Recreating Wooden Nasal Epithesis Using 17th Century Materials and Techniques

Area of Science:

• Historical medical devices
• Prosthetics and reconstructive surgery
• Japanese Edo period craftsmanship

Background:

• Syphilis caused widespread nasal disfigurement in Edo period Japan (1603-1868).
• Historical records indicate the use of wooden artificial noses (nasal epitheses) by craftsmen.
• No original nasal epitheses have been recovered due to material degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reproduce Edo period nasal epitheses using historical materials and inferred techniques.
• To investigate the fabrication methods for historical wooden nasal prosthetics.
• To demonstrate the practical possibility of recreating these medical devices.

Main Methods:

• Inferred construction techniques from wooden plate dentures and Noh masks.
• Utilized boxwood for the main structure, hollowing the interior for weight reduction.
• Applied Japanese raw lacquer internally for hygiene, similar to Noh mask lacquering.
• Finished the exterior with Japanese paint and beeswax.
• Considered silk thread or adhesives for epithesis fixation.

Main Results:

• Successfully reproduced Edo period-style nasal epitheses using inferred methods.
• Demonstrated that boxwood is a suitable material for crafting these prosthetics.
• Identified plausible internal and external finishing techniques.
• Proposed potential methods for attaching the nasal epitheses.

Conclusions:

• Edo period nasal epitheses can be effectively reproduced using historical materials and techniques.
• The study provides a viable method for recreating these significant historical medical devices.
• This research contributes to understanding historical approaches to reconstructive surgery and prosthetic use.