With regard to the transversa plaga, it should seem by the use of that term, when he describes the manner of cutting women, that it was transverse with respect to the perineum; and indeed, it is natural to suppose, when the stone was brought forward by the fingers, and the neck only of the bladder was to be cut, that the incision should be made in that direction. But those, who contend that the transversa plaga was made transverse with respect only to the first incision, may urge, that Celsus in this very passage orders the incision of the neck of the bladder to be made so large, that the opening in the iter urinæ may exceed the dimensions of the stone. If, therefore, Celsus in this place intends that the urethra should be opened, one would suppose the incision must be made according to the length of that canal; but I believe it may be questioned, whether Celsus is sufficiently accurate in his notions of the anatomy of these parts, to determine his meaning by that expression.
It is very remarkable, that how much soever this operation of Celsus’s may have engaged the attention of later ages, neither Galen, Oribasius, nor Ægineta make the least mention of his method: nay Ægineta (lib. vi. cap. 60.) describes the cutting on the gripe nearly as it has been practised in our own age.
[30.] A crotchet, in the original uncus.) Our author here describes the instrument he mentions, and as the use is the same, and the form not very different from that once employed by modern surgeons, I have taken the liberty to use their term. But the reader will please to observe, that this uncus is different from that mentioned in chapter xxix. used in extracting a dead fœtus.
[31.] On the external part smooth.) As the ancient editions have exteriori, which is made extremely clear by our author’s description, Qua corpori jungitur, it is hardly worth while to observe that interiori in Linden must be an error of the press.
[32.] Knees.) Other copies have inguinibus, instead of in genibus.
[33.] Which by pressing upon the bladder.) Instead of Atque vesicam urgendo, in Linden and Almeloveen, I read Quæ vesicam urgendo, with Nicolaus, Pachel, Pinzi, and several other old editions.
[34.] Into the anus. In anum.) This is the reading of all the copies, which I have seen; but it is highly probable our author wrote colem for anum. For as I see no propriety in introducing a pipe into the anus, so in the very case before us, a catheter in the urethra, is at present esteemed the best method of cure.
[35.] Sore places.) It appears that in this place, Celsus uses the word cicatrix for a wound as well as a scar, of which I do not remember another instance in his work.
[36.] Which are brought to digestion.) I have here followed the old reading, in quibus pus moveri debet, because I think it more agreeable to our author’s practice.——Constantine had inserted non, in which he was followed by Linden and Almeloveen; he supported his correction by referring to p. 290. lib. 5. in the original, where Celsus gives directions about a hæmorrhage from wounds; but I own I can see nothing there to incline me to his opinion.