Rhases states correctly that hernia generally arises from dilatation of the passage which leads from the cavity of the abdomen to the testicle. In ordinary cases, he says, there is no rupture of the peritoneum. He states that the contents of the hernial tumour are either intestines or omentum. The omentum, he adds, is the intestine most commonly found in ruptures. He says the peritoneum (_sifac_) lines the whole intestines and surrounds the testicles. Antyllus, from whom he gives a subsequent extract, states in like manner that the peritoneum descends to the testicles and forms the tunica elytroides, i. e. vaginalis. Antyllus also affirms that hernia arises from relaxation of the passage between the cavity of the abdomen and the testicles. This opinion regarding ruptures is maintained by several of the authorities quoted by Rhases. (Contin. xxiv.) Sprengel says of Rhases: “Sa théorie des hernies proprement dites est infiniment préférable à celle des Grecs.” (Hist. de la Méd.) The account which Rhases gives of ruptures is, no doubt, very correct; but there is every reason to suppose that it was entirely taken from the works of the Greek surgeons. The operations practised by the ancients for the radical cure of hernia cannot but appear to us extremely cruel and hazardous; and yet the danger attending them must have been less than is generally supposed, otherwise they could not have been so frequently performed as they were about two centuries ago. Fabricius ab Aquapendente mentions that a celebrated rupture doctor of his time informed him that he used to operate upon 200 patients at an average every year. Fabricius, however, prudently recommends us not to perform the operation except in extreme cases, and to be content in general with supporting the parts by means of a truss. The ancients never operated to relieve strangulated hernia. SECT. LXVI.—ON BUBONOCELE, OR INGUINAL HERNIA.