"The Bends"

[Benjamin Fortson]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never would have imagined "get bent" has
anything to do with getting the bends. I always assumed it referred to the
addressee's penis.

ben

On Mon, 15 Apr 2002, Michael wrote:

> Does anyone have a date and source for the first use of the
> term "the bends" to refer to the difficulties that divers
> experience with nitrogen solubility and decompression ?
>
> I would like to know not only where the term originated,
> but also how and when it came to be used outside of the diving
> community as in the phrase, "get bent".
>
> Thanks,
> Michael
>