Metal tonsillectome has a rectangular, rounded handle with two shallow grooves running lengthwise on each of the wide sides; this handle tapers into a round neck, then flares out, bending at an approximately 100° angle to form the insertion end; this is a long piece widening into a flat, rounded en…
Metal tonsillectome has a rectangular, rounded handle with two shallow grooves running lengthwise on each of the wide sides; this handle tapers into a round neck, then flares out, bending at an approximately 100° angle to form the insertion end; this is a long piece widening into a flat, rounded end with a round aperture in it; running the length of the instrument is the blade piece; its handle, consisting of a round loop, extends past the primary handle by several cm, and three round tabs extending through two slots in the neck of the blade piece control its movement; it, too widens into a rounded end, flat on the bottom, convex on top, with a groove in its centre; wrapped around the neck, just in front of the main handle, and jutting upwards is another piece of metal with grooves in its interior sides and small hooks; attached to this is a tapered loop of metal that appears to be a catch of some sort; these currently do not perform any function and point to missing pieces (perhaps to fit into the grooves and into the catch); however, it has not been confirmed that any pieces are missing.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned and used by Dr. Malcolm E. McPherson, a graduate of Queen's School of Medicine in 1929; Dr. McPherson practised in Hawthorne, NS; he was a G.P. but specialized in gynecology.
At the top of the main handle, right-hand side: "PATENTED // MARCH 17, 1917"; above the loop of the secondary handle, on top: "GERMANY";
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E3-4
Dimension Notes
Length 17.2 cm x Width 14.3 cm x Depth 2.5 cm
Condition Remarks
The metal is generally in very good condition, but scratched and spotted; some rust in grooves, but stable; pieces may be missing.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Person
Photo
JPG
Reference Comments
"Surgical Instrument Catalog," by Storz Instrument Co., 1966, pp. 261-262 (slightly similar to fig. N-6400); Ms. Lyall McPherson (daughter); photo (in file); CD #3
Research Facts
Judging from the width and dullness of the blade, the artifact likely performs the "Sluder method," that is, crushes rather than severs the tonsil.