A simulation showing one of the most gruesome torture methods in history has done the rounds online, and it's disturbing to say the least.
Here in the 21st century, torturing people is (thankfully) less common compared to any other time in human history.
The fact that these methods of torture originated in someone's sick, twisted mind makes it even more unsettling, but they were once commonplace and used as punishments for criminals.
But there is one involving rodents that might be one of the most gruesome you've heard of.
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Twisted history of the rat torture method
Known as the rat torture method, it originated in medieval Europe, a period of time that is remembered for its unique methods of torture and execution.
While rats have been used as punishment methods in other cultures, the creatures were used in a particularly sinister way in Europe, utilising their instincts for a truly evil purpose.
The horrifying method of rat torture involved placing rats, who could be starving, on the abdomen of the individual, who would be restrained, before trapping the rodent in a cage.
Hot pieces of coal would then be put on the cage, not only burning the person, but forcing the rat to react to the unbearable heat.
How does the rat torture method actually kill you?
Well, the rats would dig through the person's skin.
They would scratch, dig, and chew away at the victim's flesh, eating their way through the person's organs as they satisfy their hunger and escape the heat, ripping them up from the inside.
If you think this is bad, another variation of the method involves the rat being burrowed inside the person's body, forced to eat their way out.
Either way, the grim methods would be excruciatingly painful for the victim, inflicting physical and psychological pain in what might be one of the most gruesome and drawn-out methods of execution.
If reading about it wasn't enough, have a look at a simulation of it here:
Uploaded by Mind Myst on TikTok, the short video depicting how the method works has gone viral, with over 2.6 million views.
Showing social media users exactly how the method would have worked with coals, it even features an animation of the rat making its way into a man's insides.
Humans really are disgusting when you get down to it.
Viewers took to the comments to share how disgusted they were, though many referenced a scene from 2003 action film 2 Fast 2 Furious, where the method is used to try and get information.
One of the users wrote: "My fear of rats would probably cause me to die before the heat is applied," with another adding: "Me too," with a crying emoji.
A third said: "We are so cruel it's crazy".
Luckily, we've evolved as a species and the method is quite clearly not used anymore. Phew.
Joshua Nair