What sword, if swallowed, will not cause harm?
Sword swallowers more likely to be injured when distracted or swallowing ‘unusual’ swords (Sword swallowing and its side effects) http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1285 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. 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. The authors set out to explore the techniques and side-effects of sword swallowing. Forty-six SSAI members took part in the study, 19 had experienced sore throats whilst learning, many had suffered lower chest pain following some performances, and six had suffered perforation of the pharynx and oesophagus, one o
