h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My dad, now long gone, bless him, had all the fingers removed from his right hand in an accident at work in 1947. As you may imagine this set him back quite a bit but when they had healed fully he went back to work.

I was not born until the mid 50's by which time he was quite used to his situation. His forefinger stopped just short of the first joint from the knuckle (there were absolutely no bending bits in it).
For fun when we were children he would place this against his nasal opening and look to all concerned like the tip of his finger (if complete)would have been behind his eye socket.
Oh how we laughed!