Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-16
DEPARTURES.
From Once a Week.
The Artificial Man.


While lounging the other day, in a medi-
cal library, l Glanced to take up little vol
ume, the odd title of which caused me to dip
into it" Bigg on Artificial Limbs" l had
heard of the skilful anatomical mechanism
of Leicester Square, whom the Queen de-
lighted to honor with commissions for cum
ningly devised limbs for wounded soldiers
during the Crimean war, but never realized
to myself the art with which man can exc
out the defects of nature until / glanced over
this little volume, the contents of which so
struck me, that | was determined to see for
myself how far that cunning biped man can
simulate the handiwork of our great mother.
| was received courteously, and on explaining
the nature of my errand an assistant was
sent through the different workshops to satisfy
my curiosity.
n very few minutes conversation with my
conductor left the impression on my mind
that, instead of having any profound respect
| tor nature, he looked upon her as sometimes
rather in the way than otherwise; for happen
ing to ask him playfully, as a kind OF starting
question, with how small a modicum of hu-
manity he could manage to work, Sir said
he, very seriously, 1--WE only want the vital
principle; give Us nervous centers and sound
"But," said |, not prepared for this liberal
offer, "suppose a man had only three inches
of stump?"
Three inches of stump?" he replied, con-
/ temptuously, with that allowance we could
do anything. There is. somewhere in Ireland,
gentlemen born without limbs, who goes
out hunting in clothes basket strapped on a
horses back. Ii we could get hold of him,
! L. l..
An inspection of my friends dteliers, GER
tainly, 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.
"Whatw said |, do YOU make banisters as
well as legs" pointing to a shelf full neatly
turned and painted.
Banistersi my dear sir" he replied, a
little hurt, '.these are our Chelsea pensioners
And on closer examination, such they
proved to be. Here was the hard third class
fact, simple and unadorned
And these buckets?" | rejoined, pointing
to some scores of hollow wooden cones placed
one within another.
Buckets the worldw said he, reaching one
down, and screwing banister into its lower
end.
I
plete. 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 in our ewes
-"arms, too You should see the rows and
rows stored on the shelves - their hooks
hanging out like - many hundred dozen um-
brelas. Government can only afford hooks
+ tor nj bat
not able TO pay. can get new legs and arms of
the very best construction at the expense of
a grateful nation, by simply applying at the
Horse Guards"
All the while this serio-comic conversation
was going on, a workman, in the coolest pos
sible manner, was working away at most
delicate little lee that would not have come
off second best in the judgment of Paris--a
iaultless Balmoral boot, and the daintiest silk
stocking covered proportions that Madame
I Nestris might have envied.
These" said NV companion, are some of
our first-class goods. Would YOU like to see
the meehanicsm? Dodge. pull down the
stocking With that the workman barred the
hInb, while my companion put il through its
PAGES. This, YOU see. is our patent knee
cap and patella, and this the new vulcanized
India rubber tendon Achilles: here. in the
instep, YOU Will observe a spiral spring eleva-
ting the toes, and If YOU will Just observe
Opening little trap door in the back of the
calf) here Is an ingenious contrivance by
which the bending of the knee elevates the
front part OF the foot, thus allowing it full
play TO swing forward, displayed like Van
dykes as If TO challenge attention"
Now, what will they do" said |, almost
doubtful whether the clenched fist would not
strike.
do anything said he, "by means of the
hook inserted in the plan, it can lift, or hold
the reins almost as well as the natural men,
ber. Observe the beautiful operation of the
spring thumb, initiating the grand privilege of
man and monkey, by means of which it can