Most serious sword swallowing injuries and fatalities occur after minor injuries or while attempting a feat beyond that of a normal sword swallow. Careful focus is required to complete the process without injury, as the sword passes within millimetres of vital body parts such as the aorta, heart and lungs. Some swallowers consume a large meal or drink water before performing to give the stomach a more vertical orientation, allowing for easier passage of the sword. The stomach, at an angle to the esophagus, is brought into line as the sword enters through the cardiac opening. Once past the pharynx and esophageal sphincter, the sword passes swiftly, assisted by gravity, straightening the flexible esophagus. Retching must be controlled while the sword, lubricated by saliva, is inserted through the mouth and past the pharynx.Īccording to a study on 8 "normal subjects", the transverse diameter of the pharynx at its smallest point is on average 1.7☐.5 cm. The performer must first lean the head back, hyper-extending the neck, and relax the upper esophageal sphincter (a generally involuntary muscle that contracts the top of the esophagus). The middle of the 20th century saw a demise in circuses in general and sideshows in particular.Ĭross section of the head and inner neck, including the pharynx During the late 19th century and early 20th century, traveling magic shows from the Orient toured Europe and America some included sword swallowing. Western Europe and England also saw an increase in sword swallowing interest during this period, with many cross-Atlantic influences. Sword swallowers appeared on the same bill as magicians, such as Houdini. Some tried to swallow longer swords, many swords, hot swords, bayonets or glowing neon tubes. In Europe performers tried to swallow large numbers of swords in America there was a focus on the novel and bizarre. In the early 1900s, traveling circuses and sideshows featured sword swallowers. In 1893, sword swallowing was featured at the World Columbian Exposition at the Chicago World's Fair. The best-known North American sword swallower of this time was Fred McLone, better known to the public as "Chevalier Cliquot", who performed from 1878 to the early 20th century. 1855) and Benedetti (1863–1895), and in the US, including Lawson Peck (c. From 1850 to the 1890s a small number of sword swallowers performed in the UK, such as Martha Mitchell (c. The troupe was led by the famous juggler and sword swallower Ramo Samee, who continued to perform until his death in London in August 1850, having at times also toured Europe and America. In 1813 'swallowing the sword' was advertised as among the new and astonishing feats performed by the Indian Jugglers then appearing in London. Īccording to an early 19th-century English magazine article the abilities of sword-swallowers in India were considered incredible when first reported in England. Prolific swallower Teodor Olsen famously made an appeal to Haakon VII of Norway, who wasn't swayed by his performance enough to rescind the ban. It began to die out in the mid-19th century and was outlawed in Scandinavia in 1893. Sword swallowing was performed during the Middle Ages as part of street theatre and was popular at festivals and other large gatherings. In Europe, it developed into yet a third distinct type of performance associated with the medieval jongleurs, that of the street performance. In Japan, it became a part of the Japanese acrobatic theatre, Sangaku, which included fire eating, tightrope walking, juggling and early illusion. Sword swallowing spread to Greece and Rome in the 1st century AD and to China in the 8th century.
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