title: [History and geography of ritual circumcision].
abstract: Ritual circumcisions can be classified into types according to the circumstances in which they are performed. Spiritual circumstances which express a community identity, usually religious and surrounded by a complex significance related to numerous myths, especially biblical and African. Non-religious circumcisions, particularly well illustrated by the USA model, comprise, apart from controversial medical and scientific reasons, a real social dimension and also reflect a desire for community membership. Regardless of the circumstances, surgeons may sometimes be asked to perform circumcision and should be aware of the significance of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Société Française d'Histoire de la Dermatologie, Musée de l'Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tilles
mesh_terms: D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history; D012068:Religion and Medicine