Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-02
0Qlorecstrr Daily Spp.
FROM once a week.
THE ARTIFICIAL MAN.

While lounging, the other day, in medical
library, l CHANGED to take up little volume,
the odd title Of which led me to dip into it
'Bigg on Artificial Limbs" | had heard of
the slilltul anatomical mechanician Of Leiees-
ter Square, whom the Queen delighted to hon
or with commissions for cunningly devised
limbs for wounded soldiers during the Crime
an war, but never realized to myself the art
with which man can exc out the defects of ma
ture until glanced over this little volume ;
the contents OF which so struck me, that | was
determined to see for myself how far that Gun.
ming blped man can simulate the handiwork of
Our great mother. was received courteous
ly, and on explaining the nature of my er-
rand, an assistant was sent through the differ
ent workshops to satisfy my curiosity
A very few minutes conversation with my
conductor left the impression upon my mind
that, instead of having any profound respect
for nature, he looked upon her as sometimes
rather i'll the way than otherwise; for happen
ing to ask him playfully, as kind of starting
question, with how small a modicum of hui
manty he could manage to work. "Sir," said
he, very seriously, eve only want the vital
principle; give us nervous centers and sound
viscera, and we find all the rest"
But, said L, not prepared for this liberal
offer, suppose man had only three inches
of stump Z"
"Three inches of stumpI' he REPLIED con-
temptuously, with that allowance we could
do anything. There is, somewhere in Ire
land gentleman born without limbs. who
goes out hunting in clothes basket strapped
on his horses back. If we could only get hold
Of him, his friends, in six weeks, would not
know him.
An inspection of my friends atelierS, certain
ly, went far to justify the confident spirit in
which his assistant spoke. L soon found out
that there are first, second, and third-class
limbs, however, as of everything else.
WHAT said l. "do you make banisters as
well as legs" pointing to a shelf full neatly
turned and painted.
"Banisters! my dear sir" he replied, little
hurt, "these are our Chelsea pensioners p
And on closer examination such they PROV
ed to be. Here was the hard third class fact
simple and unadorned.
''And these buckets?" l rejoined, pointing
to some scores of hollow wooden cones placed
one within another.
Buckets is the word !" said he, reaching
one down, and screwing banister into its low
er end.
"These are our Chelsea pensioners complete.
But this is nothing to what they have in store
at Chelsea Hospital. During the war we could
not make them fast enough, and they were
obliged to apply to the mop makers. Fact ''
SAID he, seeing the surprise iii our eyes-"arms,
too! You should see the rows and rows stor-
ed on the shelves-their Ii Joks hanging out like
so many hundred dozens of umbrellas. Gov
eminent can only afford hooks for soldiers and
sailors, but officers who are not able to pay
can get new legs and arms of the very best
construction at the expense of a grateful ma
ton, by simply applying at the Horse Guards. -
All the while this serio-comic conversation
was going on, workman, in the coolest posi-
bic manner, was working away at most deli
cate little leg, that would not have come off
second best in the judgment of Paris-a fault
less Balmoral boot and the daintiest silk stock
ing covered proportions that Madame Vestris
might have envied.
"These, said my companion, are some of
our trst-class goods. Would you like to see
the mechanism Goodge, pull down the stock
ing" With that the workman barred the limb,
while my companion put it through its PAGES.
This, you see, is our patent knee cap and
patella, and this is the new vulcaniZed india
rubber tendon Achilles here, in the instep,
you will observe spiral spring elevating the
4oes, and if you will just observe (openidg a
little trap-door in the back Of the calf) here is
an ingenious contrivance by which the bending
of the knee eevates the front part Of the foot,
thus allowing it full play to swing forward clear
OF the ground"
Certainly it was an admirable continuance.
"And can man or woman progress easily
with that arrangement % l said.
do you know Lady 50" said he.
ayes"
Nothing the matter there 2" he rejoined,
interrogatvely.
was obliged to confess, not to my knowl-
edge.
"That's her spare leg, nevertheless, he re-
Piled triumphantly.
"Spare leg! What do you mean 90
''Lord bless you, look into that cupboard
have the spare members of half the town there,
duly labeled. Things will go wrong with the
best conducted limbs and to save difficulties,
we keep duplicates here which can be applied
at the shortest notice. A gentleman, whom
we will call Mr.. Smith, once lost the pin out
Of his knee joint, and sent here for his off leg.
A young lad from up the country sent him
another Mr.. Smiths box containing an arm
very awkward"
"Will you allow me !' said |, trying to read
the names on the boxes.
Certainly not, said he, shutting the door
and turning the key ''this is our Blue Beard S
cupboard, and | wouldn't even allow my wife
to peep. But come and look at our hands,"
''There they were-some clinched, some
spread out, some in the act of holding, some
goved and displayed like Vandykes, as if TO
challenge attention.
snow, what will they do 2" said l, almost
doubtful whether the clenched fist wouldn't
strike,
''Do anything" said he; "by means of the
hook inserted in the palm, it can lift, or hold
the reins almost as well as the natural MEM
Der. Observe the beautiful operation of the
spring thumb, initiating the grand privilege of
man and monkey, by means of which it can
grasp fork, or lightly finger toothpick.
"Do you supply fingers and such small
gear 2" | inquired.
Fingers too, nose, lips-we take them as
they come. A gentleman with but one finges
OH his left hand came to us the other day, and
asked to have the complement made up. We
fitted on the rest and attached them by means
of signet ring on the remaining finger
movement perfect; you should see him pass
his fingers through his hair-natural as life.
The hand is a wonderful thing-that beats me
legs are mere A b G, but the hand! Here,
said he, recovering from his momentary adj
miraton of nature, "here is a drawing of a
pretty thing. A Hudson's Bay trapper had
his hand bitten off by bear, and came to us
to replace it"
"Do you want something really useful 2"
said l.
ayes" said he.
$50 made him this dagger, fitting into his
arnl-stump socket. lie sleeps in his dagger,
and finds it particularly handy when there are
bears about. Look at the action of this spring
and rachetelbow you have only to touch the
little button in the elbow, and the forearm
closes as natural as life. Who would wear an
empty sleeve when member like this can be
obtained We always recommend our arm
and hand patients to wear a cloak neatly folded
over il, as 1t prevents any attemDt and band-