Early accounts of removing fibrous growths of the uterus typically involved the passing of a ligature around the base of a polypus, and day after day it was tightened, generally by twisting until the mass sloughed.  Such ligatures and torsions prevailed until the ecraseur, originally devised by Chassaignac for removal of hemorrhoids, was adopted for use in gynecology.  It encircles the mass by a chain loop which crushes its way through as it is reduced in size, and by lacerating rather than cutting it lessens the chance of hemorrhage. Subsequently the instrument evolved and the chain was replaced by a wire to ease application about the tumor. A nice example of a rather petit form, German Silver and un-plated steel, signed by the Parisian maker Galante, FC.