The Scavenger's Daughter was invented by, and named after, a Brit named Skevington. It is alternately referred to as Skeffington's gyves. The apparatus consists of a hoop of iron with a hinge in the middle. The victim was forced to crouch on one half of the hoop while the other half was pivoted and placed over his back. (Imagine being placed into a giant set of iron dentures.) The torturer would use a screw to tighten the hinge, crushing the victim further and further into his involuntary crouch. Eventually, ribs and breastbone would crack and the spine could be dislocated. Sometimes the compression was so great that blood would gush from the fingertips and face [source: Parry]. Queen Elizabeth I of England used this tool against Protestants she accused of high treason [source: Innes].
Next, we'll finish up our torturous tour with a set of implements reserved for women.
