A 19th century Fahnestock type tonsillotome, or tonsil guillotine made from steel, blued steel and with a crosshatched ivory handle.

The handle pivots on a hinge from left to right which allows access to either tonsils from the right or left side of the mouth. The loop would be placed around the tonsil and pushing the pointed steel prong forward would anchor the tonsil. The central shaft would be held with one hand and the handle retracted with the other causing the tonsil to be cut.

• From the Phisick collection