Taliacotius was the first who treated it scientifically; and, from his
time, the art of Addition became one of the branches of surgery; and, under
the title _"De Decoratione,"_ formed a very interesting chapter.
Although Taliacotius has the credit of bringing the art of nose-making into
fashion, and being the first to write on the mode and manner of performing
the operation, yet it appears that one Branca had been in the habit of
performing it long before, as we learn from an ancient author, whose name
must, in this instance, be considered as the highest authority, being no
less a person than NOSORENUS.
Why the magistracy of Bologna should have conferred the high honour of a
statue on Taliacotius it is difficult to understand,--unless the loss of
the nose was of more frequent occurrence than in those days, from the
barbarity of warfare and civil punishment; for an old law of the Lombards
assigned the loss of the nose as a punishment for theft; and the captives
in war were equally spoiled for snuff-takers.
That this was no uncommon dilemma with Italian gentlemen in the fifteenth
century, appears by the style in which a Neapolitan poet writes to the
_noseless_ Orpianus:--"If," says he, "you would have your nose restored,
come to me--truly the thing is wonderful.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59