History of circumcision from the earliest times to the present : Moral and physical reasons for its performance, with a history of eunuchism, hermaphrodism, etc., and of the different operations practiced upon the prepuce

This work offers a sweeping survey of the practice of circumcision, tracing its origins from ancient Egypt through Greece, the Middle Ages, and into modern societies. The author examines how religious rites, social status, and notions of hygiene shaped the custom, and how it intersected with related phenomena such as eunuchism and intersex conditions. Along the way, readers encounter vivid descriptions of cultural attitudes and the moral arguments that have surrounded the procedure for centuries.

Written by a seasoned physician of the late nineteenth century, the book blends scholarly research with practical medical insight. It presents a clear discussion of the physical benefits and risks that motivated many families to adopt the practice, and includes a detailed overview of the various surgical techniques used at the time. Both medical professionals and curious lay listeners will find the historical narrative and the operative chapter an engaging window into a topic that continues to provoke debate.