Schneider T
S Afr Med J. 1976 Mar 27;50(14):556-8.
The origin of circumcision is shrouded in antiquity. Mummies, 6 000 years old, have been reported to show evidence of circumcision but the first definite account appears in Genesis, chapter 17. Many nations practise it as a rite, the time of its performance varying from soon after birth to early manhood. Antiochus Epiphanes prohibited it in Palestine and the introduction of Greek gymnasia where nudity was the practice, led to many seeking to become uncircumcised. Celsus has described such an operation which appears to have been successful. In Rome under Hadrian and in 16th century Spain a heavy funnel-shaped copper tube fitting was used as another method of restoring the prepuce. The debate concerning the value of circumcision has continued up until the present day.
包皮环切术的起源已湮没在远古时代。据报道，6000年前的木乃伊有包皮环切术的证据，但最早的确切记载出现在《创世纪》第17章。许多国家将其作为一种仪式来实行，施行的时间从出生后不久到青春期早期不等。安条克四世在巴勒斯坦禁止该仪式，而希腊体育馆盛行裸体的习俗，这导致许多人试图恢复包皮。塞尔苏斯描述了这样一种手术，似乎很成功。在罗马哈德良统治时期以及16世纪的西班牙，一种沉重的漏斗形铜管装置被用作恢复包皮的另一种方法。关于包皮环切术价值的争论一直持续到今天。
