Instruments used to remove fibroids, London, England, 1902-1920

Set of four Doyen's tubes tranchants, steel, nickel plated, by Down Bros Limited, London, England, 1902-1920

These instruments known as tube trachants were used to remove benign tumours of the uterus, known as fibroids. It was thought that fibroids were inoperable until the late 1800s. The instrument was probably invented by Eugène-Louis Doyen (1859-1916), a French surgeon renowned from his skill and speed who invented a large number of surgical instruments to aid his work.