What is the origin of this singular custom? Is it to remove in infancy, from the vulva of the girls, certain prominences which, at a later period, might prove inconvenient? Has this custom been established with a view to cleanliness? May it not be, to take away the power of self-abuse? Whatever may be the reason of its existence, its effect is to deaden the venereal sense, by removing a portion of the surfaces in which it is situated. This seems positively established, by the testimony of Niebuhr, and many others. If this be so, may not the removal of the internal labia and of the preputial portion of the clitoris--especially if these parts are large--be attempted, in order to avoid a more extreme thing, which we shall mention directly. Might not this removal blunt, if it did not deaden, the propensity to solitary enjoyments, and render the other remedies employed more efficient? Although we have but little confidence in this operation, yet, when we consider that a superficial cauterization of the nymphæ and clitoris has cured nymphomania, as will be stated hereafter, we can conceive that the excision of the internal labia may in some ca«es present a chance of success. Farther: this operation is not very painful--is easily performed--and cannot, even under the least favorable circumstances, be attended with any inconvenience, except that of being useless. It certainly would not be practised generally if it caused severe pains, or was followed by bad consequences. In Africa, it is performed by the females of Said, who use a razor. And it should be remembered, too, that it is not children who submit to this operation; but girls eight or ten years old, as may be seen in the travels of Niebuhr and Sonnini.