def parseMD(md):
    """Separates a cigar field into list of integers and character strings."""
    mdList=[]
    mdL=[]
    str=''
    if md[0].isdigit():
        before=True
    else:
        before=False
    for i in md:
        if i.isdigit():
            if before==True:
                str+=i
            else:
                mdList.append(str)
                str=i
                before=True
        else:
            if before==False:
                str+=i
            else:
                mdList.append(str)
                str=i
                before=False
    mdList.append(str)
    for i in mdList:
        if i.isdigit():
            mdL.append(int(i))
        else:
            mdL.append(i)
    return mdL