[Reprinted from The Medical News, December 1, 1883.] 
A NEW WIRE SNARE &RASEUR. 
CHARLES E. SAJOUS, M. D., 
Instructor on Laryngology and Ehinology in the Summer and Post-Graduate Courses, Jefferson Medical College, Etc, 
The accompanying cuts represent an instrument which I 
have had constructed for the extirpation of intra-nasal 
growths. While possessing all the merits of other wire 
ecraseurs, it has the advantage of being much less complicated, 
narrower one, or end-piece, is 4 inches long and inch in 
diameter, and is threaded at one end to fit tightly in that of 
the second or larger tube. This is only 3 inches in length, 
and £ inch in diameter. The two rods are also of different 
sizes, their diameters allowing their introduction into the 
tubes, the cavities of which they fill, and along which they 
can move freely. The end-rod, about the thickness of a 
crochet-needle, is inch longer than the narrow tube and pro- 
tudes through it. Its end is furnished with an egg-shaped 
needle-eye. The other end is threaded to fit in that of the 
larger rod, which is also inch longer than the tube contain- 
ing it, and threaded throughout its entire length for the move- 
ment over its surface of a milled-nut. This nut lies in close 
apposition to the posterior end of the large tube, and when 
revolved from left to right, causes the rod to descend. Near 
the middle of the instrument is a ribbed finger-rest to insure 
the operator a firm hold. Rotation of the rods in the tubes is 
prevented by a ridge in, and at the end of the larger tube, cor- 
responding with a narrow, flattened, longitudinal surface on 
the threaded rod. 
In other instruments, the wire has to be passed throughout 
the entire extent of the tubes and attached either to rings, 
pins, etc., or whatever the inventor may have thought best, a 
rather lengthy and sometimes difficult procedure, especially 
if the inside of the instrument be a little rusty. In that in- 
troduced in this paper, but a small piece of wire is needed, say 
two or three inches, as the case may be ; this is doubled into a 
loop, and the ends passed through the eye until they protrude 
about a quarter of an inch. Traction being then caused by 
turning the milled-nut, the end of the rod will disappear in 
the tube, doubling the wire ends on the loop. As shown in 
the annexed cut, representing the end of rod as seen through 
a lens, a shallow groove connects the needle-eye with the tip 
of the rod on each side. When traction is induced, the ends 
on one side, and the apex of the loop on the other, half fill 
these grooves, and the pressure exerted by the surrounding 
tube holds them as tightly as in a vise. The edge of the 
needle-eye is rounded and smooth so as to avoid a too sharp 
bend in the wire, which would cause it to break. For opera- 
tions in the pharyngeal vault, there is a curved end which 
can be attached to the narrow tube and held there by a self- 
acting spring. 
Besides the simplicity of its construction, this instrument 
presents advantages which I think it advisable to enumerate: 
Ist. It is strong as well as light, and its different parts can 
readily be separated for cleansing. 
2d. The wire can be attached in a moment and as rapidly 
withdrawn. 
_ 3d. The loop being close to its point of attachment, it is not 
liable to twist on its axis. 
4th. The loop being at one end, the milled-nut at the other, 
and the point of support in the centre, it is evenly balanced. 
sth. The milled-nut being immovable longitudinally, its ro- 
tation does not involve lateral motion of the operator’s arm, 
thereby avoiding pressure of the point of the instrument 
against the tumor. 
While being specially adapted to inti'a-nasal operations, ex- 
tirpation of polypi, hypertrophic thickenings of the nasal 
mucous membrane, adenoid vegetations of the pharyngeal 
vault, etc., it seems to me that it could be used with advantage 
in gynecology, aural surgery, and all operations in which an 
dcraseur would be indicated. 
Magnified end of needle-rod. 
Longitudinal section of instrument. 
Its external appearance. 
and consequently easier of manipulation. It consists of five 
pieces : two cylindrical tubes, two rods, and a milled-nut. 
The two tubes are made of steel and of different sizes. The 
MANUFACTURED AND FOR SALE BY 
WILLIAM SNOWDEN, 
[ESTABLISHED 1821.] 
MANUFACTURER AND IMPORTER OF 
No. 7 SOUTH ELEVENTH STREET, 
PHILADELPHIA. 
Price of Instrument, $3.00. Sent by mail on receipt of price.