-01-12T22:42:11Z")
> [@cher3](#):
>
> Some of the major inventories (e.g., the MMPI) have a hypochondria subscale. That question might have been one of the items.
[Looks like you nailed it right on, thanks.](http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2004/09/29/personality_tests/index_np.html)
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/6 "2005-01-12T22:44:05Z")
On seeing the thread title, my first thoughts were “blood, ulcers, see doctor immediately.” Seeing the question posed on a “psych” test, I don’t have any answer. Is it possible that the question was part of a physical administered at the same time as the psych eval?
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### Author:  [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/7 "2005-01-13T02:25:08Z")
I’ve had that test, and I’m one who remembered the “black, tarry stool” part. But it was crossed out (highlighed, somehow marked), as were others, and I seem to recall a note on there that said these questions were no longer needed. This was probably about 1984. I was given the test to try to qualify for physical rehab from the State of Texas for a work related injury. I didn’t have to take a physical. I got the rehab.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/8 "2005-01-13T02:38:25Z")
Odd that you bring this up, since I just asked a friend who is a Dr. about this. He told me that this would be one indication of a damaged liver and likely would indicate alcahol abuse.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/9 "2005-01-13T02:44:38Z")
I took the MMPI-2 last year, and
“My bowels are black and tarry” is on the test.
According to the guy administering it, afterwards, that is NOT on the hypochondria scale. That’s more along the lines of the “bugshit crazy” scale… I think he said “psychotic”, but “bugshit crazy” was the impression he gave me for that scale.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/10 "2005-01-13T13:41:32Z")
…Or perhaps they just wanted to find out if you were a Guinness drinker 😃
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/11 "2005-01-13T16:44:02Z")
[Eric Cartman] May I show you the poop swatches? … Here we have a nice hangover black … [Eric Cartman]
I note my poo can be darker after a night of overindulgence. maybe the Q was a trick to weed out the Alkies? or maybe not.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/12 "2005-01-13T20:00:39Z")
> [@Jonathan Woodall](#):
>
> I took the MMPI-2 last year, and
> “My bowels are black and tarry” is on the test.
> According to the guy administering it, afterwards, that is NOT on the hypochondria scale. That’s more along the lines of the “bugshit crazy” scale… I think he said “psychotic”, but “bugshit crazy” was the impression he gave me for that scale.
Why would that be considered crazy? Maybe the person is completely sane and suffers from an above mentioned medical problem.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/13 "2005-01-13T20:42:49Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> Why would that be considered crazy? Maybe the person is completely sane and suffers from an above mentioned medical problem.
The answer to that question is not viewed in a vacuum. It is the answer to many questions taht would lead to a diagnosis of batshit crazy.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/14 "2005-01-13T21:20:58Z")
> [@vetbridge](#):
>
> The answer to that question is not viewed in a vacuum. It is the answer to many questions taht would lead to a diagnosis of batshit crazy.
How about something simpler, like what color is the sky?
I dunno, it seems like an odd factor to use in assessing sanity.
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/15 "2005-01-13T22:23:39Z")
I’m not a big MMPI advocate–it’s grossly overused and was never developed to be a job-screening tool.
But, from what I recall, items and even whole subscales are not intended to be used in isolation. Interpretations are generally made from the person’s complete “profile.” Also, interpretation of some of the items turns on the fact that they are phrased in an “always” or “never” format. Someone who said “true” to an item like “I never lie” or “I never have black, tarry stools” might be viewed with suspicion, because they are saying that they never do things that most people do once in a while. There’s a whole scale that is measured on how overly perfect you try to appear–it’s one of the measures they use to determine how truthful the test taker is probably being overall.
This is all relating to the original MMPI. I’m sure the newest one is even more complicated.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/16 "2005-01-13T22:54:02Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> How about something simpler, like what color is the sky?
>
> I dunno, it seems like an odd factor to use in assessing sanity.
That’s what you would expect a sane person to say.
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### Author:  [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/17 "2005-01-13T23:09:14Z")
Is there actually any hard evidence that this works?
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/18 "2005-01-13T23:26:22Z")
It was developed as a clinical assessment tool. Not my area, so I won’t comment on that. However, its use as an employment screening device is very controversial. I could see how such an assessment might be useful for someone applying for a position with a lot of responsibility over the safety of others, but not for screening prospective cashiers at Walmart.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/19 "2005-01-13T23:30:17Z")
> [@vetbridge](#):
>
> That’s what you would expect a sane person to say.
Woo hoo! Where’s my handstamp?
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### Author:  [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tarry-bowel-movements/284452/20 "2005-01-14T00:33:50Z")
> [@+MDI](#):
>
> Is there actually any hard evidence that this works?
Yes, this thread is ripe for a hijacking. It’s not my field of expertise either, but I’ve also heard a lot of derogatory things about the MMPI. The article that I linked to in my second post is an interesting read—I’m going to order that book when it comes out in paperback.
[Harlan Lane](http://www.psych.neu.edu/people/faculty/lane.html) is the world’s most outspoken authority on the subject of Deaf culture. He has stated that clinicians are routinely and erroneously taught that deaf people have strong tendencies towards paranoia. He blames this entirely on the MMPI. One of the yes/no statements on the MMPI is ‘people stare at me in restaurants.’ Deaf people invariably answer yes to this question. I can assure you from firsthand experience that people do stare very intently in restaurants at people who are using a signed language. So personally, I am skeptical of this type of clinical assessment.
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