Hay @bachophile!

[George K]

Do you follow this guy on twitter?

You should. He looks at the history and use of various surgical instruments (and sutures).

Here's his look at DeBakey forceps:

(including pictures of use of the DeBakeys on breast tissue - from a chicken)

[George K]

[George K]

And, while we're on the subject, how do you pronounce, not spell, this device?

Every surgeon I worked with pronounced it as a "wheat-lander."

Totally wrong it is a Weitlaner retractor, developed by Felix Weitlaner..

It should be pronounced "Veyt-lanner" or perhaps "Feyt-lanner."