A NEW NOSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18954, 30 August 1923, Page 13

A NEW NOSE.

WONDERS OF SURGERY. REMARKABLE OPERATION. (Fbom Otjr Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY,. August 23. Such are the wonders and triumphs of surgery that it is possible to-day to graft oven a new nose on to a man’s face. This has been demonstrated by a remarkable operation which has just been performed on Thomas Kilcullen at Sydney Hospital. Whether Kilcullen’s new nose will serve, like all ordinary, every-day noses, as an organ of smell is not stated, but it will certainly look its part, and probably that is all Kilcullen cares about it. A new nose, even if it is only made out of one's finger is better than no nose at all. The nose which had served Kilcullen usefully all his life had to be removed some time ago by an operation. It was a question of no nose or a new nose, so ho placed himself in the hands of the Sydney Hospital, There a wonderful operation resulted in the middle finger of his left hand being successfully grafted to replace his nose, The delicate process of grafting took three weeks, from tho time of the operation. The finger which was used, and which was still attached to the hand, was bound closely to the place where it was desired to graft, after first being prepared to make the grafting possible. It was a painful time for Kilcullen, but he bore the operation with great fortitude. He even saw the humour of his middle finger filling a new role in life, and being stuck on to his face as a nose. His ar m and his hand were so bandaged that they could not be moved, and in that position the patient remained until the graft was made, when the finger was severed from the hand. , , ~ Kilcullen will . even he able to breath through his new nose and blow it, too, just like any other nose, for breathing holes have been made. More skin will bo grafted on, and then Thomas Kilcullen, as a compensation for tho loss of a finger will have a brand new nose.