operations for the repair of the nose, lips and
ears, though these operations are generally supposed to have been
recently devised.

He describes lithotomy, and operations upon the eye, as practised at
Alexandria, both probably introduced there from India. Subcutaneous
urethrotomy was also practised in his time.

Trephining had long been a well-known operation of surgery. There is an
account in detail of how amputation should be performed.

The teaching of Celsus in reference to dislocations and fractures is
remarkably advanced. Dislocations, he points out, should be reduced
before inflammation sets in, and in failure of union of fractures, he
recommends extension and the rubbing together of the ends of the broken
bone to promote union. If necessary, after minor measures have failed to
promote union, he recommends an incision down to the ends of the bones,
and the open incision and the fracture will heal at the same time.

It is interesting to find that Celsus knew of the danger of giving
purgatives in strangulated rupture of the bowels. For uncomplicated
rupture he recommends reduction by taxis and operation. Cauterization of
the canal is part of the operation. He also gives careful directions for
removing foreign bodies from the ears.

Celsus writes very fully on haemorrhage, and describes the method of
tying two ligatures upon a blood-vessel, and severing it between the
ligatures. His method of amputating in cases of gangrene by a simple
circular incision was in use down to comparatively modern times. He
describes catheterization, plastic operations on the face, the resection
of ribs for the cure of sinuses in the chest walls, operation for
cataract, ear disease curable by the use of the syringe, and operations
for goitre. These goitre operations are generally supposed to be a
recent triumph of surgery.

Celsus also had knowledge of dentistry, for he writes of teeth
extraction by means of forceps, the fastening of loose teeth with gold
wire, and a method of bursting decayed and hollow teeth by means of
peppercorns forced into the cavity. He has described also many of the
most difficult operations in obstetrics.

When it is remembered that Celsus lived centuries before the
introduction of chloroform and ether, it is wonderful to contemplate
what was accomplished long ago.

The qualities which should distinguish a surgeon were described by
Celsus thus: "He should not be old, his hand should be firm and steady,