Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-04-12
LEGS AND ARMS.
An Art by Which, Portions OF the ga.
man 4Anatcmy Are Successfully i,".
plicntcL
tChicago Herald.I

tChicago Heraldl
"You want TO know how ARTIFICIAL
limbs are made? Why thsr ore .tion
could hardly be answered in volumes,
calculated the doctor, when ti'sr el,orter
pressed his question. He then -opened
n large glass case and pointed to ~
artificial leg, which, had it not been 10
the somewhat ivid color of tie e.lanel
would have led the observer to belnv"
it had just been severed froa, tho boi.r.
"Now, here" said the doctor, "is TIE
best anatomical leg in the market. 1t
sounds funny, doesn't it, 10 speak OF
legs in the MARKET I'll try to give
you an idea as we'll as can without tie
aid of illustrations. The ankle joint is
formed by ball of polished glass, ply.
ing in 8 socket of Nulcanitc OF india
rubber, which is q joint that admits OF
every motion that the natural ankle
does, without exception. 1t is the first
joint ever invented which never re-
quires oiling. At tue base OF the calf OF
the leg there are four India rubbe
springs. which take the place OF the
muscles of the natural leg. From thes
springs tie tendons, with SC EVIL head
on the upper end, pas to the ankle JOINT,
and the nuts serve to regulate the ten
sion of the tendons and springs to sui
the carer. The knee joint is formed
y an aXial bolt plying in two seq 5eent
OF a circle, one of which IS adjustable t.
prevent looseness and nose. y sprin
'perates the knee Joint and carries til
DOT forward at each step, with any, de-
~ b., ~,
culiar gait of the wearer 1T is made
from India rubber, and adjustable like
the others. Tho motion of the knee.
joint is limited and controlled W
cord. which takes the place OF the cru
al ligaments OF the natural knee joint:
o, there is no unple ant jar caused b.
rhe contact OF the SOLID parts, and tue
annoyance and expense of sending tho
leg to the maker every nov and then
to have the joints pushed to keep them
from wearing loose and rattlins; is en-
t.rely avoided In form, as YOU see, the
limb is made to correspond exactly with
the natural one. It is then covered
18th delicate skin, which is enaineled
with the most delicate tinted iesh-col
ored enamel, shaded to suit each par
ticular case"
Formerly" the doctor continued,
"the manufacture OF artificial legs was
almost entirely left to common me-
chanics, and strange to say. to these
who had suffered a,nputatior, and had
little or no knowledge OF anatomy.
They initiated some Of the FACTIONS of
the natural leg quite we'll, bat others
not at all. Indeed, it could hardly be
expected that any one but al anatomist
should be able to model lee so close
to nature as to initiate all the varied
motions of the natural leg.
There IS the so-ca!led 'army and
navy Leg constructed by the earne It
request OF surgeons, who wanted for
their patients q strong, durable leg % ii
yet not costing q sum too large .or
person OF limited means to pay. It Ina
no lateral or side motion. but El.s India
rubber springs that cannot lie u. okor.,
and which give an easy, graco.ui 10
ton, like that OF the natural lialb. n@,
hsh willow. leather, silk d steel are
the principal materials. The leg Is
ventilated completely, and tie to-, ii
is bound with brass. which pr, ven
splitting of the socket. The le. IS
easily taken apart anA put together, and
will stand the test Of years.
'The mechanism OF an artificial ARM"
said the doctor, sis of course, more
complicated. but st!l tie principle 10
initiate nature is +, .ined in this caa..
also. Inside the thu..b strong spr
is inserted to enable i; to press upon &
object put between It and the two ,