Sword swallowing

Hans Rosling of Gapminder Foundation swallows a bayonet during his TED talk

Sword swallowing is an ancient performance art in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. This feat is not swallowing in the traditional sense; the natural processes that constitute swallowing do not take place, but are repressed in order to keep the passage from the mouth to the stomach open for the sword.

The practice is extremely dangerous and poses a high risk of injury.

History

Originating in south India before 2000 BC, the deadly art of sword swallowing has a long and varied history. During its early history it was used as a demonstration of divine union and power.

The migration of the art to other lands, all the way to Greece and Rome in the 1st centuries AD and most notably China in the 8th century, saw the art's transformation from divine demonstration to theatrical production. It quickly migrated to Japan, where it became a central part of the Japanese acrobatic theatre, Sangaku. This form of theatre featured an array of performance delights, including fire eating, tightrope walking, juggling and early illusion. In Europe it developed into yet a third distinct type of performance associated with the medieval jongleurs, that of the street performance.

Sword swallowing was performed during the Middle Ages as part of street theatre and was popular at festivals and other large gatherings. It began to die out in the mid-19th century, and was actually outlawed in Scandinavia in 1893. This was due to a declining interest in street and festival theatre and a growing interest on the part of audiences in more "sophisticated" and "proper" theatre.

In 1819, the East Indian juggler and sword swallower Ramo Sammee became popular in the United States after a brief stint in England. He performed in the US and England until his death in London in August 1850. From 1850 to the 1890s a small number of sword swallowers performed in the UK such as Martha Mitchell (c 1855) and Signor Benedetti (1863–95), and in the US, including Lawson Peck (c 1850s), Ling Look (c 1872), Signor Wandana (died May 9, 1875), and Harry Parsons (died December 1880). But 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.

In 1893 sword swallowing was featured at the World Columbian Exposition at the Chicago World's Fair. This spawned the beginning of the popularity of the American practice of the art.

The Great Victorina Troupe: originators and presenters of the most marvelous sword swallowing act on earth

In the early 1900s traveling circuses and sideshows quickly became the dominant venue for sword swallowers. Traveling throughout North America and presenting their skills to the show-going public, any connection with religion or divine power was long gone. Sword swallowing became a stunt, and as such, it became competitive. Whereas the European practice of the art certainly saw performers attempting to swallow larger numbers of swords, there seemed to be an undue focus on the novel and bizarre in the American practice. This is understandable, as there were a larger number of sword swallowers performing at this time, and innovation was the only recourse performers had in the effort to make money, for themselves and for their employers.

It is during this time that we see a growing popularity with swallowing longer swords, multiple swords, hot swords, bayonets recoiled down the throat, glowing neon tubes and so forth. With the growing interest in the art came clever innovations. In fact, one could often find sword swallowers on the same bill as the magic greats such as Houdini, clearly indicating their appeal.

Western Europe and England also saw an upsurge in sword swallowing interest during this period, with many cross-Atlantic influences.

During the late 19th century and early 20th century traveling magic shows from the Orient toured Europe and America, bringing some unique twists on standard effects, some entirely new effects (the secrets of which were lusted after by American magicians), and of course sword swallowing, along with their traditional fire eating, juggling and acrobatic feats.

Around the middle of the 20th century saw a demise in circuses in general and sideshows in particular. Today there remains only one full-time permanent sideshow in the world, the Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore, in New York City, and a very few smaller traveling sideshows. Some attribute the decline of the sideshow to the increased interest in and decreased cost of mechanical circus and carnival rides, as well as the growth of other forms of entertainment such as television, movies, videos and the Internet.

Today many skills typically associated with the circus or sideshows have been appropriated by individual performers and incorporated into their acts, fueling a revival in many of the sideshow arts.

Technique

Learning

Learning to sword swallow comprises both physical and psychological aspects. The first obstacle in acquiring the skill is overcoming the gag reflex, achieved by accustoming the pharynx to touch. As recorded in the 2006 study by Brian Witcombe, radiologist, and Dan Meyer, President of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI), this is accomplished through practice with putting fingers and other objects down the throat, such as spoons, knitting needles, and plastic tubes, before eventually graduating to a wire coat-hanger. Performers must prepare mentally as well as physically, steeling themselves against unpleasant sensations, relaxing the mind and body, and focusing carefully on proper technique. According to swordswallow.com, a site run by SSAI, the art can take "from three to seven years to learn and five [more] to master." Most swallowers surveyed for the Witcombe-Meyer study were self-taught.

Anatomy and method

The performer must first lean the head back, hyper-extending the neck, and relax the upper esophageal sphincter (a generally involuntary muscle which contracts the top of the esophagus). Retching must be controlled while the sword, lubricated by saliva, is inserted through the mouth and past the pharynx.

The pharynx

Once past the pharynx and sphincter the sword passes swiftly, assisted by gravity, straightening the flexible esophagus. The stomach, at an angle to the esophagus, is brought into line as the sword enters through the cardiac opening. 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. Most performers only keep the sword down for a matter of a few seconds, as it is difficult to suppress the gag reflex for any length of time. Careful focus is required to complete the process without injury, as the sword passes within millimeters of vitals such as the aorta, heart and lungs.

Added risks

Sometimes factors are added which increase the danger; some highly experienced swallowers practice the "drop," a maneuver in which the sword is allowed to fall suddenly, its movement controlled by the muscles of the pharynx. Practitioners have also reported such things as performing on a unicycle, lying on a bed of nails, and allowing audience members to remove the sword, adding to the risk of injury.

Side effects and injuries

According to the first comprehensive medical study of sword swallowing injuries, "Sword swallowing and its side effects" published in the December 2006 British Medical Journal by Dr. Brian Witcombe and SSAI president Dan Meyer, most serious sword swallowing injuries and fatalities occurred after minor injuries or while attempting a feat beyond that of a "normal" sword swallow. "One swallower lacerated his pharynx when trying to swallow a curved sabre, a second lacerated his esophagus and developed pleurisy after being distracted by a misbehaving macaw on his shoulder, and a belly dancer suffered a major haemorrhage when a bystander pushed dollar bills into her belt causing three blades in her oesophagus to scissor."

The most common injury reported by sword swallowing practitioners were sore throats — dubbed "sword throats" in the business — when first learning, after frequent consecutive performances, or after swallowing curved swords or several swords at once. Swallowing multiple swords simultaneously over time can also lead to distension of the esophagus. Less common are reports of lower chest pain as a result of injuries suffered from practicing the "drop." Such injuries rarely require medical attention; the performers simply refrain from swallowing swords for a time. A minor injury may predispose the performer to sustaining a more major one; these more serious injuries include perforation of the esophagus, stomach, heart, lungs, and other organs in proximity to the path of the sword, as well as intestinal bleeding. Based on ongoing research by Witcombe and Meyer, at least 29 deaths have been reported as a result of sword swallowing injuries since 1880. As a result of their research, Witcombe and Meyer were awarded the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.

Medical case reports

• A 59-year-old man experienced chest pain and severe dysphagia following practice for his sword swallowing act. An esophageal perforation was found and surgically repaired; 19 days later a leak at the site required a transhiatal esophagectomy with a left cervical esophagogastrostomy. The patient recovered normally, but ceased the practice of sword swallowing.
• A 27-year-old woman reported neck pain and a single episode of hematemesis (vomiting blood) after pricking her throat while practicing her sword swallowing act with a sharp dagger. The injury was found to be immediately below the esophageal sphincter, and the patient was admitted to intensive care and placed on intravenous antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor. She recovered well and returned to all previous activities with the exception of sword swallowing.

Contributions to Science

The abilities of sword-swallowers have proven useful to the progress of medical knowledge, specifically in the development and advancement of upper endoscopy.

In 1868 Dr. Adolf Kussmaul of Freiburg, Germany performed the first esophagoscopy on a sword-swallower using a rigid 47 cm tube, mirrors, and a gasoline lamp. The apparatus, an early endoscope, allowed him to examine the esophagus and the fundus of the stomach.

In 1897, Dr. Stevens, a Scottish physician, performed digestive experiments with a sword swallower assistant; small metal tubes, pierced with holes and filled with meat, were swallowed and after a time regurgitated, allowing Stevens to examine the extent of the digestion that had taken place.

In 1906 Dr. Cremer performed the first electrocardiogram on a professional sword swallower in Wales by passing an electrode down the sword swallower's esophagus. This approach has since been proven useful by numerous studies; esophageal recording at a location in proximity to the heart improves signal detection.

In 1908, the American Journal of Medical Sciences reported an oesophagoscopy upon an American sword swallower in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

In the 1930s, sword swallower Delno Fritz tested a bronchialscope for doctors in Pennsylvania, and later died from pneumonia that developed as a result of a screw that dislodged from the bronchialscope and lodged in his lung.

In December 2004, sword swallower Dan Meyer worked with Dr. Edwin Donnelly, Dr. Ken Niermann, and other physicians and radiologists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville TN USA to capture fluoroscopic (moving x-ray) video of the act of sword swallowing to aid in studying swallowing disorders. The resulting fluoroscopic video was aired on the Discovery Health Channel episode "I Survived Impaling"

From 2003 to 2006, the first-known comprehensive medical research study was conducted on the known remaining sword swallowers around the world by a British/American research team consisting of Dr Brian Witcombe, consultant radiologist at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester, England, and Dan Meyer, president and executive director of the Sword Swallowers Association International. During their study, Witcombe and Meyer conducted research on the known surviving sword swallowers worldwide, studied their techniques for learning, injuries and subsequent treatment, with the results compiled into a research paper published in the British Medical Journal.

In January 2006, Meyer worked with physicians and researchers in swallowing disorders at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville TN USA to explore whether the techniques involved in sword swallowing could be used to help patients who suffer from swallowing disorders such as dysphagia or achalasia or who had suffered from stroke or severe throat trauma and had difficulty in swallowing as a result. Fluoroscopic video can be seen here.

In December 2006, the British Medical Journal published the first internationally recognized comprehensive medical research study on sword swallowing injuries entitled "Sword swallowing and its side effects". Results of the study show that sword swallowing injuries are more likely to occur when multiple swords are swallowed, when unusual feats are performed beyond the scope of a "regular” sword swallow, or "after a previous minor injury when injured tissue is tender and swollen".

As a result of their research, Witcombe and Meyer were awarded the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.

In 2007 sword swallower Dai Andrews worked alongside Dr. Sharon Caplan and other physicians at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore MD USA. The study was conducted to determine whether the techniques involved in sword swallowing could be used to help patients who suffer from achalasia or those who had suffered severe throat trauma and were having trouble swallowing as a result. The Fluoroscopic video, (Video x-ray) can be seen here.

Sword swallowing today

SSAI

Formed in 2001 and officially launched in 2002, the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) is a private association designed to preserve the art of sword swallowing and network performers, both amateur and professional, around the world.

World Sword Swallowers' Day

Beginning in 2007, the last Saturday of each February has been proclaimed annual "World Sword Swallower's Day", which serves to further the purpose of SSAI by fostering worldwide appreciation for this unique art, honoring veteran sword swallowers, and raising awareness of contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of science and medicine.

Requirements

A potential sword swallower must meet official criteria in order to be recognized by and qualify for membership into SSAI. Each potential member must be capable of swallowing a solid steel sword blade under the following specifications:

• Swords: All swords must pass inspection by officials and witnesses
• Blades: Blades must be non-retractable, non-collapsible solid steel
• Length: Blades must measure at least 16 inches (40 cm) in length
• Width: Blades must measure at least 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) in width
• Age: Must be at least 18 years of age

Video and other verification in addition to an application are required to complete the membership process.

Notable Sword Swallowers

Among the ranks of contemporary sword swallowers are Red Stuart, Dan Meyer, Brad Byers, Johnny Fox, Dai Andrews, Natasha Veruschka, Todd Robbins, Mr. Pennygaff, Thom Selectomy, Thomas Blackthorne, István Betyár, the Space Cowboy, Matthew Henshaw, Murrugun The Mystic (Scott Nelson), Brett Loudermilk, Travis Fessler, Erik Kloeker, Matt the Knife, Chris Steele, Gordo Gamsby, Lucky Diamond Rich, Charles Knight, Damien Blade, The Enigma, Lizard Man, Bill Berry, Fred Kahl, Ryan Stock, Jewels, Amy Saunders (Miss Behave), Josh Routh, Brianna Belladonna (Brianne Young), "Morgue" and Hans Rosling.

Feats

Space Cowboy swallowing a sword attached to a metal bar from which weights are suspended

• 2002 - 19 sword swallowers swallowed 50 swords simultaneously at the 2002 Sword Swallowers' convention to set a group Guinness World Record™ for the "Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing Swords Simultaneously".

• 2004 - Natasha Veruschka set the women's record for most swords swallowed at once, having swallowed 13 swords at once at the 3rd Annual Sword Swallower's Convention on September 3, 2004.

• 2007 - On May 18, 2007, Dan Meyer swallowed a 30-inch sword with 24-inch blade while submerged 20 feet underwater in a tank of 88 sharks and stingrays for Ripley's Believe It or Not at Ripley Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, SC USA.

• 2008 - In 2008, Brett Loudermilk swallowed a total of 37,500 swords

• 2008 - Ryan Stock set the record for "Heaviest Vehicle pull by a sword swallower". He pulled a 1696.44 kg 2002 Audi Quattro 6.38m in 20.53 seconds, using two chains attached from the vehicle's chassis to the sword's hilt, while it was down his throat.

• 2009 - In honor of World Sword Swallower's Day 2009, Red Stuart swallowed 50 swords simultaneously on February 28, 2009, breaking his previous records of 25 and 34 swords.

• 2009 - Dai Andrews swallowed a sword that was curved 120 degrees from point to hilt. This record was certified as an official Guinness World Record™ in 2009, and included in the print edition of The Guinness Book of World Records in 2012.

• 2010 - Dan Meyer swallowed a 37.5 inch sword with hilt heated to over 1500 Fahrenheit red hot and 7 swords at once under fluoroscope at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN on The History Channel program Stan Lee's Superhumans.

• 2010 - On March 25, 2010, Dan Meyer swallowed a 21 inch sword while submerged underwater for the Guinness World Records™ television program "Lo Show Dei Record" in Rome Italy. Meyer broke that record by swallowing a 30-inch sword with 24-inch blade while submerged underwater, then set a new Guinness World Record™ for the "Most Swords Swallowed Underwater" by swallowing both swords together underwater at once.

External links

• Sword Swallowers Association International
• Sword Swallowing to the Hilt
• World Almanac
• How Sword Swallowing Works
• Sword Swallowing Frequently Asked Questions
• Sword Swallowing X-rays
• Sword Swallowers Hall of Fame, History & Performers
• Sword Swallowing World Records
• World Sword Swallower's Day
• Sword Swallowing History & Performers