From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6875418204)

Instruments of torture are tools or devices that have been used throughout history to inflict pain, suffering, or punishment on individuals. These instruments have been used for a variety of purposes, including interrogating prisoners, extracting confessions, deterring crime, and inflicting punishment. Some examples of instruments of torture that have been used throughout history include: The rack: The rack was a device used to stretch the limbs of a person, causing extreme pain and sometimes even dislocating joints. It was often used to extract confessions or to punish people accused of crimes. The iron maiden: The iron maiden was a coffin-like structure with sharp spikes on the inside. It was designed to impale a person, causing severe injury or death. Strappado (a device used to lift a person off the ground by their arms), the thumbscrew (a device used to crush the thumbs), and the water torture (a form of torture in which water was poured down the throat or over the face to create the sensation of drowning). The Chinese water torture: The Chinese water torture was a form of torture in which water was dripped onto a person's forehead, causing the sensation of drowning. It was believed to be used by the Chinese during the Ming Dynasty, but there is no historical evidence to support this claim.

Adolphe Smith is perhaps best known for his work documenting the lives of the poor in London's East End. In the late 1800s, he collaborated with the journalist John Thomson to produce a series of books that combined text and photographs to create a vivid portrait of the poverty and hardship faced by many of the city's working class. Smith's photographs are notable for their realism and attention to detail. He often captured everyday scenes of street life, such as children playing or workers going about their business. His images are also notable for their sympathetic portrayal of the people he photographed, which was unusual at a time when many photographers focused on sensationalism and shock value. In addition to his work in documentary photography, Smith also experimented with other forms of photography, including portraiture and landscape photography. He continued to work in photography until his death in 1920.