The dressing forceps ("Kornzange") is one of the very few surgical instruments that have extensively preserved its form, its function and even its name throughout the centuries. In the Germany of the 16th century, the dressing forceps was mentioned as a widely used instrument among the barber-surgeons (Stromayr 1559, Ryff 1559). At that time, it mostly found use as a foreign body removing forceps. The dressing forceps can be traced back until today in German or English surgery instrument-books in nearly unchanged shape.