The object of the following few pages is to provide a basis of instruction in the surgical aspect of the Jewish rite of circumcision. The performance of this simple operation is not limited to medical men. It is therefore essential that the lay Mohel should possess a scientific knowledge of the important task he undertakes. The Initiation Society which controls the instruction of Mohelim has arranged a Syllabus which guarantees such an acquaintance with the subject. This little book is planned in accordance with that syllabus. Its main object is to bring the principles of Asepsis within the information of everyone acting as a Mohel, and to insist upon the urgent need of carrying these principles into practice. The greatest advance in modern surgery has been to show how wounds become infected and cause general blood poisoning. This applies both to wounds made by the knife of the Surgeon as well as to accidental injuries. The principles concerned in this matter involve not only the arrangements necessary for a severe and prolonged operation but also those required for the simple circumcision of an infant. It is therefore essential that those who perform ritual circumcision should be familiar with the elementary teachings of the Antiseptic System of Surgery which is now universally adopted even in the most trifling surgical proceedings. Heavy responsibility lies upon the Mohel to carry out every case strictly in accord with the lessons of surgical cleanliness. Surgical Cleanliness begins where ordinary cleanliness leaves off. Its object is to destroy certain minute particles of matter which are invisible to the naked eye, but which are living organisms of a vegetable nature, able to grow very luxuriantly in blood, and wound discharges. Here they produce a poison which gets absorbed into the body, causing serious symptoms of disease; or they themselves enter the blood stream and circulate in it with even more disastrous results. These organisms can be observed under the microscope, but can only be seen by the naked eye when growing together in colonies after being planted in such substances as gelatine or broth, or on the surface of a slice of potato. They correspond exactly to the growth of mould or fungus on stale cheese or meat, or to the growth of yeast in fermenting grape juice. When seen separately under the microscope, or when growing in the mass they possess very distinct characters so that the expert is able to distinguish the one from the other, with the same confidence as a pear may be distinguished from a fig. CONTENTS Chapter I.-- Causes of Infection of Wounds. Chapter II.-- Results of Infection of Wounds Chapter III.-- Elements of the Antiseptic method Chapter IV.-- Surgical Anatomy Chapter V.-- Technique of Operation The Dressing Abnormalities Chapter VI.-- Repair of the Wound Chapter VII.-- Hæmorrhage