The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-10-10
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.
How They Are Made to Duplicate the
Original.

sizes. Some are snort ana stout, WlIn
rather too much calf for strictly classical
beauty, others are long and slim, with a
deplorable lack of calf, while others vie
In shapeiness with the neither limbs of
Greek slave or Venus de Milo.
The old man when visited recently
was hard at work, but consented to give
the writer a few particulars in regard to
his business
Now, that" he said, pointing to a
shspeiy leg hanging ever the fire, "be-
longs to a NewburypOrt young lady"
THAT" continued the old man, sis
what's known rs knee bearing leg. l
made it for her three years ago, when
she Was about fourteen years old. She
lost her leg little below the knee-so
short she couldn't wear socket bear
ing-leg, 80 she was obliged to have
kneer-bearing. to walk ON the knee. She
has grown little since, and so was
obliged to heightened it out. cut the
leg 10 two at the calf and put in piece,
doyetailing it and fastening it with glue.
I've listed chiId's leg least at four
inches before 1t was given up, when its
parents were poor and couldn't afford a
new one"
"How did the young lady lose her
legP"
Il don't know; didn't ask her. l
never ask anybody, for some are very
sensitive about it, especially men. You
see great many men lose their legs by
being run over when they are drunk. |
do not believe I've asked man that
question for ten years. Now here, !"
picking up leg in process of cOnstruc-
ton, "legs don't weigh as much as
you'd think. Including all the iron
work, that leg wouldn't weigh more
than five pounds. l have just made
one for full-grown woman that
weighed, everything complete, including
the upper socket, exactly three pounds.
l made it particularly light on account
of her being sickk. want to show
you now whether we get the durability.
The steel ankle-joints are, you see, set
in the wood, and slightly broader at the
ankle than farther up the leg, which
makes them sOrter dovetailed. The
|
them aud partly by an endless aud very
powerful oord-some make it of silk,
but always use Misunderstanding from
the heel of the foot over a bar in the
calf of the leg, which is hollow. The
cord relieves principally what is called
the nosing,' whore the shin plays into
the foot.
The anklejoints are, you see, con
neeted by steel bolt, which makes the
leg particularly strong about the ankle
where The most strain comes. The toe
Joint is located at the same place as il
the natural foot, aud works with s
spring that brings the toe into place
after each step. The woodP l use will
low altogether, and have never used any
other. have shown you one useC
where the leg has been lost below the
knee.
Now this" producing another leg
rs for one lost above the knee. 1t is
the same in every particular as the other
with the addition of wooden socke
to secure the stamp. 1t works at The
knee in very natural manner on :
simple bolt, with a spring extending
from the thin piece to the lower part o
the top socket This spring throws thu
foot forward, ia walking, the minute tn,
toe leaves the floor.
you will observe that if the amputa
ton is above the knee the leg must b.
held in place by suspenders made of
stout welt-part elastic and part non
misunderstanding over the shoulder
If with long stump below the knee
the leather socket, laced above tn
knee, is usually sufficient.
"If, however, there is but shor
stump below the knee a strap is required
Every weak point in leg is special
guarded, in some way or other; an,
! when the steel and woodwork is CON
plete the leg is covered with calfskil
similar to a drum-head. 1t is put o
wet and dries to the leg, very closely
adding great deal to its strength
, Then that is sand-papered down to
surface, and the holes in the calf opene
out They are for ventilation, but
! doubt if they do any good, l Nlway
put them in, because good many ar
of the notion they are. Then the leg
painted. use alcoholic paint, made {
gum and dry lead. The minute
strikes water it is set and youcan't was
2 it off with anything except alcohol.
"Tn show you leg" producing
: particularly lifelike one, the foot
Y which bore shoe and stocking, "tha
Il has been painted seventeen years andi'
. you see, in pretty good condition"
}, "What do YOU consider your mos
u singular caseP"
d "That of little boy that lives nea
Q the old reservoir. He was brought
h me in his fathers arms when he was sil
teen or seventeen months old, and ha
!, never walked step. l didn't dare
. touch him, he was so young and tender
. and his father took him to DIR. Shaw
= The doctor advised him to get a linn
= right of so as to prevent hip disease @
y y the other side. That had never Occurre
70 TO me. The doctors opinion took a
!. the responsibility away from me; and {