Lynchburg Virginian

Re-union of Flesh after complete separation.—The Observateur Medico contains a curious, and what it affirms to be a well authenticated case of the re-union of the nose, after complete separation. The patient, a woman of the town, had the whole of the soft part of the nose bitten off, in a quarrel by a man. She was immediately carried before the commissary of police, when the nose was dressed. In three hours afterwards, Dr. Carrizo, who happened to come in, saw the patient, and entreated that search might be made for the lost nose. This was done, and two and a half hours afterwards, the mutilated portion was found, contracted, and all covered with filth. The Doctor, however, washed the parts clean, and applied the piece, putting in a few points of suture. The dressings were not removed before the 7th day, when the witnesses observed, with great satisfaction, that a complete union had taken place. In thirty-seven days, the cicatrix was perfectly cured. The aspect of the nose, however, was most disagreeable, from the color of its tip, which presented a livid, unhealthy appearance. A solution of nitrate of silver (moderately strong) was applied to this part, and after the fall of the eschar, in five days, the nose resumed its natural color.

[Boston Medical Journal]