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rs 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； the urethra being filled with a pewter plug。 It generally takes about one hundred days for the wound to heal； and two per cent of the cases are fatal。 There is nocturnal incontinence of urine for a long time after the operation。
Examples of castration because of excessive cupidity； etc。；a most unwarranted operation；are quite rare and are usually found among ecclesiastics。 The author of 〃Faustin； or le Siecle Philosophique；〃 remarked that there were more than 4000 castrated individuals among the ecclesiastics and others of Italy。 The virtuous Pope Clement XIV forbade this practice； and describes it as a terrible abuse； but in spite of the declaration of the Pope the cities of Italy； for some time； still continued to contain great numbers of these victims。 In France an article was inserted into the penal code providing severe punishment for such mutilations。 Fortunately castration for the production of 〃castrata；〃 or tenor singers； has almost fallen into disuse。 Among the ancient Egyptians and Persians amputation of the virile member was inflicted for certain crimes of the nature of rape。
Castration as a religious rite has played a considerable role。 With all their might the Emperors Constantine and Justinian opposed the delirious religion of the priests of Cybele； and rendered their offence equivalent to homicide。 At the annual festivals of the Phrygian Goddess Amma （Agdistis） it was the custom of young men to make eunuchs of themselves with sharp shells； and a similar rite was recorded among Phoenicians。 Brinton names severe self…mutilators of this nature among the ancient Mexican priests。 Some of the Hottentots and indigenous Australians enforced semicastration about the age of eight or nine。
The Skoptzies； religious castrators in Russia； are possibly the most famous of the people of this description。 The Russian government has condemned members of this heresy to hard labor in Siberia； but has been unable to extinguish the sect。 Pelikan； Privy Counsel of the government； has exhaustively considered this subject。 Articles have appeared in Le Progres Medical； December。 1876。 and there is an account in the St。 Louis Clinical Record； 1877…78。 The name Skoptzy means 〃the castrated；〃 and they call themselves the 〃White Doves。〃 They arose about 1757 from the Khlish or flagellants。 Paul I caused Sseliwanow； the true founder； to return from Siberia； and after seeing him had him confined in an insane asylum。 After an interview； Alexander I transferred him to a hospital。 Later the Councillor of State； Jelansky； converted by Sseliwanow； set the man free and soon the Skoptzies were all through Russia and even at the Court。 The principal argument of these people is the nonconformity of orthodox believers； especially the priests； to the doctrines professed； and they contrast the lax morals of these persons with the chaste lives； the abstinence from liquor； and the continual fasts of the 〃White Doves。〃 For the purpose of convincing novices of the Scriptural foundation of their rites and belief they are referred to Matthew xix。； 12： 〃and there be eunuchs which have made themselves for the kingdom of Heaven's sake；〃 etc。； and Mark ix。； 43…47； Luke xxiii。； 29： 〃blessed are the barren；〃 etc。； and others of this nature。 As to the operation itself； pain is represented as voluntary martyrdom； and persecution as the struggle of the spirit of darkness with that of light。 They got persons to join the order by monetary offers。 Another method was to take into service young boys； who soon became lost to society； and lied with effrontery and obstinacy。 They had secret methods of communicating with one another； and exhibited a passion for riches； a fact that possibly accounts for their extended influence。 The most perfect were those 〃worthy of mounting the white horse；〃 the 〃bearers of the Imperial seal；〃 who were deprived of the testicles； penis； and scrotum。 The operation of castration among these people was performed at one stroke or at two different times； in the former case one cicatrix being left； and in the latter two。 The greater numberthose who had submitted to the 〃first purification；〃 conferring upon them the 〃lesser seal〃had lost testicles and scrotum。 These people are said to have lost the 〃keys of hell；〃 but to retain the 〃key of the abyss〃 （female genitals）。 As instruments of excision the hot iron； pieces of glass； old wire； sharpened bone； and old razors are used。 Only nine fatal cases resulting from the operation are known。 At St。 Petersburg Liprandi knew a rich Skoptzy who constantly kept girlsmostly Germansfor his own gratification； soon after having entered into the 〃first purification。〃 Few of them were able to remain with him over a year； and they always returned to their homes with health irretrievably lost。 Women members of the order do not have their ovaries removed； but mutilation is practiced upon the external genitals； the mammae； and nipples。 The first ablation is obtained by applying fire or caustics to the nipples； the second by amputation of the breasts； one or both； the third by diverse gashes； chiefly across the breast； and the fourth by resection of the nymphae or of the nymphae and clitoris； and the superior major labia； the cicatrices of which would deform the vulva。 Figure 232 represents the appearance of the external genital organs of a male Skoptzy after mutilation； Figure 233 those of a female。
Battey speaks of Skoptzies in Roumania who numbered at the time of report 533 persons。 They came from Russia and practiced the same ceremonies as the heretics there。
CHAPTER XV。
ANOMALOUS TYPES AND INSTANCES OF DISEASE。
Tumors。In discussing tumors and similar growths no attempt will be made to describe in detail the various types。 Only the anomalous instances or examples； curious for their size and extent of involvement； will be mentioned。 It would be a difficult matter to decide which was the largest tumor ever reported。 In reviewing literature so many enormous growths are recorded that but few can be given here。 Some of the large cystic formations have already been mentioned； these are among the largest tumors。 Scrotal tumors are recorded