‘Water Cure’ torture Philippine American War

Members of the 35th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment administering “water cure” to a helpless Filipino insurgent.

“Water cure” was a rampant torture method during the Philippine-American War. President Roosevelt even bragged that “nobody was seriously damaged” when American soldiers used it against Filipino insurgents. Or so he thought.

Truth be told, “water cure” is an inhumane and potentially fatal method of punishment. It was done by forcing a large bamboo stick to a person’s mouth. Gallons of water would then be poured down his throat, causing the stomach to bloat. If the person still refuses to answer, somebody would forcibly push the water out of his mouth. Only half of the torture victims managed to survive.