FINGER MAKES NOSE,

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2715, 7 August 1923, Page 3

FINGER MAKES NOSE,

GRAFTING BLOODVESSELS. HARDY MAN FOR AYR. SYDNEY, July 30. To amputate a nose and form another from the patient’s finger is a surgical feat which is being performed in the Sydney Hospital. Operations leave Thomas Kllcullen sick, but undaunted.

Five weeks ago he walked into Sydney Hospital for a nasal operation. His had been a sensational journey all the way from /s-yr, in Northern Queensland. He set out with a letter addressed to Sir Herbert Maitland, but half way to Sydney lea.rned of the distinguished surgeon’s death. Undaunted, however, he pushed on, and a severe operation involving the loss of the nose was performed the day after he was admitted. On Friday last the anaesthetic again lulled him to oblivion, and when he awaekned science had commenced the restoration of the havoc wrought by disease. He was a little further advanced on Health’s roadway. When seen in the hospital this morning he was bright and courageous.

His left hand was strapped to his face, the arm was in hard plaster, and a tight bandage covered the fingers, for it was essential that the hand should not move a fraction of an inch.

“They are forming a nose from one of my fingers,” he said, “the top of the finger has been cut off and the finger placed between my eyes—just where a nose starts, you know, and now I have to be like this until the flesh grafts into place.” SURGICAL WONDERS.

"We have to do these operations with care,” stated a medical man, "and it is absolutely essential that the blood vessels in the forehead should knit with those in the finger —otherwise the operation would be a failure. Of course,” he continued, "the nerves will be missing, but they can, in a great measure, be dispensed with.”

Thomas Kilcullen lies in a quiet corner of Ward 4. His voice comes in muffled tones from behind that spreading hand, but the blue eyes are still brig'ht and look at you pluckily and straight.

“Yes! I’ve got to keep my pecker up, alright. And I’m not doing so ba.dly for a man of 55—and I’ve lived a pretty hard life, don’t forget,” said the sufferer.

“Started work when I was ten years of age, rounding up cattle at 2/6 a week, and I’ve been working ever since—but I suppose a hard life makes one hardy.” “Got another operation to go through after this one,” he continued. “When the finger is grafted on to the forehead they will cut it off at the middle point and let me take my hand away, and then they will take a piece from my forehead and bring it down and over the finger and shape the nose.” “Yes, it’s painful,” he said, "but I’ve got to go through! with it, and I’ll be all right later on.” OLD FRIENDS. “Since that article appeared in the “Sun” about five weeks ago I’ve had several old friends to see me,” he went on. “One man I hadn’t seen for 22 years came along—l was spoken of as the ‘lonely man from Ayr”—so I was, then; but friends have come from nowhere, and it’s been mighty cheerful to see them. The nurses, too, have been most kind; so have the doctors, and I really can’t say enough concerning the treatment I’ve received in Sydney Hospital—it’s been good all along the line.” The doctor says' that Kilcullen’s finger will be bound to his forehead for about three weeks.

Meanwhile, he lies patiently, calmly, in Sydney Hospital—a strong man with a great heart, who will win through, if pluck can win—and it generally does. —“Sydney Sun.”