Kilner's needle holder

Anyone who has assisted, single-handedly, at a long plastic surgery operation, which will inevitably involve dozens of skin sutures, will have blessed the name of Thomas Pomfret Kilner (1890-1964) and his needle holder. This ingenious instrument combines the dual functions of a stitch-cutting scissors with a needle holder, so that the surgeon can put in a stitch, tie it and cut it without having, on each occasion, to put down the needle holder and pick up a pair of scissors, or to get his assistant to snip it for him.