I 
Sed. IX. BuRSiE Mucosa of the Human Body. 43 
dered the operation tedious, from the neceffity of introducing the forceps re- 
peatedly. 
(H.) With limilar views I have long ventured to propofe a methodof operaung 
in hernia, which I am perfuaded, from a moll fuccefsful trial of it in different 
cafes, as well as from reafon and analogy, would render this frequent and very 
neceffary operation far lefs dangerous than it has hitherto proved in the hands 
of the moft experienced and dexterous furgeons. And as this is a fubjed of 
the utmofl importance, I fhall ftate it more fully than is perhaps neceffary for 
illuftrating the chief fubjed of this work. 
r 
That I may give a fair reprefentation of the opinion and pradice of the 
prefent mofl eminent furgeons, I fliall quote the following paffages from the 
works of one of the lateft and moft JufHy celebrated authors in furgery, I 
mean Mr Pott («)» 
In the firfl place, he tells us (p. 286), “ Thefe are my principal reafons for 
believing that the mere llridure made by the tendon is, in the generality 
of incarcerated ruptures, not only a fufficient, but the piimary and indeed 
the foie caufe of the fymptoms, and of all the mifchief.” 
When/ after bleeding, glyfters, &c. preffure, poflure, and agitation of the 
patient s body, are found to be infufficient for the redudion of the bowels, re- 
courfe is had to the operation ; which is direded to be done in the following 
manner : “ An incifion muft be made through the fkin and membrana adipo- 
“ fa, beginning juft above the place where the inteftine paffes out from the 
“ belly, and continuing it quite down to the lower part of the fcrotum— The 
“ place to make the incifion in the hernial fac is about an inch and a half be- 
“ low the ftridure, and the opening need not be larger than to admit the end 
‘‘ of the operator’s finger— With the knife on the finger the fac muft be di- 
vided quite up to the opening in the tendon, and down to tjie bottom of 
the 
(a) Pott’s works in Ato, i/75* 
I 
