PREFACE.

In bringing this book before the notice of the profession I have given the results of my experience, which has now been considerable, in a department of surgery always of special interest to me, and to which I have devoted particular attention. The privilege enjoyed for many years of assisting the late Sir William Fergusson gave me an early insight into these operations, and an unusual opportunity of learning their details at the hands of so distinguished a surgeon. I have endeavoured to make the work as complete as possible, and to bring its contents up to date, and in this am greatly indebted to the assistance of my colleague Mr. Albert Carless, who has not only revised the whole work, indexed it, and seen it through the press, but has also written the chapter on Development. I gratefully acknowledge the kindness I have received from various sources in permitting the use of blocks for illustrations, notably from Mrs. Mason, the widow of the late Mr. Francis Mason, whose work on the subject is well known, from Mr. Oakley Coles, and many others, whose names will be found in the list of illustrations.

17, Harley Street, W.; 1891.