An important study for sword swallowers worldwide:
In his report, published in the British Medical Journal, Mr Witcombe wrote that sword swallowers knew theirs was a dangerous occupation. Because he could find only two reports in the literature of injuries from the practice, he canvassed almost 50 sword swallowers to explore their technique and its side-effects. “Sore throats – ’sword throats’ – occur when swallowers are learning, when performances are repeated frequently, or when odd-shaped or multiple swords are used,” he concluded.
Related posts:
- BMJ: Moderation is the key to sword swallowing
- Don’t Distract Sword Swallowers!
- Sword swallowing fluoroscopy
- Epiglottitis and sore throat
- Sore loser
- Primary care is a lousy term
- Medical waste
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{ 2 comments }
If anyone is stupid enough to shove a sword down their throat, they are lcky to only get away with a sore throat. From a scientific perspective, how do sword swallorers do what they do? I would assume they do not have a gag reflex?
Dominic A. Carone, Ph.D.
Founder and Webmaster of MedFriendly.com and The MedFriendly blog.
I got a kick out of this story because the sword swallower in question is just a town over from me.
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