HARTSELLE, AL -- On February 28th, Sword Swallowers around the world will observe 'International Sword Swallower's Day' by doing what they do best - Swallowing swords!
Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer proclaimed the day to raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world.
Sponsored by SSAI, 'International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day' is set for the 28th in conjunction with February as 'National Swallowing Disorders Month'. This year, mayors, governors, and other governing bodies worldwide are requested to issue proclamations to officialize the day.
"We sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform sword swallowing for over 4000 years, but many people don't believe it's real, or they think the art has died out," explains Meyer. "We've established this day to promote an ancient art that is still being carried on by a few dozen surviving practitioners, to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, and to correct misconceptions and educate the public and medical professionals by putting on demonstrations for medical facilities and the media around the world."
Since some sword swallowers perform charitable work for the medical community to raise awareness of esophageal cancer, dysphagia, GERD, and other upper gastro-intestinal and swallowing disorders, SSAI is encouraging sword swallowers to put on demonstrations at medical facilities and universities during the day. Sword swallowers will also perform at hospitals, nursing homes and orphanages for those who would otherwise have difficulty getting to theaters to see live performances. "The sword swallowers who participate in these activities find them rewarding," explains Meyer. "On February 28th, many people will have the opportunity to see sword swallowing firsthand who would not otherwise have a chance to witness it."
In 2006, the British Medical Journal published the first international medical study of the art entitled "Sword Swallowing and its side effects". Co-authored by Meyer and Dr. Brian Witcombe, the year-long study of sword swallowers around the world won its authors the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University. In March, the authors will appear on the 2008 Ig Nobel UK Tour at Oxford, Imperial College, and other venues in conjunction with National Science and Engineering Week sponsored by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Until this study, sword swallowers' contributions to medical science had gone largely unrecognized over the last 140 years. In 1868, a sword swallower was enlisted by Dr. Adolf Kussmaul in Germany for the first rigid endoscopy, and in 1906 a sword swallower underwent the first esophageal electrocardiogram in Wales. Other sword swallowers have been prodded and examined by doctors and medical colleges without formal recognition for years. "We want to change all that. That's why we're observing 'Sword Swallower's Awareness Day'."
"Many of us have been entertaining for years, and we love our work," explains Meyer, a Ripley's and multiple Guinness World Record holder. " 'Sword Swallowers Day' is a great opportunity for us to show the medical community and the rest of the world what we really do!"
On February 28th, sword swallowers will perform around the world, with some setting individual and small group records. Immediately after the day is over, sword swallowers will be asked to submit a report of their activities to SSAI for review and consideration for a group record. "As a rule, most of us usually perform individually," Meyer says. "'International Sword Swallower's Day' gives us a chance to all work together to be part of something much bigger."
The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International, founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world, and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com.
The medical community is abuzz - there's been a breakthrough.
You flip on the TV. Sure, you've seen them before, but there's something about press conferences you find irresistible. The throng of eager reporters, the normally reclusive scientists clad in impeccably pressed, pure white lab coats, exhibiting an air of exuberance befitting their first public sighting in five years. You're not sure what's up, but you can tell it's going to be big.
Pan left.
An intruder. A middle-aged man sporting a growth of whiskers smiles mischievously. He steps into the light, tosses back a cape, revealing a red and navy pirate outfit. Though flashy, the swashbuckler's colorful costume stands out in stark contrast to the sterile scientific environment of black and white. He draws a 3-foot sword from his scabbard, tilts back his head, and plunges the length of the blade down his throat.
The scientists erupt in wild applause.
Science and swords may seem an odd pair. But, without the contribution of sword swallowers, we may not have some of today's most critical diagnostic tools. Sword swallowers rigorously train themselves to ignore the body's natural gag reflex, making them the perfect test subjects.
February 28, 2008 is International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day. In their honor, and to gain insight into their medical contributions, let's take a closer look at the development of the endoscope.
Today's flexible endoscopes are widely used by physicians to visually inspect various internal aspects of the body, including the esophagus, the nasal passage, the colon (yikes!), and the respiratory tract. Man's interest in getting a look inside the human body dates back centuries, and a prototype of an endoscope was discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
But it was not until 1868 that a physician first peered through an endoscope directly into a human stomach. Eureka! Dr. Adolph Kussmaul, a renowned German physician, developed several innovative diagnostic procedures. But, when it came to fashioning a functioning endoscope, the challenge seemed beyond his reach.
He'd read of the development, by Antoine Jean Desormeaux in France, of a small tube to examine the urinary tract and bladder. He began work on a similar design for studying the stomach, but his progress soon faltered. Then, the hand of fate swept in. His assistant, while enjoying a pint at a local inn after a hard day's work, was captivated by the evening's performer – a sword swallower.
He gulped down his pint and raced back to tell Dr. Kussmaul what he'd witnessed.
Kussmaul quickly set about designing a prototype based on the sword swallower's act. He meticulously sketched out the specifications - a rigid 18-inch stainless steel tube, one-half inch in diameter. He'd illuminate it with an external alcohol-turpentine lamp, like Desormeaux. He took the drawings to an instrument maker, a skilled craftsman, and the resulting endoscope was perfect.
Kussmaul's device was revolutionary. Interest in peering into the very core of the human body spread quickly, and he was asked to demonstrate the endoscope in Freiburg at a meeting of the Society of Naturalists. But, how could he possibly do so? Where would he find someone capable of serving as a test subject? Yes, of course – he would take the sword swallower along.
This rudimentary beginning laid the foundation for the modern, flexible endoscope. Dr. Kussmaul and his sword-swallowing associate toured extensively, giving demonstrations at leading hospitals, and soon even Desormeaux was using an endoscope to examine esophageal disorders.
Men of steel. In 1894, sword swallower Chevalier Cliquot swallowed 14 swords at one time, stunning the physicians at New York's Metropolitan Throat Hospital so much, that one doctor impulsively rushed in and removed the swords at once, causing lacerations that left the performer incapacitated for months. In the 1930s Delno Fritz made the ultimate sacrifice for science. He died of complications from testing a bronchialscope. During the testing a screw came loose and lodged in his lung, resulting in pneumonia and his untimely demise.
Today there are less than a few dozen surviving sword swallowers left actively performing around the world. Gone are the days of the traveling sideshows where they plied their dangerous craft. Gone are the acts of daring that tantalize all, traumatize the young, and terrify the fainthearted. Gone are the magical days of covering one's face, not daring to look, but being unable to turn away.
Or, are they?
February 28, 2008 is International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day. Dan Meyer, Executive Director of the Sword Swallower's Association International (SSAI), said the day is being held in conjunction with February's National Swallowing Awareness Month.
"We sword swallowers have been risking our lives to perform the ancient art of sword swallowing for over 4000 years, but many people don't believe it's real, or they think that the art has died out," Meyer explained. "We have chosen this day to honor veteran sword swallowers, to raise awareness of the medical contributions that sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, and to correct misconceptions about the art by performing for medical facilities and the media around the world."
Meyer and his co-author Dr. Brian Witcombe are the recipients of the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine. The Ig Nobel Prizes are presented each year at Harvard for discoveries that, "first make people laugh, and then make them think." They won the award for their article, "Sword Swallowing and its side effects," published in the British Medical Journal in 2006. The pair will make presentations at scientific events during the 2008 British Ig Nobel Tour in March, bring a bit of swashbuckler's magic to the otherwise scholarly gatherings.
If you listen carefully, you might hear the "schwing" of a sword being pulled from its scabbard… And if you look closely, even though you might not see a flashy swashbuckler's outfit, you may recognize a mischievous smile behind a hilt protruding among the white labcoats…
Science and swords… perhaps not such an odd pair after all…
To learn more about the art and science of sword swallowing, or to inquire about a demonstration on the 28th, visit the Sword Swallower's Association International website at www.swordswallow.org.
HARTSELLE, AL -- If you've had an x-ray, an endoscopy, a fluoroscopy, or an electrocardiogram, you might want to thank a sword swallower!
And 'Sword Swallower's Day' on February 28th is just the day to do it!
According to the Sword Swallowers Association Int'l (SSAI), February 28th is 'International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day', a day set aside at the end of February, 'National Swallowing Disorders Month,' when sword swallowers around the world will swallow swords all together to raise awareness of the contributions that sword swallowers have made, not only in the art of sword swallowing, but also in the field of medical science.
Medical Facts and Trivia about Sword Swallowing - Did you know?
Sword Swallowing is a 4000 year old art that originated in India around 2000 BC.
The average person swallows about 600 times per day – 350 while awake, 200 while eating, and about 50 times while asleep.
The average swallow uses 50 pairs of muscles and can take from 3-23 seconds to complete.
Sword swallowers use mind-over-matter techniques to repress the natural gag reflex in the back of the mouth, the peristalsis reflex in the throat, and the retch reflex in the stomach to "swallow" solid steel sword blades from 15-30 inches in length.
Sword swallowing can take from 2 years to 7 years to learn, and even after years of practice, some people never learn to master it.
The longest sword swallowed on record was 33” long swallowed by George the Giant.
The most swords swallowed at once was 25 swords swallowed by Red Stuart in 2005.
SSAI reports that there are on average between 4-6 serious sword swallowing related injuries reported around the world each year that require medical attention and hospitalization, with dozens more that go unreported each year.
Treatment of sword swallowing injuries can cost up to $23,000-$76,000 per injury.
This might help explain why there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today!
Medical History of Sword Swallowing over the past 140 years 1868 - Dr. Adolph Kussmaul enlists a sword swallower to develop the first rigid endoscope in Freiburg, Germany. Kussmaul was so pleased with his success that he took the sword swallower with him to perform demonstrations in various clinics, and later enlisted other sword swallowers due to their ability to voluntarily relax the cricopharyngeal muscle and form a straight line from the pharynx to the stomach, allowing passage of the rigid endoscope.
1894 – Doctors at the Metropolitan Throat Hospital in New York are amazed when sword swallower Chevalier Cliquot swallows 14 swords at one time. When the sword swallower appeared to be in pain, Dr. G.B. Hope rushed forward and yanked out the swords at once, causing lacerations in the esophagus and injuring the performer, leaving him incapacitated for months. After recovery, Cliquot performed lectures for doctors at the Rush Medical College in Chicago, and the University of Liverpool in England, among other places.
1897 - Dr. Stevens, a Scottish physician, conducts experiments on digestion by enlisting a sword swallower to swallow metallic tubes pierced with holes filled with pieces of meat. After a length of time, the sword swallower disgorged the tubes and the doctor observed the degree of digestion that had taken place. This sword swallower also showed the doctors to what extent the pharynx could be stretched, resulting in the invention of the tube of Faucher, the esophageal sound, lavage, and illumination of the stomach by electric light.
1906 – Dr. Cremer performs first esophageal electrocardiogram on a sword swallower in Wales
1908 - In an article in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, Dr. Hald reports his observations in esophagoscopy in a sword swallower. The esophagus had been largely distended due to the sword swallower's practice, and the cricoidean zone of the pharynx was patent and larger than normal. There was an excoriation on the posterior wall of the cricoid cartilage. Surprisingly, the patient could not support the examination any better than other subjects, his esophagus apparently accustomed to flat foreign bodies, but not to cylindrical ones.
1930s – Sword swallower Delno Fritz dies of pneumonia developed as a result of a screw that came loose and lodged in his lung while testing a bronchialscope for doctors in Pennsylvania.
In 2006 the British Medical Journal published the first international medical study on sword swallowing entitled "Sword Swallowing and its side effects". Results of the findings showed that sword swallowing injuries are most likely to occur when multiple swords are swallowed, when performing unusual feats beyond the scope of a “regular” sword swallow, or after a previous minor injury when tissue is tender and swollen.
The 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to sword swallower Dan Meyer, Executive Director of SSAI, and his co-author Dr. Brian Witcombe, SSAI Medical Advisor, at Harvard University in October for their paper "Sword swallowing and its side effects". In March 2008, sword swallowing will be featured on the 2008 Ig Nobel Tour of the UK at Oxford University, Imperial College and other locations around the UK as part of National Science and Engineering Week sponsored by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
For 'Sword Swallower's Day' on February 28th, sword swallowers around the world will perform medical demonstrations for doctors, nurses and patients at hospitals, medical centers and universities to dispel myths about the art, to raise awareness about contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medical science, and to honor veteran sword swallowers, with some performers attempting to set individual and small group records. When the day is over, participating sword swallowers are asked to document their activities in reports to be submitted to SSAI for review and consideration for an SSAI group record.
The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes in order to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International, founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com.
To schedule a local sword swallower for a medical demonstration, interview or other appearance in your area for International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day on February 28th, contact SSAI at ssai@swordswallow.org.
To schedule a sword swallower for an event during the 2008 Ig Nobel UK Tour in conjunction with National Science and Engineering Week (March 6-15, 2008), contact Marc Abrahams at +1(617) 491-4437 or e-mail marca@improbable.com
HARTSELLE, AL, Feb 28, 2008 – In conjunction with “International Sword Swallower's Day”, Sword Swallowers Association Int'l (SSAI) Executive Director Dan Meyer today announced the appointment of Dr. Brian Witcombe of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital as SSAI's Medical Advisor.
“SSAI is extremely proud to welcome Dr. Witcombe to our staff,” Meyer announced. “Not only does Dr. Witcombe come from a distinguished background in the British medical community, but he also brings with him a unique understanding of the ins and outs of sword swallowing. Two years of researching sword swallowing have given Dr. Witcombe a wealth of knowledge about the risks, injuries and side effects we sword swallowers face.”
Witcombe, who qualified from St Thomas Hospital in London in 1966 and undertook his radiological training in Oxford, served in academic posts in Cape Town Africa and Denver, Colorado before accepting a post at the University of Manchester, where he became Senior Lecturer in Radiology. In 1980, Witcombe was appointed to his present post of Consultant Radiologist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where he maintains an interest in paediatric radiology, cross-sectional imaging and gastro-intestinal radiology.
Witcombe's interest in sword swallowing was stimulated when he realized that little about the patho-physiology and side-effects of sword swallowing was documented in medical literature.
In 2005, Witcombe began researching the injuries and side effects associated with sword swallowing, and in the process, struck up an acquaintance with sword swallower Dan Meyer, Executive Director of the Sword Swallowers Association International.
After exchanging hundreds of e-mails on sword swallowing with Meyer over nearly two years of research, Witcombe submitted an exploratory article on the subject to the British Medical Journal. In December 2006, the BMJ published their penetrating article, “Sword Swallowing and its side effects”. Several months later, the team and their paper were awarded the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University.
“The fact that Dr. Witcombe comes to us with years of research on sword swallowing gives him a depth of understanding of our unique field of sword swallowing that other doctors don't have,” said SSAI Associate Director Travis Fessler. “The fact that Dr. Witcombe has been published in the prestigious British Medical Journal and honored with the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for research on sword swallowing are honors that have special meaning to us as sword swallowers!”
“Not only does Dr. Witcombe come to us with a distinguished background in the medical field, but he also has the distinction of being recognized internationally as one of the top medical experts in the field of sword swallowing injuries, side effects and treatment,” Meyer elaborated. “We are highly honored that he has accepted the role of Medical Advisor for SSAI.”
“And now Dr. Witcombe has the unique added distinction of being the only SSAI member who is not a sword swallower!” Meyer added with a smile.
Witcombe credits his sword swallowing research with stimulating a broader interest into culinary radiology and applied anatomy in the entertainment industry. "The research I conducted for the article made me aware of the unique challenges sword swallowers face in their occupation, and the medical complications and side effects they risk every day they perform sword swallowing,” Witcombe explained. “It has also opened my eyes to the misconceptions held by the general public about sword swallowing, and how little is known about sword swallowing injuries in the medical community today.”
“Because of my study of sword swallowing injuries, I am now keenly aware of the ins and outs of sword swallowing, and seem to have become a magnet for attracting information about injuries from both sword swallowers and the medical community. I hope to be able to use this role to compile and disseminate more accurate information on sword swallowing injuries in both medical and general literature.”
Dubbed the “Doctor of Sword Swallowing”, Witcombe has been invited to share his expertise on sword swallowing injuries on the March 2008 Ig Nobel Tour of the UK at Oxford University, Imperial College, Newcastle Centre for Life, and the Guardian Newsroom as part of the British National Science and Engineering Week sponsored by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Witcombe plans to retire from practice in spring 2008 allowing him more time for his three grandchildren and his interests of hill-walking and vegetable gardening. However, he will retain contact with the medical community through membership in local scientific and professional societies and as Chairman of the league of Friends of Gloucester Hospitals.
“I'm excited about working closely with SSAI, and I look forward to meeting more sword swallowers and learning about their injuries,” Witcombe explains. “I hope to be able to use my medical background, not only to help SSAI by providing a link to the medical community, but also to help facilitate communication with the medical community when injuries occur, and to coordinate medical demonstrations and research to further study swallowing disorders, dysphagia, oesophageal cancer, and other upper GI disorders."
The Sword Swallowers Association International was founded in 2001 to preserve the ancient art of sword swallowing, and is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world, and maintains a sister site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com. Contact us immediately to schedule a sword swallower for medical demonstrations, interviews and events in your area for “International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day” on February 28, 2008, or to schedule Witcombe and Meyer for speaking engagements on the Ig Nobel Tour of the UK March 6-14, 2008 and other events.
HARTSELLE, AL -- On 'Sword Swallower's Awareness Day' February 28th, the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) will honor veteran sword swallowers to help raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world by doing what they do best - Swallowing swords!
Sponsored by SSAI, 'International Sword Swallower's Awareness Day' is set for the 28th in conjunction with February as 'National Swallowing Disorders Month'. “We established 'Sword Swallower's Day' to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, and to honor veteran performers who have contributed to our field over the years. Today we're honoring the two oldest sword swallowers alive, Jim Ball and Johnny Meah, with SSAI Lifetime Achievement awards.”
Born into the sword swallowing family of Prince Lucky Ball and Estelline Pike, Jim Lucky Ball II learned to swallow swords from his mother in 1948 while in the 7th grade at the age of 12, which earned him the billing of “the world's youngest sword swallower". “I was raised in a show-business family, and since I couldn't sing, dance or play the piano, and my knife throwing was so erratic and very few people were willing to stand for me, I was trained to swallow swords.” Ball explains. “This just goes to show what some people will do to be in show business!”
In 1958, Ball and his mother performed together with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden. The duo later stumped panelists on the TV program "What's My Line?". At the age of 72, Ball has held the distinction of being the world's youngest sword swallower, the world's oldest sword swallower, and the one who has performed it the longest at over 60 years.
Johnny Meah began learning sword swallowing in 1955 while clowning with the Hunt Brothers Circus, but didn't start performing professionally as a sword swallower until 1957. During the next two decades, Meah worked with numerous circuses and sideshows, but garnered the majority of his notoriety as a banner painter, forcing him to balance his focus between the two arts. In 1980 Meah returned to performing full-time with the Hall & Christ Worlds of Wonders Show.
Swallowing swords enabled Meah to develop his presentation skill, which ultimately enabled him to expand his performance career beyond conventional sideshows. "I've always gone more for laughs than sensational stuff", says Meah.
His advice for new entertainers learning any of the sideshow arts is simple. "Pushing the envelope is fine if you're putting together a routine of juggling. If you screw up and drop something in your juggling act, you get a few "boos", and can recover with some quick-witted patter. But with sword swallowing, you must have 100% confidence in your ability to do whatever you claim you're going to do." Meah advises. "If you mess up, your throat is a poor substitute for the floor where dropped juggling props wind up, ...and the recovery time is a LOT longer!"
At 71, Meah is semi-retired and living in Safety Harbor, FL with his wife, Mary, where they enjoy the theater and studying Eastern philosophy. "I've enjoyed performing as a sword swallower for over 5 decades, and I look forward to continuing the age-old art for many more years," Meah says. "I'm proud to be honored by SSAI, and I commemorate SSAI on putting together 'International Sword Swallower's Day' to help raise awareness of what we sword swallowers do, and to promote sword swallowing for future audiences," Meahs says.
"All together now, heads back, swords up and... swallow!"
The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International, founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com.
LOCAL SWORD SWALLOWERS AVAILABLE for interviews, comments, and medical demonstrations. Contact us for additional information on 'International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day' or to schedule a local sword swallower for events in your area for February 28th, or for the Ig Nobel Tour of the UK from March 6-15.
© 2008 sword swallowers association international