Evening star., 1944-07-02

date 1t. 1t was held in place and
covered by Egyptian lacquer that
seals colors during the curing pro-
cess. Near the corners Of the eye,
tiny etchings Of red were made
with drafting ink to simulate blood
vessels.
The eyebal was then built up to
its original diameter with clear
plastic, which gives an impression
of depth to the iris and allows the
eye to reflect and glisten naturally
Then the ball was cured" again to
solidify the new covering-and Har-
ry johnson had an eye.
Wants to Tour Hospitals.
He has been on leave now and has
seen his wife. He has asked for
limited service. but he'd like to tour
the war front hospitals to show men
similarly injured that there Is still
hope.
I'D pack my gear and 60 in 20
minutes if I thought could show
those guys what could be done for
them" he said. I've had my life
handed back to me-and you can
say that twice"
In the replacement OF noses and
ears, the new department works
along with naval plastic surgeons.
When, in the case of facial damage,
the plastic surgeon can 60 no fur
ther-or for some reason does not
wish to-the substitution of arti-
ficial parts is called into play.
The same plastic is used but does
not harden in curing" because OF
a different molecular arrangement
and the presence Of 4 vynal resin
A basic flesh coloring Is given the
plastic in the first stages of nose
building. A convex pattern is made
of mans damaged nose and a
concane mate Is made from the
impression of a nose that plastic
surgeons believe most suitable to
the mans facial contour. The
plastic then is nodded 50 that the
inside will At the damaged stub
and the outside Is perfectly shaped
nose.
Matches Skin Tones.
The artist mixes a coating Of the
same substance and shades 1t with
pigment until he matches exact
skin tones. The coating is pressed
on the still moist nose. Then the
artist adds fine red blood vessels
around the nostrils and indents tiny
pores. When the mold presses down
on these markings, they bleed
through and actually are q part OF
the artificial tissue instead of an
obvious surface paint job.
The nose is cured" and then At
ted on the face with = mastic, also
developed at the dental school.
Armed with q small bottle of this.
a man can take his nose of and
put 1t on as he chooses. He will
not need to take it OF more than
every three weeks for cleansing.
And he need not have 1t replaced
for three to four years.
The men engaged In this restor-
alton work at the school admit
that the potentialities of plastic for
facial parts have barely been tap
ped. They talk of winter noses,
slightly reddish, and summer noses
with sun tan; daytime eyes with
small pupils and nighttime eyes
with dilated ones.
Capt. R. D. Pitton, commanding
omcer Of the dental school, has high
hopes for the future of facial
prosthesis with materials already at
hand and those to be developed.
The new department has been
formed in anticipation of a need for
this type of work." he said. 1T is
new field for us and has unlimited
possibilities. As We progress we are
convinced that the results will be
even more gratifying" he said.
Persistence, skill and Imagination
have been required in the develop
ment OF the plastic, but the reward
has been great as evidenced by the
uplifted spirits and smiling faces
OF those who would otherwise feel
themselves tragic caricatures.