Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-28
Bodily Repairs.

A man, now and then, has the misfortune
N lose his nose. What would be the greatest
sopoueror that ever lived without this usual
snpendage Many man would as soon lose
his life as his nose; hence the skill that he ex-
ertsd to supply its place when lost, Of old,
the organ was modelled as Tar as possible III
the form of the Old member, and then the
permanent structure was shaped out OF beaten
silver, which was enameled so as to match the
complexion The metal proboscis was COM
moply secured to the face by means OF pair
Of spectaces which skillfuly hid the line OF
iuncture. There was one advantage In this
artificial nose 1T needed no pocket-handkerchiei
but then it suffered the drawback of possessing
no power of smell. Gutta percha has lately
been used in place Of metal; but, by means OF
the rhino plastic operation, the skilled surgeon
has, of late years, taken all repairs of the face
out of the hands of the orthopractic artist.
The surgeon calls in Dame Nature to his aid
at once. Having made figure in wash leather
ofthe amount OF skin required to form the new
member, he marks the triangular outline upon
the patients forehead. with the base upward.
He now dissects the skin down to the bone, hit
ing the cellular tissue, together with all the
blood vessels that nourish 1t. The stump, or
so much OF the nose that is retained, having
been pared down to give good shape, the Hap
of the skin is twisted upon itself just between
the brows, 80 as to maintain the circulation,
and then it is fastened upon the superstruc-
ture by sutures 10 few days adhesion takes
place, the circulation is thoroughly re estab-
lished, and very fair proboscis is the result.
Harelip, apertures in the cheek, are now re-
paired at the smallest notice, with admirable
results. In short, the skilled operator thinks
no more of shifting patches of skin about from
one place to another than the gardener thinks
of resodding bare place In the grassplat.-
Even lips are made, but not in this manner
When these have to be restored the modeler
has to be called 10, who models the features IN
silver, and colors it, In these days OF artificial
heightening by colors, even this deception may
pass muster, but all attempts at kissing must
be left out for obvious reasons. 4
A very ingenious method is adopted OF re-
pairing the hearing, when there has been no
loss or rupture of the drum ofthe ear. Itoften
happens that the shell, or fold of skin which
forms the outward ear, is defective. Some
cunning craftsman, noticing this, has contrlved
to mould flowers so that they shall tit in the
opening OF the ear / saw pair of convolvuli,
thus fitted and so fastened with wires that they
looked like adornments of the headdress; and,
no doubt, were very useful In collecting the
sound and dividing it upon the auditory nerve.
We think we have shown that art is capable of
repairing, after fashion, it IS true. every con-
ceiyable damage to the outward form, but
it is lust as far as ever, however, from attempt
ing to initiate the living principle within. The
smallest nerve, fibre, the minutest artery, show
workmanship it never even dreams OF copying.
Nature keeps her secrets, and will continue to
do so till the end OF time.