Sect. IX. BuRs^i MuebSiE of the Human Body. 45 
it is attended with inflammation,” &c. {c). The fame thing has occurred 
to other eminent furgeonS (^/)i To which the reader will pleafe to add what 
was before obferved, that if wounds be made into the abdomen of found ani- 
mals, and that a portion of the alimentary canal3 as large as that which is of- 
ten contained in a herniary fac, be handled and expofed to the air, the ani- 
mals frequently die. . . 
That the w'Ound of the tbndon or peritoneum contributes little or no- 
thing to the fatal event, appears. clearly from the following circumftances. 
In the firfl place, I might with great propriety quote the numerous expe- 
riments of Dr Haller and otherSi who have found that tendons maybe wound- 
ed without pain or material bad cbnfequences. But without dwelling on 
thefe experiments, I have in feveral cafes diredbed the aponeiirofis of the hu- 
man tempbral mufcle to be cut largely in fradures of the cranium ; I have 
direded an indfion to be made in the apaneurbfis of the biceps flexor cubiti, 
for the difeharge of fetid matter confined By it ; I have feen it repeatedly di- 
vided in the Operation for aneurifm I have in manyTiving animals cut the 
linea alba and the peritonaeum freely I have in two cafes of bubonocele cut 
freely the tendon of the ring of the external oblique ; and in two cafes of cru- 
rd hernia, divided with like freedom the tendon of the external oblique, cal- 
led Ligament of Fallopius. In two of thefe cafes, the peritonaeum, which wa‘s 
thickened, and formed a ftridure at the neck of the fac, was divided; yet all 
thefe incifions were performed without producing any dangerous confequences. 
In like manner, I have feen the vaginal coat of the tefticle laid open by inci- 
fion ; but the dreflings having flipped from between the lips of the incifion, 
thefe grew together without producing fuch a degree of inflammation as feem- 
ed neceflary to effectuate a cure, fo that there was a neceflity of tearing them 
afunder to introduce dreflings and to admit the air. • 
M We 
(c) See Sharp Op. of Surg. 1761, p. 28. 
(if) J. L. Petit Tr. des Mai. Chir. 1774, T. 2. p. 354. &c. 
