Water Torture, 1556

Water torture is a form of torture in which the victim is forced to drink large quantities of water in a short time, resulting in gastric distention, water intoxication, and possibly death. Often the victim has the mouth forced or wedged open, the nose closed with pincers and a funnel or strip of cloth forced down the throat. The victim has to drink all the water (or other liquids such as bile or urine) poured into the funnel to avoid drowning. The stomach fills until near bursting and is sometimes beaten until the victim vomits and the torture begins again. Water torture was used extensively and legally by the courts of France from the Middle Ages to the 17th and 18th centuries. It was known as being put to the question, with the ordinary question involving the forcing of one gallon of water into the stomach and the extraordinary question involving the forcing of two gallons. Woodcut dated 1556

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1550s 1556 Confession Cruel Cruelty Forced Heretics Infamous Inhumane Inhumanity Inquisition Inquisitors Macabre Method Notorious Persecute Persecuted Persecuting Persecution Punish Punishing Sixteenth Sorcerer Sorceress Sorcery Torturer Torturers Torturing Witchcraft Witchery Witches Woodblock

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