erative accessory, now that that same science, in its
enlightenment, pronounced it unsafe. The whole body of the Congregation
did not tamely submit to what they considered an innovation, and from
some of the mohels all possible resistance was opposed to prevent the
abolishment of this part of the operation from becoming a law. So
determined was this opposition in some instances that the Consistory of
Paris found it necessary to impose on all the mohels an obligation,
bound by an oath, that they would respect the law. Those who refused to
take the obligation gave up their vocation.

The Grand Rabbi of Paris, at the time of this reformation, M. Ennery,
was one of the most zealous supporters of the new departure. The
influence of the French pervaded northward, and the _mezizah_ was
abolished in Brunswick, Dr. Solomon, a learned Hebrew of that State,
being instrumental in having it done legally. The discussion of this
subject, in 1845, had one very happy effect,--the supporters of the
reformed idea of the rite issued a circular letter to all the leading
continental surgeons and medical men asking for their opinion on several
points in relation thereto, especially, however, on this part of the
rite. The opinions of many of these will be referred to in the medical
part of this work.

The after-treatment of the circumcised infant is governed more or less
by local habits and the individual intelligence of the mohel and his
experience. After turning back the inner fold of the prepuce, the parts
are covered with a small, square bandage, with an aperture to admit the
passage of the glans. This, and the subsequent small bandage of old
linen, which is calculated to hold it in place, are slightly coated with
a powder composed of lycopodium, with the slight addition, at times, of
Monsel's salts, alum-powder, or some vegetable astringent. Over these
another compress is placed, to prevent the friction of the clothes of
the infant or of the bedding. The infant then receives a final
benediction, and the godmother then receives the child in her arms and
carries it to its cot or crib. The operator generally visits the infant
in the afternoon of the operation, and carefully inspects the dressings,
to see that no haemorrhage has supervened.

It is customary to place the child in a bath, either the same evening or
on the following morning, the object of this being to remove and to
facilitate the removal of the dressings, which are more or le