Note 61 — Chapter X · Ancient Punishments.

Ante idem.

In applying the ordinary and extraordinary question, in France, by means of the estrapado, an iron key was placed between the palms of the accused’s hands, and they were tied behind his back and, by means of a rope passed through a pulley, in the ceiling, he was raised twelve inches above the floor with a weight of one hundred and eighty pounds to his right foot. This was the “ordinary” question. In applying the “extraordinary” interrogation, the same process was used, but the accused was raised up to the ceiling, with a two hundred and fifty pound weight tied to his foot, in a running line, two or three times, with the result that he usually swooned before the ceiling was reached the last time. (Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol. 46, p. 504.)