The inside of your skull (courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com)
The inside of your skull with a nail in it
(courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com)
One of the physical feats that John of God performs to impress his audience is placing forceps deep inside the nose of a patient without harming them. This may look astonishing to the average viewer and it may seem explainable only by magic but there exists a perfectly worldly explanation for how this feat can be quite easily accomplished.
Most people are under the impression that their nostrils extend upwards, straight up into a person's skull. This is not so. The nasal cavity actually extends straight back towards the throat. Inserting a nail into one's (or someone else's) nose and pulling it out is perfectly possible and involves little danger if done correctly after some practise. This is why the person's nostrils appear to be pushed back, like in a pig's snout (which they would not if the nail really were inserted into the skull).
Try this at home: take a soft piece of paper, roll it up and attempt to slowly insert it into your nostrils. It goes straight back, doesn't it? Does it hurt? It's uncomfortable at first, yes, but your biggest challenge is likely trying not to sneeze.
This trick is a staple of carnival acts throughout the world. Google "Human Blockhead" and you'll find dozens of photos of sideshow performers performing this very trick (some even with hammers and power drills!)
Wikipedia article on the trick:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_blockhead
(WARNING, GRUESOME CONTENT)
