A Chassaignac’s Ecraseur with metal handles.

This instrument comes with its original chain and is in good working order. It was used for treatment of haemorrhoids. The chain was looped over the offending pile and tightened using the ratchet mechanism hence stopping the circulation by strangulation. It was also used to removed uterine or ovarian tumours and was preferred in these cases because the process of crushing with a chain produced less bleeding than excisions made with with a scalpel.

• From the Phisick collection