The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-19
THE KANGRA NosRMAKERs.
A Tribe of Kindoos that Mend the
Noses of The Opium-Eaters.

Noses OF Inc Op1uIn-GdU6FSs
From the ST. James Gazette.
A correspondent of the Allahabad Pioneer
p-ives an account of the Kagairas, a people
who have long enjoyed reputation as nose
makers. They live chiefly at Kangra, a
small hill canton in the Punjaub. Alto
gether there are fourteen families remain
ing, out of which only two members are
practical nosemakers. Their reputation
still remains. People come to them from
the remotest parts of Punjaub, and even
Afghanistan, actuated by the sole desire to
have their facial promontory repaired or
renewed. The Kangra noSemakers con-
slider their art as one specially granted to
them by the great Bajreshivu Devi of the
place. They therefore perform the opera
ton in strict secrecy. The writer says:
sit was only with great difficulty that
procured the following information respect
ing the modus operandi of this plastic opera
ton for restoration of nose from an old
bald and habitual opium eater. My friend
thinks nothing of daily consuming forty
five grains of opium, and whenever he can
afford, just to keep aglow the sunshine of
his mind, adds considerable amount of
bhang and chdrus (CdndbiS hadtca, leaves
,and extract) and arsenic. They say the
bald is well versed in the science of physic
and astroIogy, beside having deniZen of
the other world at his beck and call, by
whose assistance he is able to open the gates
of the unseen When sent for to advise on
difficult cases, he never fails, before going,
to summon and consult his ghostly servitor
as to the prognosis of the disease he is called
to cure. In the event of an unfavorable
prognosis, he declines to attend, but fur
nishes his would-be patient with the exact
date and hour of his demise.
1.-THE old bald, it seems, was a kind of
family doctor or professor of medicine to
~ fba aloTc N cor itx
has more than once witnessed the operation
of nose restoration. He therefore considers
himself in possession of the secret, If secret
it is. His narrative ran thus: After drug
ging their patient with some narcotic, the
Kangairas forthwith proceed to paint the
forehead with medlcated lotion as a pre-
liminarv step. On asking the composition
of this lotion, the only answer vouchsafed
was a grave shake of the head. The next
step is to cut piece of leather to the shape
and size of the required nose. This being
done, it is placed ON the forehead and used
to mark out the lines of incision. They
then beat the forehead with an old slipper
until the part marked out becomes swollen
and prominent Zinc tubes with plate
between them to serve the purpose of
Sept,Cnl naSt are then lodged in the nostrils.
The next proceeding is to disSect a flap of
the swollen flesh with a razor, leaving the
lower part attached to the forehead. In
doing this they take vein with the flap,
the name and position of which is a pro-
found secret known only to himself and the
nose makers. The success of the operation
depends entirely on the preservation and
careful dissection of this secret vein. The
next step was to turn up the flap with the
secret vein a particular way over the tubes.
This being accomplished, the other parts of
the nose are pared and fastened to 1t with
silk ligature. and the whole thing is brought
N a Nv ha a
ointment
For several days, until the wound is
healed, the patient must keep recumbent
position. On union taking place, the piece
which was left attached to the forehead is
severed, and the patient comes forth with
new born nose. l ought to have mentioned
that the removal of the zinc tubes is effected
as soon as convenient. Thus ended the mar
rative Of the medical adviser to the nose
makers
ut only remains now to inquire how far
their work is successful, and If their skill be
on par with their reputation. That they
nave many opportunities OF exercising their
profession is beyond question. The wearing
or bdtoo or ndth nose ring) by
the married women and girls to dis
tinguish them from widows is a source Of
injury to the left ala nasi This especially
the case with the hill women of Kangra,
whose rings are far heavier than those of
women dwelling in the plains consequently
one often sees the left ala nost completely
split open, giving more than slight disfig-
urement, and preventing the distinguishing
mark from being kept up. Many of these
women make use of the nose makers; but,
as far as my observatiod goes, and | have
had many opportunities of seeing their
work, have never seen satisfactory re-
suit. On the contrary, | have known many
cases where the operation has simply lett
Rue woman in worse plight than before"