Connecticut western news., 1888-07-18
A NOVEL OPERATION.
The Daring Surgery of the Kan
 gaira Nose-Makers.
The Modus Operandi of Indian
 Nasal Restoration.

It was ouly With great olnculty thaI procured, says correspondent of the Allah ,bad QndiO Pioneer, the follow ing information respecting tho mcdus operandi of tho plastic operation for restoration of nose from ar old bald and habitual opium eater. My friend thinks nothing of daily consuming forty 1.-Two grains of opium, and whenever ho can afford, just to koep aglow tho sunshine of his mind, adds considerable amount o! bhang and charus (C.unabi' Iadica, leaves and extract) and arsenic. They say tho bald is well vcrscd in tho science of physio and astrolosy; besides having a denizen of tho other world at bis book and call, ly whose assistance he is ablo 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 scrvitor as to tho prognosis of the disease ho is callcd to cure. Ia tho event of an unfavora- ble progn osis, he declines to attend, but furnishes his would-be patient with the exact dato and hour of his dem- ise. But I am wandering. The old bald, it seems, was a kind of family doctor or professor of medicine to ono of the nose makers, and in this capacity has more than once with csscl tho opera tion of nose-restoration. H. therefore considers himself in possession of the secret, if secret it is. His narrative ran thus: After druyging their patient with some narcotic, the Kangairas forth with proceeded to paint the forehead with medicatcd lotion, as a pre.imin- ary step. On asking tho composition of this lotion, tho only answor vouchsafed was gravo shlko of tho head. Tho next step is to cut piece of leather to the shape and size of tho required nose. This being done, it is placed on tho l forehead and used to mark out the lines of incision. They then beat the fore head with an oll slipper until the part 1 marked out becomes swollen and prpmi- nent. Zinc tubes with a plate between them to sorve the purpose of scptun nasi arc then lodged ia the nostrils. The next proceeding is to dissect a ftp of the swollen flesh with q razor, leaving the lower part at- tached to the forehead. In doing this they take vein with tho flap, the name and position of which is profound se- crct known only to himself and the nose-makers. Tho success of the opera tion depends entirely on tho preserva- tion and careful dissection of this secret vein. The next step was to turn up tho flap with the secret vein ia particular way over tho tubes. This being accom- plished, tho other parts of ths nose are pared and fastened to it with silk litera- lure, and the wholo thing is brought to an ord by tho application of special ointment over the wound. For several days, until tho wound is healed, tho pa tient must keep a rocumbent position. ca union taking place, the piece which was left attached to tho forehe ad is sev- cred, and the patient comes forth with a new born nose. I ought to have m,n- toned that the removal of the zinc tubes is effected as soon as convenient. Thus ended the narrative of the medical adviser to tho nose- makers.
 It 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 ol exercising their profession is beyon l question. The wearing of baloo or nath (nose-rings) by tho married women and girls to distin guish thcn from willow is Q sourcc of injury to tho left ala nasi. This is specially tho case with tho hill women of Kangra, whose rings arc faE heavier than those of women dwelling in tho plains; consequently one often sees tho left ala nasi completely split open, giving more than slight distig- urement, and preventing the distiu' gushing mark from b ing kept ur. Many of these women make use of tho nose-makers; but, as far as my obscr- vation goes, and h,ve had many op- portunities of seeing their york, l have never se5n satisfactory result. On the contrary, I havc known many cases where the operation has simply left th7 woman's nose in worse plight than before.
 Arabian Babies.
 Life has exceptional difficulties fol