The ordinary way of performing the operation by modern surgeons is by what is known as the Bumstead circumcision. It was not an invention of Bumstead, but was adopted by him in preference to all others. The requisites are a sharp-pointed bistoury, blunt-pointed scissors, and a pair of Henry's phimosis forceps, with fine needles and fine oculists' suture silk. The penis is allowed to hang naturally and the position of the corona glandis marked on the outer skin with a pen and ink, which is to serve as a guide for the incision. The prepuce is now drawn forward until this line is brought in front of the glans and grasped between the blades of the forceps. The prepuce is now transfixed, and, with a downward cut, that portion is severed; the knife's edge is now turned upward and the excision finished. The forceps are now removed and the integument allowed to retract; with the scissors the inner mucous fold is now split along the dorsum and trimmed off so as to leave about half an inch in front of the corona. The parts are then brought together with the continuous suture and dressed according to the fancy of the surgeon. Care must be taken _not to bruise_ the parts with the forceps, as, in such cases, sloughing of the sutured edges will be the result instead of union. I have seen this accident happen more than once, in one case being followed by a penitis that seriously complicated matters. It has been my practice to use fine silver-wire and catgut sutures in all operations on the prepuce; they excite less suppuration as well as less irritation. In case of need, the silver can be left in longer, and they are much easier of removal than the silk; besides, they have the advantage of not cutting. In the after-treatment the same general plan can be followed as with any amputated stump, except that it must not be forgotten that at the end of this organ dwells what has been termed the _sixth_ sense, and that heat and moisture are very apt to awaken the dormant energies of the organ, even after it has undergone cruel mutilation, and even has suffered considerable loss of blood; for that reason it is best always to avoid wet or sloppy dressing, or too much ointment, as they are more apt to cause erection than to do any good. Besides, I find water does here, as elsewhere, interfere with the deposited plastic matter, properly organizing into cicatricial tissue; so that I prefer a snug, dry dressing, which is left on for four or five days without being interfered with, and light covering, plain diet, quiet, with fifteen grains each of bromide of sodium and chloral hydrate at bed-time to insure rest and freedom from annoying erections. Where the organ is large in its flaccid state, it is better to support it on a small oakum-stuffed pillow, made for the purpose, than to let it hang downward. Should the stitches give way and the skin tend to retract, the plan proposed on a previous page can be followed to advantage. In