The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-10
THE ART or SWORD SWALLOWING
French Writer VOuches for the
Genuineness of the Act and En-
plains IL.
From the Literary Digest.

Commences of the Act and En-
plains Ii.
From the Literary Digest.
That the mucous membrane of the throat
is extremely delicate, any one who has
had a physician examine his throat by
pressing back the tongue with a spoon
can testify; yet it is possible so to over
come this delicacy by practice that the
Introduction of a solid substance is fol-
lowed by not the least muscular contrac-
ton Such state is reached by the pro-
fessional sword swallowers, who are not
mere tricksters. as some people think
but actually perform the marvellous feats
that they appear to do We translate from
the Revue Scientifque'' paris, Sept y
an account by G.. Nariot of this curious
profession and the training necessary to
enter it. with some facts due to observa-
tiOn of one of its shining lights:
Every one has seen the extraordinary
exercises of the acrobats known under
the common name of sword swallowers.,
With incredible boldness these men thrust
quickly through the mouth and into the
interior Of the body cutlasses, straight or
curved swords, and bayonets. Experts
can even place the barrel of the gun on
the bayOnet and balance the weapon, the
breech in the air, while the bayOnet pene-
trates to unknown depths. Others swallow
a sword bayOEct with its scabbard, and
draw out first the sword, then the scab-
bard.
Il have heard several persons express
| doubts and reservations regarding the
good faith of the sword swallowers; it is
quite commonly believed that they use
spring swords, and that the blade does
not descend so deeD as 1t seems: others
| think that by skilful piece of sleight-of-
hand, an undetected trick, the blade IS
/ hidden and not really swallowed. To do
| justice to these poor acrobats. their ex-
! ercises, which astonish the public, are sim
| cere; the sword blades are really thrust
! down the oesophagus and into the stom-
| ach, When we analyze exactly the methods
/ or the sword swalowers we see that there
/ is nothing mysterious in them, and that
/ the natural conformation of the organs
| perfectly permits the introduction of vol
! digestive passages.
Il have had occasion to examine re-
Gently one Of the best known sword sWal-
! with good grace to all my examinations,
/ l was able to form a very clear and
/ precise idea of the manner in which
| he accomplished his feats.
! He is a man of 80 years 165 meters
/ % teet inches) high. The greatest
! length of the instruments that he thrust
/ into his stomach is 81 centimeters COS
/ lnches). The majority of his knives and
! swords are not so long; they measure
| between 40 and 50 centimeters DC and 1875
/ inches). Their size is varied from that
of a triangular bayoner ~ centimeters
! ga inch) up to 3 centimeters q lis inches),
the width of a large hunting knife.
ease sword bayonet of the old chasse-
/ pot model, and even a portion of a cav
airy saber. All these weapons are dull
as well at the point as on the edges;
| does not prevent their use.
| This is how he proceeds: After hav-
| ing bent the head far back, so that the
occiput rests on the cervical column, he
| opens his mouth wide; with the right
| hand he introduces the point of the
| sword as far as the rear wall of the phar-
less time than it takes to tell it, he
! thrusts the blade down the oesophagus to
C2 to Is inches. I have been astounded
| at the rapidity and deXterity of the OPP
| Grafton. The sword cannot be left in
| place longer than twelve to fifteen Sec
! the blade. Respiration is suspended, and
| the heart beats quicker, and after fifteen
seconds at the most the sword must be
How far down does the point Of the
| sword go? BY measuring the length and
| applying the measuring tape to the body
| was in the cavity of the stomach. The
/ muscles of the abdomen were, too tense
| to admit of feeling the sword from with
out, but by pressing ust over the stom-
! ach the sword could be made to move
He also swallows swords while lying
down. and then rises and withdraws them.
sword while standing, he lies down and
takes it out. But in these exercises he
! does not use weapons more Ilan thirty
| centimeters twelve inches) long; he is
| afraid of wounding himself with longer
| ones when he bends and moves his body.
This particularly proves indirectly that
| the point of the longer sword is well in
| the stomach when the man is upright.
| mo lateral movement of the head, the
neck or the spine is possible while the
| sword is in place. The trunk can be
bent forward, but the bending must be
| from the hip joints.
"'The man has been accustomed to this
-t tina Of
| more than twenty years and has never
! been injured by it. He swallows swords
/ just after eating or drinking. When he
/ withdraWs the point from the stomach he
| has never noticed particles of food on
/ it, only a little mucus. The oesophagus
does not seem to be permanently dilated.
During the course of a day he repeats
| his feat about a hundred times without
/ real fatigue. Sometimes says he. I am
/ hoarse for two or three days, when nv
/ performances have been too long He
enjoys good health, and he is sober for
/ good reason. My hand INST not trernbie
| he says; when have taken a glass too
] much l can work no longer
He has given lessons in sword syva1-
/ lowing, for this odd accomplishment has
/ it's teachers and pupils. He himself was
trained by a celebrated acrobat who IL
I appears, made an extraordinary i17nras
/ sion in the circuses where he performed
1 His pupil yet speaks almost with envy of
the hight of his master, which enabled
! him to swallow swords 20 centimeters %
/ feet 4 inches long. y
absolute insensibility Of the throat is
| the sine qua non of the performances 81
/ the sword swallower. The man lust de-
/ scribed in the performance that he eri,Nes
/ makes his pupils tire out there tbroa f.
\ with tablespoon The spoon is thrI1s3
/ in till it touches the end Of the pharynx.
/ this revolts. but the pupil returns To- the
/ attack time after time for about a quar-
/ ter of an hour.
I'm the first attempts, the throat IL
I very much irritated; spasmodic contrac
ton Follows; ana some subjects are oblig-
l ed to abandon their apprenticeship. The