Oh I get by with a little help from my friends…

source: http://gp78.free.fr/photos/pga/hamster.jpg

Insofar as people are like hamsters, companionship makes our wounds heal faster.

Another way of stating this is that stress prolongs the healing of wounds, but can be offset by the presumed joy of having friends (or, in the case of the hamsters, siblings) to comfort you.

(Science Daily/Ohio State University: “Study: A Little Help From Friends Makes Wounds Heal Faster” [August 4, 2004])