* * * * * COMMENTARY. The description of gastroraphé here given will be sufficiently intelligible upon an attentive perusal. It is taken from Galen. (Meth. Med. vi, 4.) By abdomen, in this place, is to be understood the abdominal parietes, namely, the skin and muscles. Galen explains that ἐπιγάστριον is used in this sense. Celsus gives a long description of a somewhat different method of performing gastroraphé. He uses two needles. (vii, 16.) Several modes of performing the operation are minutely described by Albucasis. He relates the history of a case in which he practised gastroraphé. (ii, 87.) Haly Abbas recommends the warm bath, to facilitate reduction. The method of performing gastroraphé which he directs, is similar to the suture now practised upon dead bodies after dissections. (Pract. ix, 43.) Rhases describes various modes of gastroraphé. He speaks of performing the operation with the string of a harp. (Cont. xxviii.) That the strings of the ancient harp were made of the guts of a sheep is clearly proved from the following passage in the Odyssey of Homer: ὡς ὁτ’ ἀνὴρ φορμίγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς ρηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ ἐπὶ κόλλοπι χορδὴν, ἄψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐυστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἶὸς. Οδυσ. φ. The modes of gastroraphé described by Galen and Celsus are explained and commented upon by Van Swieten (Comment. cccxi), and by Fabricius ab Aquapendente. (Œuv. Chir. ii, 53.) A complete history of the operation is given by Sprengel. (Hist. de la Méd. xviii, 21.) Ambrose Paré performed the operation exactly like Galen. SECT. LIII.—ON DEFICIENCY OF THE PREPUCE. When there is a small deficiency in the skin of the penis, some, in order to repair the deformity, have attempted a double surgical operation; sometimes cutting the skin all round above at the commencement of the penis, in order that by this solution of continuity the skin may be drawn downwards until the glans (as it is called) be covered; and sometimes with a scalpel dissecting its inner surface from the root of the glans, and then drawing it downwards, and surrounding the glans with a soft ligature; but a piece of cloth must be interposed at the incision, in order to prevent an adhesion of the prepuce to the glans. Antyllus approves most of this method, of which he gives a full description, but we have been content with a brief outline, because it is rare that this surgical operation is required, as the complaint neither occasions any defect of the functional office, nor such deformity that one would choose to submit to the hazard of an operation on account of it. * * * * *