Houdini finally held up his hand. “That will do,” he said. 13/
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Houdini was in almost unbearable agony. People have long argued if Whitehead’s punches caused Houdini’s appendicitis or if he already had felt sharp pains of appendicitis and had chosen to ignore it. 14/
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In either case, there was an easy solution. Even in 1926, removing an appendix was not an especially difficult procedure. Had Houdini gone to the doctor, his life undoubtedly would have been saved. But he refused because ... he was Houdini. 15/
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Houdini could not admit pain. He certainly could not admit that a punch to the stomach had wounded him. The next night, after the show, he was barely able to stand. He sweated through his clothes. He refused to go the hospital. 16/
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His assistant called ahead to a doctor at the next tour stop in Detroit. When Houdini arrived, his temperature was 102 degrees. He could not stop shivering. The doctor demanded Houdini check into the hospital. Houdini refused again. The show must go on. 16/
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Houdini went out to perform in Detroit. His temperature had risen to 104. He had spent the day under covers. He barely made it through the first act and collapsed at intermission. He went out for the second act. He collapsed again. 17/
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Finally, he was taken back to the hotel. A doctor, Charles Kennedy, was there and insisted — against Houdini’s will — on taking Houdini to the hospital. There, Doctors were able to remove his ruptured appendix. But peritonitis had set in. 18/
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We interrupt this slow moving thread to tell you that The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini is available as an audiobook, read by the excellent actor Jacques Roy. It sounds way better than If I had done it.https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Life-and-Afterlife-of-Harry-Houdini/Joe-Posnanski/9781508297680 …
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Replying to @JPosnanski
Hey Joe, serious question: is the book appropriate for kids/preteens/early teens interested in magic?
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Replying to @baseballcrank
It totally is. Wrote it with young people in mind too.
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Thanks! My 13yo daughter is into magic, even has a hamster named Houdini.
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Replying to @baseballcrank @JPosnanski
It's fantastic, Dan. Adults and young adults will love it.
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