Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review, Volume 64, Part 2

F. Jefferies, 1794 - Early English newspapers

The "Gentleman's magazine" section is a digest of selections from the weekly press; the "(Trader's) monthly intelligencer" section consists of news (foreign and domestic), vital statistics, a register of the month's new publications, and a calendar of forthcoming trade fairs.

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User Review -

The Gentleman's Magazine gives us a detailed account of life and society in England. Too much stress is laid on the article in The Gentleman’s Magazine by Ayurvedic proponents to establish the authenticity of Sushruta’s rhinoplasty. But the fact of the matter is that there is no reference at all to Sushruta in the Gentleman’s Magazine. It is a clear evidence that Sushruta was not known in 1794 and this fictitious figure was created only several decades after 1794. The Gentleman’s magazine of October 1794 edition gives a bizarre account of a curious operation of making a nose from a forehead flap of one Cowsajee. It is quite weird to note that the so-called operation was performed not by an Ayurvedic physician but by an illiterate man belonging to ‘brick-maker’ caste. The condition of the patient mentioned in the Magazine causes further doubt. It is alleged that Cowsajee, the patient, was caught by Tipu sultan’s men and they cut off his nose and one hand. It is also stated that he lived “for about 12 months without a nose.” On the face of it everything appears uncanny, inscrutable and strange. How could Cowsajee escape infection when his one hand and nose were amputated? This account is sent in the form of a letter addressed to the Gentleman’s Magazine by a person who had not divulged his name and address, but only the initials “B.L.” To give credence to this story, he has also given the names of two surgeons, Thomas Cruso and James Trindlay, who were alleged to have witnessed the operation. The surgeons’ identity has not been proved and they have not given any statement. They have not also published such a feat in any medical journal. Even the details of the grafting procedure and the figure of the patient were all diagrams and painting, and were published at third hand in London in 1794. In those days scholars belonging to Asiatic Society invented stories to become famous. William Jones, for instance, gave several arguments to prove that a group of Egyptian priests had in some remote age settled down in India. Reuben Burrow tried to prove that the Binomial Theorem was known to ancient Indians. It is against this backdrop that we have to view the letter sent to The Gentleman’s Magazine describing skin grafting by one ‘B.L.’ was fabricated in view of the fact that without sterile technique, anesthesia and antibiotics an illiterate ‘brick maker’ could not have performed plastic surgery.  

Popular passages

Page 892 - to the flump of the nofe, fo as to make a nofe of a good appearance. It is then flattened, and laid on the forehead. A line is drawn round the wax,

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Page 1100 - government, rites, and ceremonies, of the Church of England, to be profane, and unmeet for them to join with in

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Page 757 - We have fince been honoured with more fpecial powers and authority to concert with your Excellency and the people of Corfica, and finally to conclude, on his Majefty's behalf, the particular form and mode of relation which (hall take place between the two nations. It is with the

Page 762 - brought into the fort, I learnt that it was their intention to attack; us that night, and that their numbers amounted to from twelve to fifteen hundred men. As I faw, from the conduct of the

Page 758 - adminiftration you adopted, ordains us to fupport the paternal and patriotic intentions of General de Paoli. In this invitation we can give you but a faint idea of the

Page 702 - the light of Nature, there, under the pretence of free-thinking, to rail at the religious institutions of their country,

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Page 659 - not be for fome time feen, through the fire from the two fleets in the van, to what extent that fignal was complied

Bibliographic information

• Title: Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review, Volume 64, Part 2; Volumes 133-158; Volumes 357-394 of Early English newspapers
• Contributor: Edward Cave
• Publisher: F. Jefferies, 1794
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Jul 27, 2006