It's right about the paper clip... I hit my thumb with a hammer and the pain was indescribable as the nail went from red, through blue to black. Popped along to the quack and he heated a paper clip till it was read hot and pushed it through the nail. Blood shot about 2 feet in the air but the pain went immediately. Since then I've used the procedure on myself with success. Thing to keep in mind is that the nail does not feel the heat - honest.