Chicago1871
26 Jun 2006, 11:45 AM
What's That Magic Spray? (http://www.slate.com/id/2144194/?nav=fix)
Avid watchers of the World Cup soccer tournament have seen the same peculiar scene over and over again: Team doctors tend to an injured player by dousing his wound with a so-called magic spray. Moments later he's on his feet and racing down the pitch. What is this magic spray, and where can I get some?
It could be anything. Trainers might resort to any of several remedies for an on-field treatment, all of which can come out of a spray can or bottle. They might use cold water, for example, to cool off an overheated athlete. Or they might spray an abrasion with a tincture of benzoin so they can stick a bandage on some sweaty skin. It's safe to assume that some magic spray cans contain "skin refrigerants," chemicals like ethyl chloride that freeze and numb the surface of the skin on contact.
For fans, the phrase "magic spray" refers to the potion's impossible restorative powers. If the magic spray "works," the player probably took a dive and faked his injury. Magical soccer cure-alls are nothing new. The sprays are in vogue now, but the team docs used to treat phantom injuries with something called the "magic sponge."
Just found it amusing that a news source would have an op/ed on the magic spray. :)
Avid watchers of the World Cup soccer tournament have seen the same peculiar scene over and over again: Team doctors tend to an injured player by dousing his wound with a so-called magic spray. Moments later he's on his feet and racing down the pitch. What is this magic spray, and where can I get some?
It could be anything. Trainers might resort to any of several remedies for an on-field treatment, all of which can come out of a spray can or bottle. They might use cold water, for example, to cool off an overheated athlete. Or they might spray an abrasion with a tincture of benzoin so they can stick a bandage on some sweaty skin. It's safe to assume that some magic spray cans contain "skin refrigerants," chemicals like ethyl chloride that freeze and numb the surface of the skin on contact.
For fans, the phrase "magic spray" refers to the potion's impossible restorative powers. If the magic spray "works," the player probably took a dive and faked his injury. Magical soccer cure-alls are nothing new. The sprays are in vogue now, but the team docs used to treat phantom injuries with something called the "magic sponge."
Just found it amusing that a news source would have an op/ed on the magic spray. :)