Farlow’s Tonsil Snare

Description: Tonsils are lymph nodes located at the top of the throat at the entrance to the digestive system used to filter out bacteria and fight infections in the body. Occasionally, however, these tonsils can become infected and give rise to tonsillitis which causes irritation prompting their frequent removal. The device shown is from the 1920s which is used in tandem with snare wire to wrap around the tonsils, however the surgical removal of tonsils have been in practice for nearly three thousand years with ties to ancient Hindu culture.

Origin: Circa 1920s; United States