Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-07-06
THE KANGRA NOSEMAkERS.
Hindoos That Mend the Noses of Their
Opium Eating Countrymen.


neer gives an account Of the Kangairas,
a people who have long enjoyed repu-
tation as nosemakers. They live chiefly
in Kangra, a small hill canton In the
Punjaub. Altogether there are fourteen
families remaining, out of which only
two individuals are practical nosemakers
Their reputation still remains. People
come to them from the remotest parts of
the Punjaub, and even Afghanistan,
actuated by the sole desire Of having
their facial promontory repaired or re-
newed. The Kangra nosemakers con-
slider their art as one specially granted to
them by the great Bajreshivu Dew Of
the place. They therefore perform the
operation in strict secrecy. The writer
says:
at was only with great difficulty that
l procured the following information re-
specting the modus operandi Of this plas-
tic operation for restoration Of nose from
an old bald and habitual opium eater.
My friend thinks nothing Of daily con-
Stunning forty five grains Of opium, and
whenever he can afford, Just to keep
considerable amount Of bhang and charus
(Capabis Indica, leaves and extract) and
arsenic. They say the bald is well versed
in the science Of physio and astrology,
besides having a denizen of the other
world at his beck and call, by whose as
sistance 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 ghoetly
servitor as to the prognosis of the disease
he is called to cure. In the event of an
unfavorable prognosis. he declines to at
tend, but furnishes his would be patient
with the exact date and hour of his de-
mise.
1.-THE old bald, It seems, was kind Of
family doctor or professor of medicine to
one Of the nose makers. and in this ca
pacity has more than once witnessed the
operation Of nose restoration. He there
fore considers himself in possession of
the secret, if secret it is. His narrative
ran thus; After drugging their patient
with some narcotic, the Kangairas forth
with proceeded to paint the forehead
with medicated lotion as preliminary
step. On asking the composition of this
lotion, the only answer vouchsafed was
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.
Then they beat the forehead with an old
slipper until the part marked out be-
comes swollen and prominent. Zinc
tubes, with a plate between them to
serve the purpose of septum nasi, are
lola ty,t tr,to
proceeding is to dissect flap of the
swollen flesh with a razor, leaving the
lower part attached to the forehead. In
doing this they take vein with a flap,
the name and position of which is pro-
found secret known only to himself and
the nose makers. Tho success of the
operation depends entirely on the pre-
servation and careful dissection Of this
secret vein. The next step was to turn
up the flap with the secret vein a partic-
ular way over the tubes. This being &C
complished. the other parts of the nose
are pared and fastened to it with silk lig-
allure, and the whole thing Is brought to
an end by the application of a special
ointment
FOR several days, until the wound is
healed, the patient must keep a recum-
bent position. On union taking place,
the piece which was left attached to the
forehead is severed, and the patient
comes forth with a new born nose.
ought to have mentioned that the re-
moval 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 have many opportunities of
exercising their profession is beyond
question. The wearing of baloo or nath
(nose ring) by the married women and
girls to distinguish them from widows is
a source of injury to the left ala nasi.
This is specially the case with the hill
women Of Kangra, whose rings are far
heavier than those of women dwelling In
tho plains, consequently one often sees
the left ala nasi completely split open,
giving a more than slight Disagreement
and preventing the distinguishing mark
from being kept up. Many of these
women make use of the nose makers
but, as far as my observation goes, and I
have had many opportunities of seeing
their work. have never seen satisfac-
tory result. On the contrary, l have
known many cases where the operation
has simply left the woman in a worse
plight than before. st. James Gazette.
WINNING at M nff