therapeutic measure (recently, for the relief of
hypertrophied prostate). The custom is essentially Oriental in origin,
and was particularly used in polygamous countries, where the mission of
eunuchs was to guard the females of the harem. They were generally
large, stout men, and were noted for their vigorous health. The history
of eunuchism is lost in antiquity. The ancient Book of Job speaks of
eunuchs, and they were in vogue before the time of Semiramis; the King
of Lydia, Andramytis, is said to have sanctioned castration of both
male and female for social reasons. Negro eunuchs were common among the
Romans. All the great emperors and conquerors had their eunuchs.
Alexander the Great had his celebrated eunuch, Bagoas, and Nero, his
Sporus, etc. Chevers says that the manufacture of eunuchs still takes
place in the cities of Delhi, Lucknow, and Rajpootana. So skilful are
the traveling eunuch-makers that their mortality is a small fraction of
one per cent. Their method of operation is to encircle the external
genital organs with a tight ligature, and then sweep them off at one
stroke. He also remarks that those who retain their penises are of but
little value or trusted. He divided the Indian eunuchs into three
classes: those born so, those with a penis but no testicles, and those
minus both testicles and penis. Curran describes the traveling
eunuch-makers in Central India, and remarks upon the absence of death
after the operation, and invites the attention of gynecologists and
operators to the successful, though crude, methods used. Curran says
that, except those who are degraded by practices of sexual perversions,
these individuals are vigorous bodily, shrewd, and sagacious, thus
proving the ancient descriptions of them.

Jamieson recites a description of the barbarous methods of making
eunuchs in China. The operators follow a trade of eunuch-making, and
keep it in their families from generation to generation; they receive
the monetary equivalent of about $8.64 for the operation. The patient
is grasped in a semi-prone position by an assistant, while two others
hold the legs. After excision the wounded parts are bathed three times
with a hot decoction of pepper-pods, the wound is covered with paper
soaked in cold water, and bandages applied. Supported by two men the
patient is kept walking for two or three hours and then tied down. For
three days he is allowed nothing to drink, and is not allowed to pass
his urine, t