CIRCUMCISION

n. Su*rk-u3m-si2z'yusn. Gr., jrepiTOftJj. Heb., shechitah. Lat., circumcisio (from circum, around, and ccedere, to cut). "Fr.,cir concision. Ger., Beschneidung. It.,cir con cis i one. Sp., circuncision. The operation of cutting off the end of the prepuce by a circular incision. The term is sometimes made to include the operation of slitting the prepuce so as to enlarge its orifice, also that of removing the clitoris or the nympha a. C. of the male is general among the Jews as a religious rite, and it prevails also among various oriental races. It is often done for phimosis, for adhesion of the prepuce to the glans, and for the relief of neuroses supposed to depend on phimosis; and its general adoption has been advocated U, blue; U, lull; U4, full; U, urn; U, like tt (German). [s. 295]