Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-16
DENTISTS AND SURGEONS BUILD
NEW FACES ON WOUNDED MEN
Americans Do Wonderful Work in Paris-Shot-torn
Features Replaced by Plates or Grated Skin.
Noses With Silver Tubes.
BY ELLEN ADAIR
STAFF Correspondent Evening Ledger

I lips and chin. The bone below the nose
| was shattered and all the teeth gone. In
| the great crevlce Immediately below the
nose the dentists had made false bridge
and plate with teeth attached. There
was a portion of this extending up to the
nose, forming n skeleton base, over which
1t was possible for the surgeons to re-
store the lips. This they did by drawing
the tissues of the cheeks down. The nose
was then built up and holes drilled
through for nostrils The patient breathed
through little silver tubes, and when the
holes healed he was to discard the tubes.
He was perfectly cheerful and very
grateful for all that had been done. II
feel pretty well now" he said, smiling
with his new" lips. land 1 expect to
return TO the front whenever they will let
meW
Several of the men with whom 1 con-
versed had their mouth entirely built UP
with false sides and plates. The Jaws
seemed to he working on hinges and their
speech was therefore rather difficult to
follow. The inside of their mouths gave
one the impression of an old-fashioned
mouse trap for there seemed to be so
many springs, hinges and plates there.
sat beside the dental chair while half
a dozen men came up In turn to have
some minor operation performed. They
were all pretty we'll and could walk about
anu bilClI HlOulHS ldu DGGH pulil up III
the most wonderful manner. Bones had
been grated in, false bridges inserted and
all manner of queer contrivances were at
work. When one OF the patients laughed
heartily at a Joke from the dentist. it
almost appeared as II the whole structure
OF his mouth would fall to piecesI How
ever, 1t was we'll founded. and wlthstood
the earthquake. Not plate nor a spring
budged.
Some of the men are very sensitive
about the appearance they present, and
when they first come In frequently re-
fuse to give the address OF their relatives!
I'VE don't wish anybody ever to look at
us again!" they declare sadly, "Please put
us in any hole away from the other pa
tients-and above all, don't let our people
know we're even living!'
ut is very hard on the poor fellows"
said Doctor Speakman but we do ali in
our power to give them confidence again.
The best way Is TO show them photo
graphs of men who have looked even
worse than themselves, and who are now
healed and restored to health" "And do
you really think we, too, can be patched
up?" they inquire eagerly, staring at the
photographs of the sufferers who have
been worse than themselves"
One officer was brought in here with
the whole side of his jaw blown off, the
entire chin gone and the lips hanging in
shreds. He utterly refused to give his
home address in Paris, "for," said he, at
would kill my wife II she could see me in
this condition. Far better that she think
/ am deadp
He implored the doctors to put him in
a side ward where no eyes could see
his Disagreement. And his wish was
granted But he was not allowed to lie
there moping. In every possible manner
did the doctors seek TO cheer him up
The best American skill was employed
and his face built up anew. / had a
short talk with him. and though not ex-
aotly handsome he was not now repulsive
to look at His fine dark eyes were unin-
1ured and his features had been wonder
fully restored.
Another interesting case was one Jean
Gourvest, Zouave of 26. whose chin had
been blown away. A splint had been
made with bands holding the bridge to
the lower teeth. with a bar across the
front to hold the sides OF the jaw tightly
In place As the chin had been entirely
destroyed, the surgeons working in con-
junction with the dentists, pulled down
the skin and flesh from the cheeks and
without any cutting away had stitched
the face up In that position. The photo
graph Of the patient at that stage showed
his face with euriously elongated ef-
feet But when later he came into the
ward and spoke with me IL appeared |
up under tension and his appearance was
fairly normal. II
Half dozen men In the wards had new |
noses-holes had been drilled and silver |
tubes inserted for nostrils. The new |
noses had been grated from some other |
part OF the body or the flesh OF the cheeks |
had been squeezed up and strapped IN |
plaeel The latter method was employed |
without any cutting They were an very |
eheefIui and exceedingly polite, as in |
deed are all the French soldiers.
In the dental wards are $50 beds, all
nlled with bad cases. And the fame OF |
the work done there has spread over the |
whole OF France and Belgium. The dem |
lists and surgeons do not seek for fame
and most OF them refuse 10 give their |
names for publicity. Bat NJ the same
time their work, done so quietly and un-
ohtrnsivsy, Is worthy OF the highest
eommendation and Is OF a character wbieh |
VIII go down 10 posterity in the annals
OF surgical triumph