Mathieu tonsillotome, which consists of four main parts that fit together with two screws; the bottom piece (a) has a handle made from a long, flat piece of metal with a closed fenestrated oval tip; the other end has a small piece turned up at a 90° angle, with an oval notch cut into it; the flat h…
Mathieu tonsillotome, which consists of four main parts that fit together with two screws; the bottom piece (a) has a handle made from a long, flat piece of metal with a closed fenestrated oval tip; the other end has a small piece turned up at a 90° angle, with an oval notch cut into it; the flat handle piece has a small threaded hole through it, 0.7 cm from the oval tip; there is a rounded pivot piece 3 cm from this hole towards the notched end; another hole is punched through the metal handle 5.5 cm from the notched end; the blade/finger grips (b) fits on top and lines up with the bottom piece (a); (b) has a long, flat piece of metal with a closed, oval fenestrated tip, and an attached pair of closed, round finger grips at the other end; there is a flat, square piece attached between the finger grips with a round notch cut into it; there is an elongated oval piece cut into the oval tip end and 0.4 cm from this another elongated oval notch cut into the metal; part (c) is a long, flat piece of metal with an open crescent-shaped tip at one end; the other end has a small piece turned up at a 90° angle with an oval notch cut into it; there is a small, threaded hole cut through the metal 1.2 cm from the tip and an oval with pointed ends punched through the metal 2.6 cm from the round hole; a screw (d) fits through and joins all the holes near the tips of (a), (b) and (c); the screw is a flat, round piece of metal with a short, cylindrical piece through the centre; the bottom of the cylindrical piece is threaded, the top smooth; the edges of the flat, round piece are stamped with gripping lines; the top piece (e) has a long, rounded, flattened handle with two long sharp tines at one end, and a closed oval thumb grip at the other; there are three small oval notches cut into the metal interspersed along the handle; these notches line up with and go into the notches cut into the turned-up metal ends on (a), (b) and (c); a small, round screw (f) 0.7 cm from the notch nearest the thumb grip, holds the top piece in place; there is a small, upraised bump in the handle between the second and third sets of notches.
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a - bottom piece - Size: Length 20.4 cm x Width 3.0 cm x Depth 1.5 cm
b - blade/finger grips - Size: Length 15.0 cm x Width 5.6 cm x Depth 1.5 cm
c - middle piece with crescent - Size: Length 8.5 cm x Width 2.4 cm x Depth 2.8 cm
d - screw - Size: Length 1.2 cm x Diam. 1.1 cm
e - top piece with tines - Size: Length 23.3 cm x Width 2.7 cm x Depth 0.4 cm
f - screw - Size: Length 1.1 cm x Diam. 0.6 cm
Provenance
Originally owned by Dr. Publow, who practised in Prince Edward County between 1850 and 1900. Given to Dr. M. Williams, head of Otolaryngology at Queen's University.
The number "164" is stamped into the metal of bottom piece (a) above the round hole; the logo (a snake twined around a sceptre--see accession sheet for sketch) and "THE J.F. HARTZ CO" are stamped into the metal further down piece (a) very near the grooved end; the number "164" is also stamped into piece (c) above the oval hole; the number "2" is stamped into the opposite side of piece (c) below the crescent; the numbers "164" and "3" are stamped into the underside of the cap of screw (d).
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E3-5
Condition Remarks
The parts show minor wear, particularly in areas where parts rub together; parts (b) and (c) show signs of mild, inactive corrosion and also show signs of a thin, greasy deposit; the thumb grip on part (e) can be turned; all pieces move together easily.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Person
JPG
Reference Comments
Dr. M. Williams; "Illustrations of Surgical Instruments of Superior Quality," The Kny-Scheerer Co., ca. 1915, p. 3222 (similar to item #C/-12113) (see attached photocopy); CD #4.
Research Facts
Dr. Williams identified the item as a "Mathieu tonsillotome."
Exhibit History
On display at Hotel Dieu Hospital circa 1983-1993; the item was mounted on an acidic board with copper-covered wires to secure it.