FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17579, 24 May 1919, Page 5

FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT.

WONDERS OF PLASTIC SURGERY

WORK AT SIDCUP.

Perhaps one of the most horrible effects of war is the facial disfigurement which inevitably must be the lot of a proportion of the soldiers. A high explosive shell can make a wreck of a man's face, and the most sympathetic people find it difficult to repress a shudder of repulsion at the sight of a man with his jaw, or his nose, or any of his features shot away. In former times the man to whom war brought facial disfigurement had to put up with it. He iiad no hope of having his disability rem edied. It is not so at the present time, however. The late war brought wonderful developments in many departments of knowledge, but no development was more wonderful than that of the art v of plastic surgery.

An accomplished exponent of this art is Major H. P. Pickerill, who arrived in Dunedin last week. Before the war Major Pickerill was profossor of dentistry at the Otago University, and had his home at Ravensbourne. Comparatively early in the war he offered his services, and -was granted a commission, in the Dental Corps.

Proceeding* overseas he was sent to No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital, at Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey. By this time experience had shown the need for specialisation in cases of facial injury—particularly jaw cases —and a section was established at Walton which specialised in the cure of jaw and facial cases generally; Major Pickerill was placed in charge of this section, and held the position for sdme nine months.

Plastic surgery was then the subject of the closest research work and experimentation, and as more and more wonderful results began to be attained, it was recognised that the science was of the highest Importance. Towards the end of 1917 a hospital was opened for the special treatment of jaw cases, and eases of facial disfigurement generally, at Sidcup, and in course of time; by the aid of skilled practitioners working together and collating their knowledge and experience valuable results were attained Major Pickerill was in charge of the New Zealand section at Sidcup, where New Zealand soldiers who sustained jaw injuries and facial disfigurements were treated. Men were sent there from the general hospitals and from the convalescent hospital, as the need arose, and by means of plastic surgery it is literally true to say that in many cases a "new face" was provided for the patient. The jobl was a long and tedious one, but with skill and patience it became possible in the end to remedy in the most marvellous way the disfiguring effects of shot and shell, and many a soldier has cause to thank the hos pital at Sidcup for the skilful ministrations he received there.

The valuable experience which Major Pickerill has obtained overseas will now be available in tb4 dominion. He will have charge of the facial hospital at Woodpide, where returned soldiers suffering from the effects of jaw fracture and various facial injuries will be dealt with.