Even at the dawn of civilization, the necessary information was obtained through painful torture. One of the most sophisticated is torture with drops of water. But what's wrong with that? After all, the water just drips on the head. After reading the article, you will be surprised how ordinary drops drove people crazy in the Middle Ages.
What is water drop torture?
This technique was invented in the 15th century by a doctor and lawyer from Italy, Hippolyte de Marsili. But why then is this “interrogation tool” called Chinese? The name of the Chinese drop of water torture was given to give an atmosphere of ominous mystery.
In China, this torture was also used in practice. A person was buried in a deep hole (about 2 meters) so that he could not even move a finger. The head slightly peeked out of the ground. About a hundred centimeters above the person's head was placed a kettle or a jug of water. The result was something very similar to a modern faucet, only with a weak pressure.
The victim was left for a day alone with nature and dripping water. The effect was colossal. Even a completely he althy personafter this time, he went crazy and was ready to confess to everything, even to what he had not done, if only they dug him up as soon as possible and the water stopped dripping on his forehead.
Application History
This torture was used for several centuries by representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. This method of interrogation was also used in the 20th century in the secret prisons of the CIA. It was tried on their prisoners by the US police in the 1930s and 1940s, French soldiers in the war in Algeria, the Pinochet regime and the Khmer Rouge.
How does torture work?
The victim is seated on a chair or laid on his back. The head is fixed by means of a special mask in such a way that the person cannot turn or otherwise change the position of the body. No scratching, no going to the toilet - nothing can be done.
Cold water is used for water drop torture. Sometimes ice is added to it. So the effect of torture only intensifies. Ice water drips onto the head and soon the victim's brain seems to begin to contract.
While most torture is designed to inflict physical pain, the ancient water drop torture is designed to inflict psychological discomfort. The person literally goes crazy. The brain simply cannot stand monotony. And that's the scariest thing.
Water drips on the head for hours or even days. Hands and feet are tied, the person cannot move any part of the body. And, as a rule, he is in solitary confinement, where there is complete silence and only drops are heard falling on his forehead. Also, keep your mouth shutthe person was unable to call for help.
How does the person feel?
When the torture with a drop of water on the head begins, the victim at first came into a state of mild anxiety. What follows is a terrible rage. A person is desperately trying to get out of the ground or break the shackles. The result is numbness and unconsciousness.
Each drop that falls on the forehead seems like a hammer hitting the very brain. After some time, the victim was ready to confess all sins. If the torture continues, the person will go insane or die.
Often in the Middle Ages, the prisoner was simply burned at the stake or thrown into the river after he confessed to the crime. It didn't matter if he did it or not. The main thing is that he confessed, and eventually justice caught up with him.
What other water tortures exist
Besides torture with a drop of water on the forehead in the Middle Ages, there were other sophisticated ways of interrogating people with water. They can be called the general word "waterboarding" - a nightmarish simulation of human drowning.
A huge public outcry was caused during the reign of Bush Jr., when the people learned about the use of this torture by US intelligence agencies. Moreover, not only terrorists, but also citizens of America were subjected to this method of interrogation.
In many films about the mafia and gangsters, you can see how the victim is lowered upside down into a container of water, causing him to choke. This method is a distant relative of waterboarding, but is still consideredscary as water constantly floods the nose, mouth and head, resulting in a feeling of drowning.
Where and how was water torture used
- Representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. The victim was tied to a special structure, a cloth was tied over the mouth, after which water was plentifully poured over it. Water flooded the victim's mouth, creating the effect of drowning. The water pitcher was special, made just for this kind of torture.
- In the Philippines, where water was poured into the mouth through a large funnel. It was here that the Americans first began to use this torture.
- In Vietnam during the war with the Americans. Some of the photos of such torture appeared on the pages of newspapers, after which thousands of people took to the rally, demanding that the guilty soldier be punished in the same way.
What happens to a person?
If a prisoner simply goes crazy when tortured with drops of water, while simulating drowning he feels a catastrophic lack of oxygen. When a person drowns, he remains conscious to the last. After the "switch off" the victim stops fighting, swallows water.
At this time, they usually give her a break, after which they resume the torture with renewed vigor until a confession is obtained. Due to the lack of oxygen, the human brain is damaged, as well as damage to the lungs.
Now such and many other tortures are prohibited by the Geneva Convention. Waterboarding, as well as torture with drops of water, are outlawed and anyone who violates it will be equated with war criminals.
Despite the prohibitions, in somecountries still use these methods to "knock out the truth." US President Donald Trump has proposed bringing back water torture for terrorists. And in 2018, in the UK, two cadets of the Royal Military Police tortured a man in this way.
