The ABC's of Torture

A is for Abacination

Abacination is a form of torture where one is blinded by a hot metal plate held in front of their eyes.

B is for Boiling

Boiling is a form of torture in Medieval Europe (England, Scotland), Medieval Asia (Japan, Mongolia), and in modern times (worldwide) where a vessel, such as a kettle, was filled with such liquids:

water

oil

tar

tallow

C is for Cutting

Cutting a form of torture where a person separates your skin in two or more portions with directed force of a sharp object, usually a knife.

Chip Forming (sawing, drilling, milling)

Shearing (punching, scissoring)

Abrading (grinding, polishing)

Heat (flame cutting)

D is for Denailing

Denailing is the act of forcibly extracting fingernails or toenails. It was one main form of torture used in medieval times. It is sometimes used today. Denailing is a highly painful form of torture.

The victim is usually stretched out by their limbs on a tabletop. The hands are tied by chains by the wrists and the ankles bound to the table by chains. Their hands are held by metal forceps, usually burning hot, and their nails are removed with either a scalpel at the cuticle beds and pulled off with forceps or they are removed plainly with forceps and pulled off from the cuticle beds. The victims were usually not under any pain medication or under some sort of anesthesia; they felt all the pain and were left on the table, bleeding and screaming.

E is for Exposure

There were several forms of torture in the medieval times that had to do with exposure.

Freezing:

During the winter, victims were left outside, naked and in full spectre of everyone, as the torturer poured freezing cold water onto their heads. The water would freeze onto their heads and the ice would slowly and painfully suffocate them. Depending on where this form of torture was used, the body was left out to rot and to have the people look at it as a reminder to do no further crimes, as this would happen to them.

Burning:

During the summer, victims were coated with a mixture of boiling water and boiling oil and were stripped naked and put out in the sun. They were left outside, usually tied to a pole where there is no shade, and they burn to death.

Live Burial

Victims would be buried up to their necks, exposed to the elements, and any animal, insect, or other people from where they were could kill them slowly.

F is for Foot Roasting

Foot roasting is a form of torture where the victim is immobilized and a hot iron plate is pressed to the soles of their feet. The Spanish Inquisition frequently used this method of torture by binding the victim, face upward to a rack with their bare feet secured in iron chains. The soles of the victim were covered with lard or some type of oil. Their feet would be held over a fire and would be left there for hours on end, slowly barbecuing their feet. Sometimes, there would be a metal screen between the fire and the victim's feet, limiting the exposure of the fire, but the metal would heat up and increase the intensity of the pain.

G is for Glasgow Smile

The Glasgow Smile is a form of torture where a victim is tied down and the corners of their mouth are severed. They are then beaten and as they scream, the cut grows larger, and eventually stretches up to their ears. If the victim is lucky enough to live, the wound becomes a scar, forming into a permanent smile.

H is for Hamstringing

Hamstringing is a form of torture where a victim's hamstrings are severed, and they are crippled; not being able to walk correctly. Severing the hamstring tendon is extremely painful when there is a heavy laceration. This form of torture has the victim tied down, and their hamstrings are severed. They slowly bleed, usually to the point of death. This form of torture is metaphorically called "being hamstrung".

I is for Iron Chair

The Iron Chair is a chair where the victim is strapped into a metal chair, and slowly are pushed towards a blazing fire. In other forms, the victim is strapped down to strips and plates of brass and slowly lowered onto a fire.

J is for Judah's Chair

Judah's Chair, other known as Judah's Cradle, is a chair that is pointed at the top with a metal strap to hold a victim in. A victim is seated on this chair and is strapped in. Their muscles are constricted, causing sleep deprivation.

K is for Kneecapping

Kneecapping is a criminal form of torture where the victim is tied down and a gun is held to their knees. A bullet is shot into the knee at a low velocity and is extremely painful. Kneecapping is also used in the wrist joint and the shoulder socket.

M is for Mutilation

Mutilation is the the act of losing a body member and not being able to function losing a member of the body or not being able to use a limb. Victims would be tied up, and the usual punishment would be to sever the hand from the wrist slowly.

O is for Oxygen Deprivation

Compressive Asphyxia

Compressive Asphyxia is other known as chest compression. It mechanically limits the the expansion of the lungs, due to compressing the torso. The victim is put through Traumatic Compressive Asphyxia, other known as "crush asphyxia", in which the lungs are compressed by a large weight or force. The victim is usually pressed with stones or wood and usually results in weight.

P is for Pitchcapping

Pitchcapping is a form of torture where pitch, or tar, is poured into a paper "cap" and placed onto a part of the victim's body, and is left to dry. After the pitch or tar has dried, it is torn from the body, tearing off some of the victim's skin and tissue.

R is for Rat Torture

Rat Torture is a form of torture where a victim is trapped and rats are encouraged to eat the victim alive. One famous dungeon of rats is the Rats Dungeon in the Tower of London. It was encouraged by Roman Catholic writers in the Elizabethan Era. The dungeon would be underwater, dark, and cold. These temperatures would encourage the rats to come to the dungeon and then eat the victim alive.

S is for Sawing

Death by sawing is a form of torture where a victim is tied, upside down by the feet, and sawed in half from the pelvis down.

T is for Thumbscrew

Thumbscrewing is a form of torture where a victim's thumbs, or other fingers, are put into a thumbscrew, and their fingers are crushed. Occasionally, the victim's big toes are put in the thumbscrew and are crushed as well.

W is for Waterboarding

Type	Description
Physical	Abacination, Boiling, Cutting, Denailing, Exposure, Foot Roasting, Glasgow Smile, Hamstringing, Iron Chair, Judah's Chair (Judah's Cradle), Kneecapping, MUtilation, Oxygen Deprivation, Pitchcapping, Rat Torture, Sawing, Thumbscrewing, Waterboarding.
Psychological	Sensory Deprivation, Sensory Overload, Sleep Deprivation, White Room Torture.