BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 253 



whilst the natives inhabiting the north side of the Murchison 

 River make the incision from the meatus to the scrotum, the sides 

 of the wound being kept apart by rubbing stones up and down it. 

 The instrument used is said to be a sharp stone, which is pre- 

 served afterwards with much secrecy. Dr. Robertson considers 

 the origin of the operation to be obscure, aud not from a desire to 

 restrict population. He states that as performed by the De Grey 

 blacks it is a mild form of malformation known as Hypospadias. 

 A large amount of interesting information is given about this rite 

 and its results by this author, which need not be repeated here, 

 but he distinctly states that it does not in his estiuiation prevent 

 fecundity. 



Dr. J. C. Cox has recorded* the observations of two gentlemen 

 who had lived amongst the blacks who practise the "Mika" 

 operation, Messrs. Sydney Brown, and H. Bloomfield. Dr. Cox 

 describes the rite as a slitting of the urethra "from the posterior 

 part of the meatus at the point of the glans, along the median line 

 of the under surface of the penis as far back as the scrotum." 

 Mr. S. Brown informed Dr. Cox that the " Mika " operation was 

 performed by the tribes to the northwest of Fort Bourke ; whilst 

 Mr. Bloomfield ascertained the existence of the custom about 

 Fort Constantine Station on the Cloncurry River, 270 miles south 

 of Norraanton ; about the head waters of the Cloncurry River ; 

 in theMackinlay Ranges; and amongst some other tribes mentioned 

 by Dr. Cox. 



An equally clear account of this singular ceremony is given by 

 Dr. J. M. Creed fwho calls it the " most perfect form of " Malthu- 

 sianism practicable." According to this writer the " Mika " 

 operation is practised throughout the whole of the interior of the 

 continent " from the eastern boundary of the watershed of the 

 Georgina River on the east, to nearly the settled districts of 

 Western Australia on the west, and from the coast range on the 

 north to Cooper's Creek Watershed on the south." He describes 



,'" 1 



* Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1881, V.. Pt. 4, p. 633. ' ' / 



+ Australian Medical Gazette, Vol. II., 1883, p. 95. '"v-j^ 



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-"Vi 



