Female circumcision is widely spread throughout Africa in parts of Asia Mexico and South America. A simple gash is made in the pudenda with a flint knife in Mexico. Clitoridectomy is performed in most of the African tribes. Clitoridectomy with removal of parts of the labia minora is performed by certain of the African tribes. Introcision or cutting open the vagina is performed in Australia in those tribes in which ariltha (splitting the urethra) in males is practised. When British missionaries interfered with the practice in Kenya no Kenyan would marry the uncircumcised females. Infibulation is practiced most frequently in the north-east of Africa. In Asia it is practiced by the Mohammedan Malays and was used by the ancient Arabs. The labia is united by suture after ciscumcision. At marriage the orifice is forcibly opened. The age at which circumcision is performed varies from country to country. No people have any legend or theory as to the origin of the operation. Coercive measures used in dealing with age-long customs and beliefs are not only futile but dangerous. An elevation of public opinion should precede any radical changes in custom. The limitation of the operation to a simple clitoridectomy would be of great benefit. Enlightened administrators of health programs may teach enlightened natives of the medical value of discontinuing the practice in time.