Maryland free press., 1862-11-21
: tFrom "once aWeek."l :
THE ARTIFICIAL MAN.

THE ARTIFICIAL IAN.
While lounging the other day fh a medical IL
brsry,I CHANGED to take up a little volume, the
old title of which led me to dip into it-"Bgg
on Artificial LimbsS had heard of the skillful,
anatomical mechanician of Leicester Square whom
the Queer delighted to honor with commissions
for cunningly devised limbs FOR wounded soldiers
during the Crime war; bat I never realized to
myself the art with which man can exc out the
defects OF nature until glanced over this velume:
the contents of which so struck me, that was
determined to see for myself how far that cunning
j biped man can simulate the handiwork OF our
great mother. was received courteousy, ard
on explaining the nature my errand an assis-
taut 'Tas sent through the different workshops to
satisfy my curiosity. ,..a
a very few ninutes conversation with ny con-
ductor left the impression upen my mind that, in
stead of having any profound respect for Nature,
be looked upon her as sometimes rather in the
1 way than otherwise; for, happening to ask him
play fully, as knd of starting question, with how
small modicum Of humanity he could manage to
work, "Sir," said be, very seriously, eve only
want the vital principle, Cite Us nervous centres
and sound viscera and we Ind all the rest"
"But," said I, not prepared for this liberal Of
ieIJ sUFPOso q man h''N vaiy sHiCS 'aSuSe VI
stumpf"
"Ttroe inches of stump!' he replied contcmp
uously, "wth that allowance we could nythu.
There is," said lie, .asoweW here in Ireland, gen
teman born without limbs, who goes out hunting
in a ciothes-basket strapped his horse's back
If we could only get hold of him, his friOnds, in
sx weeks, would not know him."
Au inspection of my friends ateliers, certainly,
AZ Ia III
his assistant spoke. / soon found out that there
are first, second and third class limbs, however,
as of everything else:
"What!" said I, edo you make bsnislsrs as
we'll as legs nnintinG TO shAf s~ii----. i----a
and painted.
''Banistersl my d EAR sir" he replied little
hurt, "these are our Chelsea pensioners"
and on a closer examination such they proved
TO be. Here was hard third class fact, simple
and unadorned q.
"And these buckets?" rej,ined, pointing TO
some scores of hollow wooden cones placed one
within the other.
"Buckets the word!'' said he, reaching one
dswn, and sctewing banister into its lower end
These are oCr Chelsea pensioners complete. But
this is nothing to what they have in store at the
Chelsea Hospital During the war we could not
make them fast enough, ,nnd they wers obliged
- apply to the :nup-cnskcrs. Fact" said be
seeing the surprise in our eycs-"and arms, too,
lou should see the rows and rows stored on the
shelves; their hooks banging out like so many
umbrellas. Government caa only afford hooks
for soldiers and sailors; but officers who are not
able to pay can &c. new legs and arms of the very
DSst construction ct the expense of grateful ma
tion, by simply applying at the Horse Guards"
Ill tho N hila ihis ,;,
going on, workman in the coolest po sable NJ an
ner was working away at q most. delicate little
leg that would have come oil second best in the
Judgment of Paris"-a faultless Balmoral boot
and the daintest silk stocking covered proportions
that Madame Vestris might have envied.
These" said my companion, Care some a. our
first class goods. Would you ike to soc the mo-
ohauisin?" Goodgs, pull down the stockng."-
With that the workman barred the limb, whilst
my companion put it through its PAGES. "This
you see, Is our patent knee cap and patela, and
this the new vulcanized india arubber tendonachi.
lesi here in the instep, you will observe spiral
spring eleTatipg the toes, and if you will just OBJ
serve Opening little trap door in the back of the
calf, hero 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 for
| ward clear of the ground"
Certainly it was admirs BILE contrivance.. ::
ehAnd can man or woman progress easily with
! th6t arraegementP' said l.. @
| "Do you know Lady --?" said he.
/ eyes"
"Nothipg the matter therem he reioined, In,
terogatively.
| / was obliged to confesr, not to my knowledge
.f"That's her spare leg nevertheless" he replied
! trunphantly.
"Spare leg! What DO you mean?"
"Lord bless you! Look into that cupboard. l
have the spare members of half the towa there
duly labeled. Things will go wrong with the bert
conducted limbs; and to save diff culties we keep
! duplicates which can be applied at the shortest
! notice. A gentleman, whom we will call Mr..
Smith, lost the pin out of his knee -jont, and
sent here for his of-leg. L youag lad up from the
country sent him another Smiths boz containing
! an arm-very awkward"
"Wil you allow met" said 7, trying to read the
! names on the boxes.
"Csrtainly not" said he, shutting the door and
turning the Key: "this is our Bluebeards's cup
bosrd, l wouldn't allow even my wife to peep
Bat come and look at our hands"
There they were--some clenched, some spread
out, some in tho act of holding, some gloved, and
displayed like vandykes, as if 20 challenge atten-
| sion.
CHOW, Whist will they dot" said !, almost DOUBT
ful whether the clenched fist wouldn't strike. :
,"Do anything" said he: "by means of the hook
inserted in the palm, it lift or hold the rsins,
almest as well as the natural member. Observe
the beautiful operation Of the spring thumb imi.
tstinr the grsnd privilege of man and monkey, BY
means of which,it can grasp fork sr lightly fin
ger atoothpick,"
"Do you supply fingers and such small seari" l
ins uircd.
FINGERS, toes, noses, legs--ws take them a,
they ,ome. Een ttmsn with but one 6pg.r Cd