This also called the Rats Dungeon or Dungeon of the Rats and was one of the featured tortures in the Tower of London. This torture is also supposedly a traditional form of Chinese punishment.

In most cases the rats are angered enough that they attack the victim. One such way is to fill a bowl with rats and place it open side down on the naked body of the intended. Then a hot coal was placed on the bowl, the rats then attempt to escape by gnawing into the victim.