The tonsillectome is a gun-like instrument with a grooved hand grip (a) that connects at a 75° angle to the blade housing arm; the back of the arm has a slanted rectangular fenestrated piece that extends beyond the handle; the tip of the arm has a slightly flared, rounded fenestration; a lipped gro…
The tonsillectome is a gun-like instrument with a grooved hand grip (a) that connects at a 75° angle to the blade housing arm; the back of the arm has a slanted rectangular fenestrated piece that extends beyond the handle; the tip of the arm has a slightly flared, rounded fenestration; a lipped groove borders the fenestration to accomodate blade (b), which slides into housing arm (a) by sliding over the grooved extension; the flared tip of (b) is congruent with the flare on the housing arm; the other end of the blade arm is a short metal bar extending on either side of the arm, and a round, hollow metal cylinder with threads inside extending perpendicular to this bar to form a T-shaped end; a much smaller, round, solid metal cylinder extends from the bar, beside the larger hollow cylinder; the blade is held in place by inserting the hollow cylinder at its end into a washer, then flywheel (c), a hollow metal cylinder with a round hole and grooved locking mechanism at one end and a round hole with two rounded flared arms on either side at the other; screw knob (d) is then inserted through the upper hole of the flywheel, and is screwed into the threaded cylinder at the end of the blade arm (b); screw knob (d) is a threaded, solid, short rod capped by a round, concave disc; two rows of gripping lines are stamped around the edges of the disc.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - handle and blade housing - Size: Length 26.5 cm x Width 16.3 cm x Depth 3.0 cm
b - blade - Size: Length 16.0 cm x Width 2.5 cm x Depth 1.7 cm
c - flywheel - Size: Length 2.5 cm x Width 6.2 cm x Depth 1.4 cm
b - screw knob - Size: Length 2.0 cm x Diam. 2.0 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.
Dates
1920
circa 1920
Date Remarks
Identified in a 1920 catalogue
Material
metal: silver
Inscriptions
"00" is stamped into the metal of handle and blade housing (a), on the top side of the arm; "00" is also stamped on blade (b) on the bottom side of the arm in the middle; the number "3" is stamped on the opposite side; "00" also appears at the bottom of flywheel (c), under the locking mechanism on the base.
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E3-4
Condition Remarks
The tonsillectome shows signs of wear and traces of inactive corrosion; the metal plating on flywheel (c) is flaking away, exposing the brass underneath; #2: rusty, tarnished, and worn.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Person
JPG
Reference Comments
Dr. M. Williams; "Illustrated Catalogue of a Complete Line of Standard Surgical Instruments," by Codman & Shurtleff, 1920, p. 228 (similar to item #7776) (see attached photocopy); CD #5
Research Facts
Dr. Williams identified the item as a "Sluder 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.