The National tribune., 1888-06-21
KANGRA NosEMAKERs.
A Tribe or HindOOs that Mend the Noses of Their
0pium-Eatin COuntTymen.

KANGRA OSEMAKERS.
Tribe OF HindOos that Mend the Noses Of Their
0pium-Eating COuntrymen.
ST. James Gazefte
A correspondent of the Allahabad Pioneer
gives an account of the Kangairas, people
who have long enjoyed 3 reputation as nose
makers. They live chiefly in Kangra, small
hill canton in the PuDiaub. Altogether there
are II 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 Pun
jaub and even Afghanistan, actuated by the
sole desire Of having their facial promontory
repaired or renewed. The KangTa nOsemakers
consider their art as one specially granted to
them by the great Bajreshivu Devi OF the
place. They therefore perform the operation
in strict secrecy. The writer says:
" 1t was only with great difficulty that pro-
| cured the following information respecting the
modus operandi Of this plastic operation for
restoration of nose from an old bald and habit
/ ual Opium-eater. My friend thinks nothing OF
daily consuming IS grains of opium, and when
/ ever he can afford, just TO keep aglow the sun
! shine Of his mind, adds considerable amount
Of bhaug and charus (Canabis Indica, leaves
/ and extract) and arsenic They say the bald
! is well yersed in the science of physic and
4 astrology, besides having denizen Of the
other world at his beck and CALL by whose as
sistanee ne is able to open the gates of the un-
seen. When sent for to advise on difficult
cases, he never fails before going, TO summon
and consult his ghOstly seryitor as to the prog
nOsls of the disease he is called to cure. In the
event of an unfayorable prOgnosis, be declines
| to attend, but furnishes his would-be patient
with the exact date and hour OF his demise.
The old bald, it seems, was a kind of family
| doctor or professor of medicine to one Of the
ffla1
once witnessed the operation Of nose-restora-
/ ton. He, therefore, considers himself III pos
session Of the secret, if secret it is His nara
| tive ran thus: After dragging their patient
4 with some narcotic, the kangdiras fOrthW th
proceed 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 10 cut piece Of leather to the
1 shape and size of the required nose. This be-
ing done, it is placed on the forehead and used
1 to mark out the lines of incision. They then
beat the forehead with an old slipper until the
part marked ont becomes swollen and promi
neut. Zinc tubes with plate between them
TO serve the purpose of sepium nasi are theI
| lodged in the nostrils The next proceeding j!
( to dissect a flap of the swollen flesh with
razor, leaving the lower part attached 10 thC
forehead. In doing this they take vein witt
the flap, the name and position of which is {
profound secret known only to himself and thu
! noscmakers. The success Of the operation de
peuds entirely on the preservation and careful
dissection Of this secret vein. The next stel
was to turn up the flap with the secret vein
particular way over the tubes. This being &C
complished, the other parts Of the nose aT'
pared and fastened to it with silk ligature, anS
the whole thing is brought to an end by tn
application Of a special ointment.
% For several days, until the wound is heal
cd the patient must keep recumbent posi-
tion. On union taking place, the piece which
was left attached 10 the forehead is severed, ant
the patient comes forth with newborn nose
1 ! ought to have mentioned that the removal o
the zinc tubes is effected as soon as convenient
1 Thus ended the narrative OF the medical ad
I wiser 10 the nOsemakers.
II only remains now to inquire how IA
their work is successful aud if their skill b.
on q par with their reputation. That the,
have many opportunities Of exercising thei
profession is beyond question. The wearing
Of balOo or uath ,nose-ring) by the marriec
women and girls TO distinguish them from
widows is 2 source of injury to the left ali
nasi. This is specially tie case with the hil
women Of kaDgra, whose rings are far heayie
than those Of women dwelling in the plains
consequently o8e often sees the left ala mas
completely split open, giving q more thar
slight Disagreement, and preventing the dis
tinguishing mark from being kept up Man.
Of these women make use Of the nosenakers
bat as far as my observation goes and | hav
had many opportunities Of seeing their work
] have never seen q satisfactory result 0
the contrary, / have known many cases Wher
the operation has simply left the woman in
worse plight than before"