ss
saturated and clotted with blood. After the removal of these, the wound
is redressed, as previously, except that some cerate--ointment of roses
or some other mild ointment--is used. Some prefer the simple water
dressing from beginning to end. Since the introduction of creasote, acid
phenique, and carbolic acid, many mohels are in the practice of washing
the parts with water impregnated with one of these before performing the
operation, and using subsequently the same form of lotion at every
dressing. In case of haemorrhage there is an haemostatic water or lotion,
which has been long used by the German and Polish mohels with
considerable success, and which, in ordinary cases, has been found to be
all that was required. This water, called by the French "Mixture
d'arguesbusade," "Eau vulneraire spiriteuse de Theden," and by the
Germans as "Spritzwasser" and "Schusswasser," is composed as follows:--

Acetic acid, 10 grammes.
Rectified spirits of wine, 5 "
Diluted sulphuric acid, 21/2 "
Clarified honey, 8 "

This mixture is well mixed and filtered, and is then kept in a
tightly-stoppered vial.

Dr. Bergson uses a mixture composed of diluted sulphuric acid, 1 part;
alcohol, 3 parts; honey, 2 parts; and 6 parts of wine vinegar.

Haemostatic powders are also used by the Hebrews, being more conveniently
kept or carried than the haemostatic waters. In Russia and in Poland they
are composed of decomposed or decayed hawthorn-wood powder and
lycopodium. That of Berlin is composed of Armenian bole, red clay,
dragons' blood, powdered rose-leaves, powdered galls, and powdered
subcarbonate of lead. In France a haemostatic fluid, composed of dragons'
blood digested in turpentine, is in vogue. The Eau de Pagliari is also
used; it is composed of a mixture of tincture of benzoin, 8 ounces;
powdered alum, 1 pound; and 10 pounds of water, boiled together for six
hours, and is considered a powerful styptic. In addition to these, burnt
linen, spiders' webs, starch-powder, powdered alum, and plaster-of-Paris
powder are used by different mohels. Touching the bleeding points with a
pointed pencil of nitrate of silver is also a practice understood by the
Jewish circumcisers.

CHAPTER XIV.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CIRCUMCISION?

There are those, even among the Hebrews, who are so imbued with the
purely theological idea of the origin, performance, and cause