Sword swallowing is an ancient performance art in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus towards the stomach. This feat is obviously not swallowing in the traditional sense; the natural processes that constitute swallowing do not take place, but are repressed in order to keep the passage from the mouth to the stomach open for the sword.
During the late 19th century and early 20th century traveling magic shows from the Orient toured Europe and America, bringing some unique twists on standard effects, some entirely new effects (the secrets of which were lusted after by American magicians), and of course sword swallowing, along with their traditional fire eating, juggling and acrobatic feats.
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