Designed by the physician Sir Ivan Whiteside Magill in the 1920s, Magill forceps are one of several tools that aided in the development of modern anesthesia. The tool combines long forceps with an angled handle, which keeps the hand out of the line of vision when a physician is inserting or removing tubes from the trachea or esophagus. Magill forceps also are used to remove small objects from the throat or mouth.

Also known as Magill’s forceps, Magill forceps come in several standard sizes. In addition to a 10-inch size used for adults, there’s also a 8.0-inch size for use on children. These various lengths allow physicians to use the proper length of instrument depending on the patient’s size. Like many medical tools that are inserted into the body to perform a task, Magill forceps are made of stainless steel, which makes them easy to clean and sterilize.

The history of Magill forceps goes back to World War I. Born in 1888 in Ireland, Magill developed his approach to anesthesia after seeing accidental battlefield deaths caused by anesthesia overdosing. At that time, patients were anesthetized using a rag soaked with chloroform. The chances of overdose were great with this inexact administration.

• Stainless Steel construction
• Adult and child sizes available