A single word on the anatomy. Tracing a femoral rupture from within outwards, we find that its first stage is to push its way through the weak point of the arch formed by Poupart's ligament, that is, the spot called the crural arch, bounded on its outer side by the sheath of fascia which surrounds the femoral vein; above by Poupart's ligament; on its inner side by the curved fibres of Poupart's ligament, which, curving backwards, are inserted into the ilio-pectineal line, have a sharp falciform edge, and have been dignified by the special name of Gimbernat's ligament (Fig. XXXII. G); and below by the os pubis itself. This arch or ring thus bounded is, in the normal state of parts, filled by a layer of fibrous texture, a little fat, and occasionally a small gland. These parts are pushed forwards in the descent of the hernia, and in a small recent one may be said to form a sort of inner covering; in a larger and older one they are split by the hernia, and, while forming a constriction round its neck, leave the fundus of the sac, so far as they are concerned, quite uncovered. A femoral hernia may stop there, satisfied with merely coming through the ring, and, if sudden and recent in a healthy, well-knit subject, such a rupture is exceedingly dangerous, the constriction being very severe, and the consequent gangrene of the bowel very rapid if unrelieved. In most cases, however, it makes its way still further out, and the next covering it gains is from the cribriform fascia. This is the layer of fibres, pierced (as its name implies) with orifices for the passage of veins and lymphatics, which stretches between the two curved edges of the saphenous opening. It varies much in strength; when the rupture has been slow and gradual, it will certainly add a covering of greater or less thickness, but where the hernia is large and old we must not expect to find many traces of the cribriform fascia, at least over the fundus of the tumour. The ordinary superficial fascia of the part, with its fat, nerves, veins, and lymphatics, and the thin skin of the groin, are the only remaining coverings. It is very remarkable how exceedingly thin all the so-called coats become in large femoral herniæ of long standing, especially in thin old people.