Could this be the first case of rhinoplasty? An horrific assault on a young man’s nose was happily repaired by a clever surgeon.
“On Saturday night last, a quarrel took place at the Vine Inn, Bilston, amongst a number of working men who were drinking there, when one of the party, of the name of Smith, succeeded in getting on the floor, a young man named Lowe, and in the most savage manner completely bit off his nose, the modern Crim-Tartar * immediately making his escape. The injured party, accompanied by some friends, went to the residence of the nearest surgeon,, where the denuded parts were dressed by his aassistant, evidently to the satisfaction of all parties. Lowe, however, on his returning home, began to reflect on the unpictureque effect which countenance bereft of the nasal appendage would produce, and he accordingly determined to have it remedied by any and every means possible. On a consultation with his friends, the idea occurred to them that all would be well if they could only restore to its original post of honour the missing remains of what was once considered by the owner to be a very respecable nose, although it was not stated whether the original nose was hooked or hatchet, or whether it belonged to the snub, the pug, or the turned-up family. Accordingly they returned to the scene of the action at the Vine, and after searching for nearly an hour, they at length discovered the object of their wishes lying in a dark corner of the room, begrimed with dirt. Having secured their prize, the party set off to a surgeon of the town, to whom they stated the case, and who very carefully united the parts together, and in a manner which completely restored the main element of facial beauty to its former shape and position, and a happy union of parts having ensued, the young man appears little the worse for his singular misfortune.”
The Stamford Mercury, 18th June, 1847.
*Generally a fierce or harsh person.