A fine example of a 19th Century Tonsillotome by Charriere & Collin of Paris in its original fitted leather case.

The instrument dissembles into its constituent parts with a cross-hatched ebony handle and two sizes of blade. The mechanisms works flawlessly and the tempered blue steel visible is evidence of the high build quality.

With the operator holding the instrument in his right hand, the circular blade would be placed around the tonsil. By pulling the trigger the guarded blades guillotine the tonsil.

• From the Phisick collection