“Simple _excision_ of the _clitoris_ has been practised for very many centuries by certain nations,” and I purpose quoting some interesting observations just published by Dr. T. H. Tanner, upon the subject. His first extract is from Strabo, the geographer, A.D. 21, who, in speaking of the Egyptians, says:—“They _circumcise_ the males and _excise_ the females, as is the custom also among the Jews, who are of Egyptian extraction.” The custom appears to have been continued down to a recent period, and Mr. W. G. Brown,[4] who resided for some time at Darfour, North Africa, writing in 1779, thus alludes to it:—“The excision of females is a peculiarity with which the northern nations are less familiar; yet it would appear that this usage is more evidently founded on physical causes, and is more clearly a matter of convenience, than the circumcision of males, as it seems not to have been ordained by the precept of any inspired writer.” ----- Footnote 4: Travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, from the year 1792 to 1798, p. 347. London, 1799. ----- “This excision is termed in Arabic ‘_chafadh_.’ It consists of cutting off the clitoris a little before the period of puberty, or at about the age of _eight_ or _nine_ years.” Again, the Nubian traveller[5] _Burckhardt_ tells us—“The daughters of the Arabs _Ababde_, and _Djaafere_, who are of Arabian origin, and inhabit the western bank of the Nile from Thebes, as high as the cataracts, and generally those of all the people to the south of _Kenne_ and _Esne_ (as far as Sennaar) undergo circumcision, or rather _excision_ (excisio-clitoridis,) at the age of from _three_ to _six_ years: Girls thus treated are called _mukhaeyt_.” ----- Footnote 5: Travels in Nubia, by the late John Lewis Burckhardt, p. 332. London, 1819. ----- But perhaps the most trustworthy account of the circumcision of females in Western Africa is that given by the late Mr. W. F. Daniel, who was a distinguished member of our own profession. He tells us that “The excisive process in Western Africa is variously performed in accordance with the usages of the different districts where it is resorted to. The operation consists either of:— “1. Simple excision of the clitoris; 2. excision of the nymphæ; 3. excision of both nymphæ and clitoris; 4. excision of a portion of the labia pudendi, with either or all of the preceding structures.