How gluttonous civic officials made room for dessert

‘Overstuffed at state banquets, yet still desiring dessert civic officials were known to squirt cold water into an ear in the hope of stimulating gastric emptying.’ Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

I very much enjoyed Linda Geddes’ article on the vagus nerve (The key to depression, obesity, alcoholism – and more? Why the vagus nerve is so exciting to scientists, 23 August). It is, as she says, a nerve of marvellously diverse function, as we’ve known for some time. The auricular branch of the vagus, which, as Geddes notes, innervates the ear, used to be known as the alderman’s nerve. Apparently, civic officials, overstuffed at state banquets yet still desiring dessert, were known to squirt cold water into an ear in the hope of stimulating gastric emptying, and making space for more.

In my day, junior doctors were warned against syringing the ears of elderly patients with cold water for fear of stopping their hearts. But now a digital device attaches to your ear rather than cold water. Progress indeed.
Prof Jack Price
London

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.