Plastic Surgery
or reparatory surgery, dates back to ancient Hindu medicine, but its present extensive application originated in needs growing out of the World War. Its principles are simply those of general surgery, but a high degree of specialization has brought about marvelous results not thought possible before. Prejudices against the remodeling of nature, which in mediaeval times led even to the excommunicating of physicians practicing plastic arts, are not of course applicable in any degree to the work of removing injuries and disfigurements acquired by soldiers wounded in service, and many able surgeons have devoted themselves almost wholly to this work since the World War. Muscle cells, once destroyed, do not grow again, their place being filled by connective tissue; but when the skin can be drawn together over a scar, the latter may often be largely hidden, since the outer skin, unlike muscle tissue, does have the power of growth and renewal. In the case of wounds caused by shrapnel and shells, often healing only slowly on account of poison gases, the scars so formed may cover wide areas or may afterward contract and distort the whole countenance. By various methods of excision and replacement, renewal of parts such as noses or ears, skin-grafting and skillful concealment of scars, thousands of men have PLASTIC WOOD already been fitted to return to normal ways of life. A large part of this work for American soldiers has been done at the Walter Reed Hospital, Washington.