A Short History of Vomit: Part 3
Part 3
How
the Ancient and Classical Civilizations deciphered dreams with vomit
motifs will probably remain an enigma. Modern dream
interpretation,however, is rife with possible explanations for vomit
motifs. For example, if vomit is present in your dreams then this
could be an insight into your deepest feelings signaling the
subconscious need to get rid of something. However, if in your dream
you witness a person vomiting, then this might indicate that a
relative or a close friend is actually an enemy. Would that be a
wretched frenemy or retching kinfolk?
Dreams
have always been closely associated with creation myths and the
origins of a people. Birth through vomit as a culture is purged into
life is a reoccurring theme of particular societies. These cultural
groups have exalted vomit beyond the profane and made it a realm of
the gods. In Ancient Greek mythology vomit has the distinction of
protecting the existence of the some of the major Gods. The story
goes, that when Kronos, the youngest of the Titans, revolted against
his father, Ouranos, he became the supreme ruler of the cosmos. After
his marriage to Rhea, who begat him several Gods, he summarily ate
his children. By eating his children Kronos was attempting to bulwark
himself against the same trickery he used to usurp his father. This
tactic worked until the birth of his last son, Zeus. Rhea, his
mother, rushed to hide the child God away on the island of Crete; out
of site from his father Kronos. When Zeus felt he was old and capable
enough he stood up to his father and compelled him to puke out his
siblings Gods: Hestia, Hades, Demeter, Poseidon and Hera. More often
than not, the denouement of vomit tales is not a joyful birth but an
ugly death.
Vomit
induced asphyxiation (aspiration pneumonia)is reported by the
National Institute of Health to be the cause of death in US of 36,997
people annually as noted on death certificates. The
pall of vomit has been cast over pop cultural icons throughout the
modern era. Most people might assume that asphyxiation by vomit is
the comeuppance of a sybarite's foray into the excesses of humanity
like alcohol and drugs. Although this scenario has been the downfall
of many hedonistic pop music stars, it will be surprising that it
even spills over into the realm of innocuous and unthreatening pop
icons. No profession within the pop culture world provokes a “saw
that coming” response to a self-indulgent life style like that of
the musician.
The
pop musician's ethos occupies an artistic landscape of calculated
aloof observation and poetic contemplation while simultaneously
adhering to a bardic filled life of itinerancy. Rock stars like Led
Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and AC/DC singer Bon Scott were known to
be heavy alcohol drinkers. When it was reported that they had
vomited in their sleep due to an evening of heavy binging, no one was
truly awestruck. Almost a decade earlier, Jimi Hendrix, the
legendary rock guitarist, was rushed to hospital after asphyxiating
on barbiturate induced vomit. He died shortly after arriving at
hospital. As a musician Tommy Dorsey, trombone playing jazz band
leader was an atypical vomit victim. According to coroner's records,
before retiring for the night, Dorsey had eaten a big meal and then
sedated himself with pharmaceutical sleeping pills. His wife
recounted that her husband began choking in his sleep, but because of
the severe sedating effect of the sleeping pills, she was unable to
wake him as he choked to death.
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