Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1878 — Sword-Swallowing in Earnest. [ARTICLE]

Sword-Swallowing in Earnest.

With a view to allaying skepticism, M. Benedetti, the sword-swallower, gave a private seance on Saturday last to some members of the medical profession in his room at the Westminster Aquarium. Since 13 years of age, it seems, this gentleman has been fighting nature with the sword until he has pushed the stomach down into the groin, thus elongating the esophagus to an unnatural extent. As a rule he prefers taking food before the exhibition begins, as it makes the internal sheath more agreeable to the reception of cold steel, and protects the coats of the stomach from being pierced with the sword’s point. A physician who was present told me he distinctly felt the sword recede as it was withdrawn from the stomach lying quite in the groin. The M. D.s present found his throat a good deal inflamed, and gaye him a gargle, —London World.