HEBRAIC CIRCUMCISION.

(From an old sixteenth century Italian print in the author's collection, representing the scene of the Holy Circumcision.)

REFERENCE SERIES.

HISTORY

OF

CIRCUMCISION

FROM THE

EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT.

MORAL AND PHYSICAL REASONS FOR ITS PERFORMANCE,

WITH A

HISTORY OF EUNUCHISM, HERMAPHRODISM, ETC., AND
OF THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS PRACTICED

UPON THE PREPUCE.

BY

P. C. REMONDINO, M.D.

(JEFFERSON),
Member of the American Medical Association, of the American Public Health Association,
of the San Diego County Medical Society, of the State Board of Health of
California, and of the Board of Health of the City of San Diego;
Vice-President of California State Medical Society and of

Southern California Medical Society, etc.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, by

F. A. DAVIS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C., U. S. A.

Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.:
The Medical Bulletin Printing House,

1231 Filbert Street.

PREFACE.

In ancient Egypt the performance of circumcision was at one time limited to the priesthood, who, in addition to the cleanliness that this operation imparted to that class, added the shaving of the whole body as a means of further purification. The nobility, royalty, and the higher warrior class seem to have adopted circumcision as well, either as a hygienic precaution or as an aristocratic prerogative and insignia. Among the Greeks we find a like practice, and we are told that in the times of Pythagoras the Greek philosophers were also circumcised, although we find no mention that the operation went beyond the intellectual class. In the United States, France, and in England, there is a class which also observe circumcision as a hygienic precaution, where, from my personal observation, I have found that circumcision is thoroughly practiced in every male member of many of the families of the class, this being the physician class. In general conversation with physicians on this subject, it has really been surprising to see the large number who have had themselves cir. cumcised, either through the advice of some college professor while attending lectures or as a result of their