in the ear, or on the toes and fingers, the tongue, etc. In the case of women, the poles were introduced into the vagina and the anus; 215 2. “Cadeira do dragão” (the dragon’s chair): a heavy chair that the victim was strapped into to receive electric shocks, with a bar that pushed his legs back and against which they jolted due to the spasms resulting from the electric shocks; 216 3. “Palmatória”: the use of a wooden bat with perforations at the rounded ends. It was used preferably on the shoulders, on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, the buttocks, etc., resulting in the rupture of veins and causing bleeding and swelling that prevented the victim from walking or holding anything; 217 4. Drowning: One of the most common forms of torture was to pour water, or a mixture of water and kerosene or amonia or any other liquid into the victim’s nose, with his head bent backwards. Another form was to close the nostrils tightly and put a hose in the mouth to introduce the water; 218 5. Telephone: a tecnique consisting in suddenly clapping the cupped hands on both ears of the victim at the same time, which occasionally left him disoriented and could also rupture the eardrums. Some victims were left permanently deaf following this treatment; 219 6. Karate session or “Polish corridor”: the victim, placed in the middle of circle of torturers, was punched, kicked, subjected to karate chops, and hit with wooden clubs, rubber hoses or strips of tires; 220 7. Use of chemical products: chemical products were frequently used against the person tortured to force him to speak by altering his awareness, or causing pain and thus obtaining the desired information. Some examples of this technique were the application of acid or alcohol in the detainee’s injuries and then turning on the ventilator; 221 215 The torturers used differnt devices to apply the electric shocks: a magneto (known as the "maquininha" in the OBAN and the "maricota" in the DOPS/RS); a field telephone (in prisons); a television (knows as the "Brigitte Bardot" in the DEOPS/SP); a microphone (in the DEOPS/SP); the "pianola," an apparatus with several keys that permitted a controlled variation in the voltage of the electric current (in the PIC-Brasilia and in the DEOPS/SP); and also a direct shock from an electrical outlet of 110 and up to 220 volts. It was very common that the victim, on receiving the shocks, bit his tongue, injuring himself severely. Medical texts indicate that an electric shock applied to the head causes micro brain hemorraghes, destroying brain tissue and causing neuronal loss; at the very least, it caused memory loss and a real reduction in cognitive ability and, at times, permanent amnesia. The intensive application of electric shocks resulted in the death of many political prisoners, particularly those with heart conditions. Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 366 (evidence file, folio 896). 216 According to São Paulo political prisoners: “It is like an ‘electric chair.’ The victim is seated naked with his wrists tied to the arms of the chair and his legs forced back and held there by a bar. When the electric current is connected, the body receives shocks, mainly the buttocks and testicles; the legs are injured by hitting against the bar that restrains them In addition, there are complementary devices: the ‘electric helmet’ (a metal bucket placed on the head, where electric shocks are applied); throwing water on the body to increase the intensity of the shock; obliging the victim to eat salt which also increases the shock, causes intense thirst and makes the tongue, which has been bitten by the teeth, burn. All of this accompanied by blows to the body.” Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 367 (evidence file, folio 897). 217 Cf. Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 368 (evidence file, folio 898). Other ways wer to submerge the detainee’s head in a tank, barrel or bucket of water, forcing his neck down; "pesquería” (the fishing line): when a long rope was tied under the victim’s arms and he was thrown into a well and even into rivers or lakes, and the rope was jerked from time to time. Report of the National Truth Commission, pp. 368 and 369 (evidence file, folios 898 and 899). 218 219 Cf. Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 369 (evidence file, folio 899). 220 Cf. Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 369 (evidence file, folio 899). 221 Cf. Report of the National Truth Commission, p. 369 (evidence file, folio 899). 57