WARNING!! DO NOT TRY ANYTHING YOU READ HERE!
DISCLAIMER
The contents of this section are dangerous. Misuse of the material can cheapen an art form or at the very least make you look stupid. More importantly, misuse of this information may result in jail time or death. Do not attempt any of these tricks without the direct supervision of a responsible professional.
One of the first books I ever read that got me interested in SECRETS OF THE STRANGE was Feats of Torture, written by Joseph Ovette. This book is now out of print, but it was so influential to me that I’ve included his experiences in this chapter. I’ve also added a few of my own.
BRANDING ONESELF WITH A HOT IRON
It will be well to mention that the main qualities in any of these feats are nerve and pure guts, and plenty of both. That is putting it plain. Only a person with plenty of nerve should consider tackling this type of work.
All you need here is a common electric soldering iron properly connected and working, and your arms bared. Hold the iron in your right hand and gently but lightly place the iron on the skin, searing it.
IT WILL BURN, but not much, if the branding is lightly done. Be sure the iron is HOT. An added effect can be had by smearing the spot to be branded with Vaseline. Then when the iron touches the arm it will cause a hissing sound. This lessens the danger of burning, but watch for persons who faint!
NEEDLE JABBING
Use long surgical needles and be sure they are sterilized well. Extend your arm. Tell someone to grasp a bunch of skin and to pull it up. With the needle in your right hand jab it through the skin. The only pain you will experience will be a slight sting. Several needles can be so inserted. Draw out the needle slowly and the blood will not flow and thus you can also demonstrate the stoppage of the blood. The needles can also be run through the cheek, from cheek to cheek, or through the loose skin under the neck.
Note: A firm pressure before inserting the needle practically anesthetizes the area. This is known as “pressure anesthesia”, and is frequently used by dentists before inserting their needle. Only a sharp sting is felt.
FANGS OF LUCIFER
A variation of the above was marketed by me as the Fangs of Lucifer. In this the fakir demonstrates his ability to render his body immune to common place injuries. Long heated needles are deliberately thrust through various parts of the body and permitted to cool. They are then withdrawn and no blood flows from the wounds, nor is there any sign of pain.
Principle and application are the same as the preceding torture. But since the explanations given are fuller we will expand them here. No preparation is needed, although rubbing the arm with a strong salt solution before the test will prove beneficial. Warm needles. That is, heat them, but do not get them red hot since that may blunt the points. Insert needles with a firm, steady push, either fakir or an assistant holding up the flesh (pressure anesthesia).
A slight pain will be experienced as the needle goes through; after that no pain with the possible exception of a throbbing due to the excessive heat of the needle. Several needles may be inserted, then permitted to cool. In drawing these out, do so quickly, since the needles will tend to stick as the flesh may be seared or the cooling blood coagulate. To finish, dab the punctures with peroxide or iodine and upon retiring, place a dab of carbolated Vaseline on the wounds. In a couple of days all signs of the experiment will disappear.
In using surgical needles, you will find them very thin, the thinner the better, and sharp. The genuine fakir uses hatpins which, by the way, are not very sharp nor strong. You, though, should sterilize your needles, the heat in most cases being ample.
There are some who, to make the effect more gruesome, break the needles off or suspend weight from their ends. A dab of Vaseline can add to the effect since it will hiss and sear like burning flesh when touched with the hot needle. This is not a pleasant sight or effect, to be sure, but there are many who have found that they can sit and grin and shove needles into their skin at will.
More Torture Feats on Sideshow World -Scam-Fraud-Rip Off-Con Artist Beware-
Again, Do not attempt any of these tricks without the direct supervision of a responsible professional!!
