Saturday, December 23, 2006

Sword Swallowing And Its Side Effects


Just when you thought it couldn't get any stranger in the latest issue of the British Medical National Enquirer, er, Journal:
Sword swallowers more likely to be injured when distracted or swallowing "unusual" swords

Sword swallowers are more likely to sustain an injury--such as a perforation of the oesophagus-- if they are distracted or are using multiple or unusual swords [
NO! Really??], finds a study in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ.

Sword swallowers who can swallow a non-retractable solid steel blade at least two centimetres wide and 38 centimetres long are recognised by the SSAI (Sword Swallowers' Association International). Despite the obvious dangers of the profession, English medical literature contains only two case reports of injury resulting from sword swallowing.
Other words of wisdom from the original article by Witcombe & Meyer:
Sword swallowers know their occupation is dangerous.

Sore throats are common, particularly while the skill is being learnt or when performances are too frequent.

Sword swallowers without healthcare coverage expose themselves to financial as well as physical risk.
Oh, but it gets even better!!


One of the authors (DM) swallowing seven swords

Read more!

Witcombe B, Meyer, D (2006). Sword swallowing and its side effects. BMJ 333: 1285-1287.

To the Hilt Sword Swallowing

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4 Comments:

At December 26, 2006 7:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for running the story on our year-and-a-half survey and study. We were pleased to get responses to our survey from 46 remaining sword swallowers around the world and all the information we received from the survey and subsequent study.

Dan Meyer
Executive Director
Sword Swallowers Association Int'l
http://www.swordswallow.org
Sword Swallowing to the Hilt
http://www.swordswallow.com

 
At December 27, 2006 11:09 AM, Blogger The Neurocritic said...

Thanks for stopping by, Dan! Swallowing seven swords is an incredible feat, indeed!

 
At December 29, 2006 10:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps this article was a metaphor for something else??

 
At December 30, 2006 10:07 AM, Blogger The Neurocritic said...

Nikeroo - um, I think the study was really about sword swallowing and not something else...

 

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