A number of torsion forceps have been devised, but of all those seen by the writer, none has fully met the requirements of simplicity in construction and facility in use. Some are so complicated that considerable practice is needed before they can be skilfully manipulated and they have so many parts that great care is needed to keep them in perfect working order. Others, though very cleverly made and showing some ingenuity upon the part of the inventors, need both hands to be applied, and that alone is a sufficient drawback to prevent their being of great service.
Torsion, as practiced by many surgeons with the ordinary hemostatic clamp, is at the best an uncertain operation. If applied with one hand the danger is imminent of tearing the coats of the vessel at some point beyond the bite of the forceps, on account of the unsteadiness of the instrument, and