Why Do Regency Heroines Swoon?

Andrea here, musing on “the Swoon,” one of the traditional minor but memorable secondary tropes of Regency romances. Fainting is far less prevalent in today’s historical novels—or it's used for tongue-in-cheek effect—as women aren’t as apt to be portrayed weak, flighty creatures. (What self-respecting modern heroine would fall into a faint at the first sign of trouble or bad news? These days, if accosted by a villain, she would likely punch him in the nose rather than swoon and hope to be rescued by her hero!)

But all jesting aside . . . the phenomenon of fainting from an emotional trigger (shocking news, fear, anxiety, etc) is actually a real medical condition called Vasovagal syncope. It happens when the part of the nervous system that controls heart rate and blood pressure reacts to stress. The heart slows, blood pressure suddenly drops, the blood vessels widen in your legs, causing the blood to drop to the lower extremities, thus oxygen has a hard time getting to the brain. So you, um, swoon. (It’s often called the Vagal Response because the vagus nerve is involved in controlling the blood vessels, and when it’s overstimulated by stress, unpleasant things can happen!)

How do I know this? Well . . .

 

When I first started reading romance novels I used to snicker at the idea of fainting from shock, thinking it a silly, overblown invention by authors to accentuate the delicate feminine sensibilities of their heroines. And then, to my utter surprise, it actually happened to me. I happen to dislike needles. As in, really dislike needles. The idea of getting a shot has always given me the heebie-jeebies. But I simply ask to sit down when getting one, and it’s okay. One time, though, I must have been stressed about other things, because I rolled up my sleeve, and then remember starting to breath a little weirdly. The next thing I knew, the nurse was patting my cheek gently, and looking horribly distraught. “I-I  hadn’t even touched you yet!” she stammered. “And you just keeled over!”

How embarrassing to find out I’m a flighty peagoose straight out of an Ann Radcliffe gothic novel! However, I’ve learned that’s much more common than you think. I now usually warn doctors or dentists of the potential problem. Just recently, I had to have a broken tooth extracted, and knowing that having a hammer and pliers in my mouth wasn’t a happy thought, I warned him that I was prone to the Vagal Response. He laughed and said not to worry—he had it happen a lot, and was perfectly prepared with oxygen, etc. to deal with it. (I’m delighted to report that no heroics were required. I’ve learned to control it with yoga breathing.)

Now, in Regency novels, the heroines are usually revived with smelling salts or concentrated vinegar concoctions, and in doing a little research on that, I’ve discovered that the concept of shocking the system back into normal function with a sharp scent has been around since ancient times, when vinegar was used. The 13^th century saw the advent of ammonium carbonate-based “smelling salts” (no doubt discovered by alchemists dabbling in their chemical laboratories.) However, by the 18^th century, distillation methods allowed for the creation of a vinegar with a more concentrated amount of acetic acid, which made for a stronger scent. Thus vinegar became the preferred 'smelling salt" of the Regency

To “sweeten” the punch of vinegar, one could have aromatic oils blended into the vinegar. It became fashionable to have an apothecary make up such scented potions. Some ladies even went so far as to have a personal blend made up. Favorite scents included rose, lavender, mint, lemon, rosemary, juniper, mace, cinnamon and cloves.

So, how did a lady carry her vinegar? Most likely in a vinaigrette! (Though small glass bottles were also used.) These small, stylish containers came into vogue during the Regency. The high acetic acid content of Regency vinegar held the scent of the aromatic oils for months, so a viniagrette was designed to hold a small sponge soaked with perfumed vinegar. (The best quality natural sponges came from Turkey, which added to the exotic allure. They were of a very fine texture, thus a small piece could be used.)

The container itself would have a hinged, tight-fitting lid, and a delicate grille inside would hold the sponge in place. Like snuffboxes, vinaigrettes became  works of art in themselves. The most expensive ones often had a lining of glass or vitrious enamel, which is basically a layer of powdered glass, to protect the metal. (Vinaigrette makers had to be knowledgeable about which materials were susceptible to the corrosive effect of acetic acid.)

The decorative designs of vinaigrettes often celebrated a grand event, like Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar or Wellington’s triumph at Waterloo. Travel scenes were also stylish, as were floral and pastoral motifs. The containers remained very popular well into Victorian times. (It’s no wonder, as the tightly laced corsets of the era were often responsible for the breathing difficulties that cause swoons.)

So, that’s a very short short history of The Swoon, and how to be revived from one. Now I have a couple of questions for everyone: What’s your opinion of swoons in romance novels? Have they ever struck you as silly? And lastly, have you ever fainted from the Vagal Response? (I promise you won’t be featured in my next novel!)

Comments

[Mary T]

I have "full out" fainted twice in my life. First time as a child. I was at a clinic to get a TB test. It involved putting a simple patch on my back, but I didn't know that and my older brother had me so scared I just passed out. Side note: I too was scared to death of needles as a kid, but I didn't hold my fear in. The nurse once had to call a security guard in to help hold me down while I got the shot (smile).

The second time I fainted was as an adult in a dentist chair. I was scared to death but too old to cry. Now that was embarrassing. I didn't see it coming at all.

As for fainting in stories, the only one I can recall was one where the heroine was wearing a corset that was way too tight. I find it hard to believe that women were not fainting all the time wearing those things.

[Jenny]

I never really had a problem with swoons in romance novels, in fact I rather empathised, given that I went through a phase of fainting "like a Victorian maiden", as my friends dubbed it, at university. I managed to do it gracefully, knees together and just melting gently to the floor, but oh my goodness, the embarrassment when I fainted at the feet of the guy I liked!

Fascinating to see what a vinaigrette looked like, thank you so much Andrea. I'd always assumed they were more along the lines of the glass bottle you mention but never troubled to look it up.

[Andrea Penrose]

Mary, you and I are clearly kindred souls! (Though I never quite needed a security guard to hold me down!) It's hard to describe the feeling of your body just saying "No, I can't do this!"

Totally agree about the corsets! What nightmare they must have been.

[Andrea Penrose]

Jenny, it really is embarrassing, isn't it? You must have had an interlude of blood pressure incidents. I couldn't it the first time it happened, thinking how can I be such a wimp as to faint at needles?

But I suddenly stopped snickering at scenes in a book about heroines fainting at very bad news.

[Susan King]

Fascinating blog, Andrea! I'm another fainter - have keeled over many times since grade school. It's definitely embarrassing, and I've had injuries from falling. Ugh! Full medical workups have come up with nothing - just a hyper vagus nerve and just be careful ... I have sympathy for Regency and Victorian heroines! But I'm not sure I want to walk around with vinegar in my purse. ;)

[Andrea Penrose]

It's amazing how many people are prone to it, Susan. I really thought I was a total weirdo fainting from needles, but as I said, my doc has assured me it's WAY more common than one might think.

Not sure I want to walk around with vinegar in my purse either . . .but the vinaigrettes are awfully pretty!

[Karin]

Another fainter here! Sometimes it is brought on by anxiety, since some nurses found it hard to locate a vein in my arm, and the longer they poke around, the worse I feel. I have learned to tolerate needles somewhat, and it's been quite a while since I fainted due to a vagal response. However I also have low blood pressure, and the last time I fainted I was up on a ladder trying with all my strength to pull a very stubborn wisteria off of a building, on a freezing cold day. I felt myself getting dizzy and did manage to get off the ladder before I passed out, but I still gave a scare to the people I was with!

[Lil]

I've always kind of envied those heroines who can faint gracefully in moments of distress. It seems like a great way to get out of an awkward situation and make everyone feel sorry for you at the same time.

My sister faints from the vagus nerve thing. It's happened so often over the years that when she feels it about to happen she promptly gets down on the floor so she doesn't hurt herself. I have something similar which the doctor called neurocardiogenic syncope (I think that sounds more impressive than vasovagal). It was happening frequently one day, so I went to the doctor and it happened while I was on the examining table. The doctor freaked out and sent me to the emergency room. I ended up spending three days in the hospital, at the end of which I was told to avoid sitting or standing in the same position too long and drink more water.

[Misti]

The closest I've ever come to fainting was in the dentist chair when he had me tipped too far back. I could feel something happening so I made some noise and he stopped and sat me up for a bit. It was not a pleasant feeling.
I prefer my heroines to not swoon but I'm ok if side characters do it. I'm not sure I've ever read a book where the hero swooned. I'd be ok with that. :)

[Cynthia]

I was diagnosed with with a hyper Vagal nerve Response after fainting in the shower twice. Fortunately I wasn’t hurt but it was quite frightening. And embarrassing, since I took out a shower curtain both times. The doctor said I shouldn’t take hot showers anymore. Turns out I am extremely sensitive to heat and humidity. I had fainted in the middle of a basketball game played outdoors during junior high in Florida, taking out another girl as I went down. So humiliating. That was the first time. (If you don’t count the time I passed out during my bath as an infant. According to my mom I was just holding my breath!) It has happened since, when I have fainted off the backs of horses during lessons. I now live in Colorado, and would avoid Florida like the plague, except that my mom lives there. I don’t go out in the sun to sunbathe or do vigorous exercise in the heat of the day if I can avoid it. Such a little thing to affect my whole life.

[Cindy A]

Love the vinaigrettes! I always thought they were just bottles. It would be fun to find one in an antique store.

[Quantum]

I don't think this blog is aimed at me but I found it interesting. I had always assumed that ladies in novels swooned to escape embarrassing situations ... now I know it was low blood pressure or a vagus nerve! I have high blood pressure and am more likely to experience fight or flight symptoms. Is there an alcoholic alternative to vinegar? As a boy scout I tried to 'Be Prepared' ... you never know when you might encounter a lady in distress! 😉

[Sue McCormick]

I have fainted fairly often in my life. (I told a young intern that once and he grew quite alarmed until I told him it was about once every 6 to 10 years; he hadn't realized quite how old I truly was!).

I am in the class of blood pressure victims. Sorry Quantum, my blood pressure has moved from over low to over high as I have grown older, but the number of faints has not fallen off OR gotten worse. I think perhaps I respond to complete pain. I do know that the last time I fainted (somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas this winter) I was undergoing an extreme amount of pain. I could feel the faint coming, but couldn't hold it off. Luckily, I was already on the floor.

[Katja]

Fainting is not just a girl thing. My brother fainted in front of the whole congregation during his confirmation service. All the old ladies were very impressed with how seriously a fourteen year old took this important occasion and he got many cards and presents afterwards. I only fainted once from a mixture of bloodloss and pain, but I do get dizzy spells when I have a migraine, so I can sort of understand

[Miriam Bresticker]

It can actually run in families - both my brother and I have problems with fainting (or "blacking out"), though with different triggers (he was infamous for fainting at the sight of blood, among other things). I was finally diagnosed a few years ago when it started to happen in a doctor's office after a cortisone shot in my wrist - luckily, I mentioned I was starting to feel woozy, and they immediately had me lie down, then drink something sweet, and kept me around for a while until I felt better. Since then, I warn doctors/dentists if there's a chance I will feel major pain.

[Miriam Bresticker]

Oh, and it once happened to me as a teenager after getting some teeth pulled, and yes, the dentist used "smelling salts" to revive me.

[Jenny]

I'll take a whisk(e)y, Quantum ;-)
Mint imperials (a kind of hard mint sweet) used to stave of fainting fits for me, but whisky's better!

[Rosemary]

I've fainted a few times, usually from sinus infections. It's definitely a strange sensation.

As far as needles and the dentist...

For shots or blood draws, I have to watch them do it, otherwise I will have an anticipatory panic attack. Getting a shot where I can't see what they are doing is awful. My doctor knows that, when I don't object to getting a shot, I am really, really sick.

For the dentist, anything other than x-rays and an exam requires sedation. The only time I made an exception was when I had an abscessed molar, and the pain was beyond excruciating.

[Cindy D]

I am a nurse and this is a very common problem, especially around blood draws. I once was getting blood for routine tests from a pregnant woman and we were chatting while it was going on, no problems, when there was this loud thud behind me. It was her big, strong husband falling off his chair in a dead faint! Poor guy was so embarrassed, but he had a real issue with blood. (I never did hear how he handled the birth) At our OB office, we kept ammonia capsules taped to the cupboards for quick access for just such an emergency!😀

[Kareni]

What a fascinating post, Andrea. I'd always assumed the swooning of regency era women was due to lacing. I recall classmates dropping like flies when we sang carols at old age homes in Australia before the summer holidays; I suspect it was a combination of heat and odors.

[Andrea Penrose]

Karin, I totally get the anxiety "swoon." I get the heebie-jeebies thinking about the needle before it goes in. That's what knocks me out.

Low pressure is a cause in itself. I have a friend who faints if she gets out of a chair too fast. The body is a really complex organism, isn't it!

[Andrea Penrose]

LOL on the graceful swoon! I am not that artful!

They say dehydration is a big of feeling fain, too. So I think it's good to drink water before getting into a stressful situation, like the dentist chair or a shot, or blood being taken. (That one's a rough one for me. The feel of the needle in my arm, sucking blood . . . !

[Andrea Penrose]

That's interesting, Misti. I think too much blood to the head can make you woozy, too.

A fainting hero, would be very endearing!

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, my, Cynthia, you've really been hit hard by the pesky vagal nerve. At least it's not as scary when one knows why it's happening. I've gotten much better at fighting it off, as I know the very early signs and can counter it with yoga (deep) breathing.

[Andrea Penrose]

Are they lovely, Cindy? I'd love to find some antique ones, too.

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha, ha, Quantum! In historical romances, I think the heroine is often offered sherry after a faint.

But if you wish to be a VERY good Boy Scout, I agree with jenny, and would be happy to have a nice reviving splash of single malt poured down my throat. (MUCH nicer than smelling vinegar!)

[Andrea Penrose]

Agreed!

[Andrea Penrose]

Sue, fainting is very frightening, especially when you don't know why you are doing it. Sounds like you understand the causes of your bouts, and thus handle them well. But please be careful!

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, your poor brother, Katja. I know it's not a girl thing, but for a teenage boy, it's probably pretty embarrassing.

Fainting from bloodloss and pain is a whole other thing. That had to be REALLY scary!

[Andrea Penrose]

Miriam, fainting at the sight of blood is a very common vagal response. Some of us just have very sensitive emotions when it comes to stress, and the vagal nerve is affected.

[Andrea Penrose]

I bet he didn't have a fancy vinaigrette! LOL!

[Andrea Penrose]

Arrgh on the abcessed molar. I would likely have fainted just from that!

I can't look at the needle, or especially blood being drawn.It totally freaks me out.

[Andrea Penrose]

My doc told me exactly the same thing, Cindy. The blood drawing really does knock people out. I can't look at vial or I'm a goner.

I think you need to get a lovely Regency vinaigrette to hold you ammonia capsules!

[Andrea Penrose]

Glad you enjoyed it, Kareni. I do think lacing is a big reason the Regency and Victorian eras are known for swoons. Honestly, I can't imagine how hard to breath it would have been while tied up in a corset.

[Susan King]

We fainting types are in excellent company here! It really is more common than we imagine, right in our own Wenchly reader community! Reading the blog and the comments, I wonder if historical ladies swooned more often because they just didn't drink much water, certainly not enough by modern common sense guidelines. We guzzle bottles of spring water today - but that wasn't so available to them (unless they skipped on down to the local spring with a bucket and ladle every day). Simple dehydration might have been a real factor...

[Quantum]

Jenny and Andrea, I can vouch for the Scotch variety (whisky). It definitely has magical restorative powers but I'm told that it might put hairs on your chest .... best not to swoon too often!

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha,ha,ha!

Hmmm, tough choices . . . are you sure that the Speyside malts aren't distilled with a special hair-free barley???

[Andrea Penrose]

That's a really good point, Susan. I've read that dehydration is definitely a factor in fainting, and likely exacerbates any Vagal nerve twitching.

[RobinC]

I used to get breathless and dizzy and then faint whenever a needle came too near me. It happened a LOT. Then a friend from church, who was a nurse for some 40+ years, told me when I started to get dizzy to sing Amazing Grace to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme song. It worked! I'm not sure why, but I haven't fainted once in over 20 years.

[Andrea Penrose]

That's an "amazing" story, Robin! Maybe the brain is so busy trying to multitask that it forgets it's not getting enough oxygen!

Hey,it works, and that's what matters!

[Mary M.]

Wow, who would have thought so many of us had fainting experiences!

I was once in a music competition with a French horn player who was very talented but had little experience playing solo. He was comfortable playing in an orchestra, but how often do you see a French horn recital? He played his selection perfectly, then as the audience clapped he slowly fell forward off his chair, crushing his horn. The bell was totally flattened! As I recall, he still won. But, oh, that poor horn.

[Janet Gahagan]

I spent most of my middle school years blacking out. In church and famously during a choir rehearsal when I took a cowbell out with me as I moved blindly towards fresh air! In college, I got off the examining table and fainted right in front of the doctor, which led to the discovery that I have orthostatic hypotension. I got so good at coping that I could rise from a crouching position to a standing one and the customer I was talking to never noticed that I couldn't see anything for a second! The other way I cope is that I never spend a day in bed, no matter how sick I am. Dealing with dizziness on top of the other symptoms is contraindicated.

[Tricia]

I had a patient come in with an injury that necessitated he receive a tetanus injection.
He was huge...hairy and scary! As I was getting his shot ready I glanced over just in time to keep him from hitting his head on his way to the floor. His wife laughed and said it happened every time and I should give the shot while he was downn!

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, it's really interesting how many of us have experience a swoon, Mary!

The poor French horn player. But at least he was able to play. Winning probably assuaged some of the embarrassment. But, oh, his instrument!

[Andrea Penrose]

Yipes! That all sounds really scary, Janet. But it's amazing how we all seem to find coping mechanisms to deal with the specific fainting problems we have.

[Andrea Penrose]

It does seem like the big, tough guys are the ones that keel over when it's time for a shot. His wife was probably smart to tell you to got ahead and do it while he was out.

[LindaB]

The hero in Barbara Metzger's "A Perfect Gentleman" fainted at the sight of blood.

[LindaB]

Corsets weren't necessarily tightly laced. The corset was made for the particular woman, and was no more uncomfortable than a bra nowadays. There were also lots of different styles. Of course, there were always those who overdid the lacing, and they were extra susceptible to fainting.

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, I had totally forgotten about that! Barbara writes such wonderful Regencies, with very endearing and quirky characters.

[Andrea Penrose]

That's true. I think we all focusing on the trope of the heroine being laced way too tightly—which I'm sure happened more than was comfortable! Alas, are too often ruled by fashion-—too-high-heels, bustles, and all the silly things that made moving and breathing difficult.

[Alina K. Field]

According to my mother, my grandmother used faint at the sight of blood. Mom was fine, and I don't faint, but I do get a super tingling feeling in my lower legs and ankles at the initial sight of blood.

Loved the post!

[Annette N]

What a really fascinating post. Y'all inform me on some of the most wonderful freaky facts.

I have fainted once while watching a film about terrible auto accidents. It was to train teen drivers. It was very graphic. That is truly the only time I actually fainted - becoming unconscious.

For years, in my early life, my blood pressure was very low, so I would get very dizzy and feel as though I were going to faint. But, I refused to do that.

It was because I was unable to do anything gracefully. That is not in my repertoire. It was more like someone calling "timber" and I would go down like an inanimate object.

I also had those spells at the sight of blood. Not good when you have kids who are big on adventure.

I never considered that fainting, I was simply checking whether the floors were clean enough to use as a resting place. I did not lose awareness of anything.

I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.

[Jane Nelson]

Andrea, like you I have fainted when getting shots, once as a child, and once when I was sixteen. Not since, though I still hate getting shots -- the very thought of them makes my left arm hurt! And with all the news about the vaccine lately, it's been hurting a lot these days.

I'm not necessarily against heroines fainting, if it fits the story and the character of that heroine. Although my father once told me that when he was in the army, sometimes it was the biggest, strongest men who fainted when they got their shots! So maybe, once in a while, the hero should faint!

[Kareni]

Ah, thank you, Linda! There is much for me to learn.

[Michelle H]

Great article, and like a few others I had no idea that vinegrettes were not little glass vials. But those beautiful boxes!!

I don't have the vagus nerve thing, thankfully. I read with utter awed sympathy of the rest of the comments here how so many people suffer with fainting. I've only come 'close' twice in my life and both were due to pain. I'm just not wary of needles...I've always been kind of fascinated by medical stuff. I don't remember how my mom handled our getting shots, maybe it was honesty (I was the oldest) but from the get-go I found it fascinating to watch the nurse do the shot...sure it hurt for a bit.

I once injured my collar bone area, inflamed tendons, and went to the doctor. He touched that area, I saw stars, and started to black out. My husband was with me thank goodness, they both rushed forward to hold me back from falling off the exam table. I didn't full out faint though but that was a helpless feeling, thus my sympathy. And that danged tendonitis was horrible and took forever to heal.

Keep safe everyone.

[Andrea Penrose]

So glad you enjoyed it, Alina.

I guess everybody has a different, and very personal, Vegal Reaction. (Including nothing at all!) It seems like you have a mild reaction, while your Grandmother had a more severe one.

It's so interesting to hear how we all react!

[Andrea Penrose]

Annette, so glad you found this interesting.

Other people I know have fainted at training film for teen drivers!

Low blood pressure is very common cause of fainting if you get up fast.

I love your description of why your eyeballs might be close to the floor! Ha, ha!

[Andrea Penrose]

Jane, I'm like you in that I still hate shots, but I've gotten better about controlling my reaction to them. Haven't fainted in years . . .but probably because I insist on lying down and closing my eyes.

LOL on the big men fainting. We've had several accounts of that here. I think it would be very endearing to have a hero faint. (Will keep that in mind for a future book!)

[Andrea Penrose]

Thanks, Michelle. I, too, was amazed when I did research and discovered how beautiful the vinaigrette are. I pictured most glass bottles, too.

I think fainting from pain is a slightly different physical reaction than fainting from stress or shock. But both are frightening. Ouch on the injured collarbone. And it's hard to keep still, so I can imagine how long it took to heal.

[Vicki L]

Loved the pictures of the vinaigrettes. I never knew what they looked like but assumed they were bottles as well. Funny side note on smelling salts. I got some in my stocking in a little green bottle when I was in High School or College - at least 40 years ago. I still have them and oh MY are they strong. Still strong to this day.

As for fainting...holds up hand. Yes I've fainted. Weirdest sensation... Biggest faint was when I jumped up out of bed, ran downstairs and opened the front door answering the door bell. Oopps...down I went. Poor guy on the other side of the door was scared out of his wits.

Having blood drawn can bring it on. So no looking. I've almost passed out before and freaked out a young blood vampire..

Almost passed out when I got my ears pierced too when I was 14.

The older I get the more frequently I get woozy if I go from a squat to a standing position. So at stores I ALWAYS have a shopping cart. Even if I only need one item. I don't want them to have to do a page saying "Clean up on Aisle 1" meaning get me up off the floor.

Happens when I'm gardening also. So at a certain point I just say. Okay. I'm done for the day.

Fascinating how MANY people have fainting/woozy issues. Thanks for writing the post and all the responses.

As for the heroine fainting...sometimes it is a good plot device used to extricate her/them from situation. Don't necessarily want to read about someone fainting all the time.

As for lacing corsets - sensible lacing allowed you to move, function, etc. At least everything I've seen written. It was those young girls or women who dressed for success that had problems. There are tons of videos on Youtube of what women wore (all the layers) from different eras. Those put out by Prior Attire are very good.

[Eugenia Parrish]

One of my Mother's favorite stories was about "Granny Jane" who would wander into the front room where she and her sisters were sitting with their beaux (in the Forties). In the middle of the room Granny would suddenly and gracefully "swoon" to the floor. Now, the family was used to this and had found that the best thing to do was ignore her. But it was embarrassing, especially if a new beau was shocked by their lack of concern. After a few minutes Granny would pop one eye open, look around to see she was not getting any attention and calmly get up and leave the room.

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, Vicki, how fun that you actually have smelling salts! That's very cool.

I've really enjoyed all the stories, too. I confess, I hadn't realized I was in such good company! But I guess it's not as weird as I had first thought.

Ear piercing could definitely bring on a swoon. Needles AND a hole into your flesh! Accck!

The up and down fainting is definitely blood pressure stuff. I occasionally get light-headed if I jump up from a chair, haven't fainted. Yet!

[Andrea Penrose]

That's a VERY funny story, Eugenia! Sounds like granny Jane was testing the mettle of the beaus!

[Vicki L]

I just remembered...Mary Jo has a gentleman character in the Lost Lord series who faints when he sees blood - Damian (Mac) Mackenzie. His book is Nowhere Near Respectable.

[Janice Jacobson]

I've never fainted from stress but I have known people who did, so I always took it seriously. It is a worrisome thing to see because when it happens you can't know whether it will pass or not. Should I call 911 or what? I would think. But people (and they weren't all women) seemed to come out of it before a call could even be made and claimed they were okay.

So my sympathy is for the non-fake fainting ladies in regencies, but also for whoever had to deal with the faint and decide what to do.

[Mary Drake]

I'll admit that I've always thought that swooning ladies in Regency novels were for effect rather than a physical reaction. And this in spite of having many people of both genders, all ages and sizes, get faint during injections I have given. I definitely think the idea that people were probably dehydrated in that era has merit. When I was at school in Australia, we all had to line up before classes at Assembly and kids would regularly pass out (Ouch! onto the cement). Often the same ones over and over. Military parades in summer caused the same problem when they came to rest. Plus the audience would keel over. And people would regularly pass out at the cricket. It doesn't seem to happen so much now. There are many more warnings about managing heat and people are so much more aware of drinking plenty of water. ... Thanks for all the info on the vinaigrette. That was new information and really fascinating. Of course women needed something to compete with snuff boxes but how surprising there were no collections. Or do you think maybe there were secret, shame faced collections that Manly men didn't talk about? Lol. Because they must have been just as beautiful and expensive.