Dismemberment

For the death metal band Dismember, see Dismember (band).

Dismemberment is the act of cutting, tearing, pulling, or otherwise removing, the limbs of the condemned, causing prolonged, painful death. It can be a form of capital punishment, an accident, or possibly a murder or suicide. As opposed to a possible surgical amputation of the limbs, it tends to be fatal.

Carried out in modern times by tying a person's limbs to a chain or other constraint, whereby attaching the restraint to two separate movable entities (eg. a vehicle) and moving them in the opposite directions. Also referred to as disruption, it could be brought about by tying four horses to the victim's arms and legs, thus making them pull him apart.

Used in medieval times; trademarked by "stretch beds " where the victims hands are tied above their head and a wheel is subsequently turned causing an immense stretching. Dismemberment is not used by any modern governments as a form of torture or capital punishment.