# A case of the vapors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101 "2001-02-12T02:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/1 "2001-02-12T02:53:08Z")
You know that dealie where a lady suddenly swoons, fans herself, and says “Oh, I have a case of the vapors!”? Well, this woman told my mother it meant you had _farted_. I always thought it was sort of a catch-all, antiquated phrase that harkened back to tight corsets, too much heat, and perhaps even the “evil humours”. Who’s right? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/2 "2001-02-12T04:11:03Z")
Actually, you’re not that far off the mark in either case. According to [Merriam-Webster](http://www.m-w.com), vapors is defined as: > [@](#): > > **4** plural a archaic : exhalations of bodily organs (as the stomach) held to affect the physical or mental condition b : a depressed or hysterical nervous condition This, along with fainting couches, gave women the excuse to loosen her corset and relax for a bit. Robin ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/3 "2001-02-12T04:28:30Z")
I’m pretty sure it was restricted to those “female” problems. That’s what “hysterical” used to mean (same root as “hysterectomy”) That darn womb is the source of many evils :). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/4 "2001-02-12T14:30:03Z")
The Maestro did a column on this, methinks. His conclusions: 1. There was a “cult of female invalidity” that held it was beautiful and graceful for women to drop like flies. 2. Women at the time loved to create a scene by fainting at the right moment. 3. What with corsets, stays, bleeding, quack medicines, and the like, it’s a wonder the women could stay upright at all. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/5 "2001-02-12T15:25:21Z")
I fully respect Cecils take on 99.9% of all matters, but occasionally you have to take it one step higher to get the truth. That’s right, folks. The supreme being, [Biz Markie](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/9B5D1CF1D67F8A664825689A0022FB9F). ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-case-of-the-vapors/54101/6 "2001-02-12T15:43:00Z")
**mouthbreather** , I couldn’t get that link to work. I gather it was song lyrics? **matt mcl** , I read the Maestro’s column. I was well aware of the whole fainting “oh I’m a delicate flower” thing. I was going for the scatalogical angle here. Did ladies also say that when they’d just cut the cheese?