Fire eating was a common part of Hindu, Saddhu, and Fakir performances to show spiritual attainment. It became a part of the standard sideshow acts in the late 1880s and is often seen as one of the entry-level skills for sideshow performers.
Other than sound fire safety precautions and some practical advice regarding the laws of physics (i.e. "hot air rises"), there are few secrets to eating fire. There is no such thing as "cold flame" nor is there any special substance in the performer's mouth other than saliva. According to Daniel Mannix's 1951 sideshow memoir Step right up!, the real "secret" to fire eating is enduring pain; he mentions that tolerating constant blisters on your tongue, lips and throat is also necessary. It is a very dangerous act and should not be attempted without professional training. Fire eaters follow the processes when playing the game: Vapor tricks utilize the fuel vapors held in the mouth during or before an extinguish. Transfers are methods of moving a flame from one area to another, by using the body, or another surface or medium. Extinguishes are methods of extinguishing torches, and are the traditional hallmark of fire eating.
