“Fahnestock’s Tonsillotome incorporates an annular knife, moving through a split ring.  The tonsil is encircled by this ring, and a stout needle on the exterior of the instrument is pushed through the gland for transfixing it.  When thus secured, the parts that protrude are cut by pulling on the handle fixed by a shaft to the blade and thus two hands are required.”  - 1889 Tiemann.