On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:58:51 -0500, Terry wrote:

> On Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:52:27 -0400, Goomba >
> wrote:
>
>>blake murphy wrote:
>> i
>>> have used the eating spoonful of sugar method before.
>>>
>>> your pal,
>>> blake
>>>
>>
>>My mother always swore by that cure.
>
> I seem to recall an actual physiological basis for the spoon-of-sugar
> method, something about the granular material stimulating nerve
> endings in the back of the throat. The researchers who studied that
> method wanted to do additional experiments to confirm, but couldn't
> find anyone willing to swallow a spoonful of sand...
>
> Terry

cecil's article says it has something to do with stimulation of the vagus
or phrenic nerves.

your pal,
blake