COMMENTARY. Celsus describes the operation as follows: “Cutis circa glandem prehenditur et extenditur, donec illam ipsam condat; ibique deligatur: deinde, juxta pubem, in orbem tergus inciditur, donec coles nudatur; magnâque curâ cavetur, ne vel urinæ iter, vel venæ quæ ibi sunt, incidantur. Eo facto, cutis ad vinculum inclinatur, nudaturque circa pubem velut circulus; eoque linamenta dantur, ut caro increscat, et id impleat: satisque velamenti supra latitudo plagæ præstat. Sed, donec cicatrix sit, cinctum esse id debet: in medio tantum relicto exiguo urinæ itinere.” (vii, 25.) Rhases directs us to put a proper piece of lead upon the glans, then to draw the prepuce over it, and secure it with a ligature, having previously dissected it from the parts below, if necessary. (Cont. xiv.) This is much the same as our author’s operation for phimosis. See section lv. The reader will find the ancient operation described by Fabricius ab Aquapendente. (Œuv. Chirurg. ii, 61.) SECT. LIV.—ON HYPOSPADIÆUM, OR IMPERFORATE GLANS PENIS. In many children the glans is not perforated at birth, but the meatus is situated under the part called canis, at the termination of the glans. Hence they can neither make water forwards unless they draw up the member to the pubes, nor procreate, as the semen cannot be injected direct into the uterus. In addition to these defects, the complaint occasions no ordinary deformity. Wherefore, the simplest and least dangerous mode of operation is that by amputation. Having then placed the patient in a supine posture, we have to stretch the glans forcibly with the fingers of the left hand, and then with the point of a scalpel we are to amputate the glans at the corona, not making the amputation obliquely, but carving it, as it were, all round, so that an eminence may appear in the middle resembling the glans. And since a hemorrhage frequently takes place, we may stop it by styptics if possible, but if not, we must have recourse to burning with slender cauteries. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Galen makes mention of this deformity. (De usu Partium.) See also Theophilus. (De Fab. Hom. v, 22.) Albucasis evidently transcribes our author’s description. The part named _canis_ (κυὼν) by our author is called _finis capitis virgæ_ in the translation of Albucasis, and _finis coronæ_ in the translation of Haly Abbas. (Pract. ix. 44.) We do not remember to have seen the term κυὼν applied by any other medical author to a part of membrum virile. Perhaps the proper word is ἳς _gent._ ἱνὸς which is applied by Galen to a part of the genital member. (Meth. Med. xiv. 16.) Guido de Cauliaco directs us to make an opening with a suitable instrument and introduce a canula of lead or wood. (iv, 2.) SECT. LV.—ON PHIMUS, OR PHIMOSIS.