Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-02-20
INITIATING NATURE.
DEVICES TO SUPPLY LOST MEMBERS
OF THE HUMAN FRAME.
A Hand That Was Marvellous In Its
Mcchanism-A Celebrated Leg-Noses
Made OF SiIver-Devciopment Of
the Surgeons Art
IChirngo Tribune.


Curious 10 see what art is capable OF &c
comprising ingmitation OF natures handi-
work, Tribune reporter called the other
day upon a wel-known artifcial-limb
maker and asked to inspect some II his
hands The ordinary substitutes supplied TO
those who have had the misfortune to lose
the natural member is very simple affair,
cnrvcl out Of light wood with hinged
finger joints and a thumb, which, by the ac-
ton Of 81 ring. bends upon the palm. Thi
nrtiii, ial digit, clothed with neatly fitting
glove, presents a very toleratle appearance.
BY the aid Of the spring thumb.
carefully adjusted by the other hand,
it can grasp roll OF paper, but
there it, capabilities end The at
tendant, noticing the reporters diSarpoint-
ment, candilly confessed that the hand was
only for ornament. adding: We recon-
mead our patient. when they really wish 10
use tho arm To unsocket the hand and put It
in their pocket>' The reporter smiled at
the idea of a man at dinner party quietly
pocketing his hnnd and deliberately fas,en-
ing a spoon CT fork into his stump II ap-
pears that there is a regular SGT of domestic
implements manufactured for this purpose.
which TT into the socket Just as implements
are fitted into n centerbit Poor men who
cannot AFFORD this assortment are simply fit
ted with a hook which enables them 10 lift
weights or to hold rein. or the sportsman Is
fitted with a gun-rest. which enables him TO
do days shooting without Inconvenience.
WONDERFUL HAND.
at Is not TO be supposed that attempts
have not BEEN made to follow the mechanism
of nature moro fully" said an artificial-limb
vissi which by series OF concealed spring.
and cords, possessed tho power of grasping
and retaining with some slight amount of
force any hight substance placed in contact
with II, the governing power being the fall
OF a small column of mercury placed in a
tube within the ARA part Of tho appa-
ratus- The object in view WAS that
the elbow being nexsd and the lower arm
being held st an inclined plane, the gravity
the quicksilver, scting ulon a kind Of plug t.
which the center cord was attached, should
at once produce closure of the fingers
whilst tie return of the mercury to the lower
emf o! the tub upon the arm being lowerei.
would lermit light spring. TO bring back the
fingers e. their Starting point Thi. plan did
not succeed, ns tie joints had 10 be made 60
loose that they sainei n lateral motion. thus
giving anything but a natural appearance to
the fingers, and the metal constantly escap-
IN. rendered the contrivance useless
WOODEN LEGS
What Was known AZ the Anglesea leg. 81
called from the marquis OF that name who
lost his leg at the battle of Waterloo. was
IN Its day Considered q wonder II art. sni
when the marquis wns on horseback II was
almost impossible TO tell that il was artificial
The cstgut hid at the back o. the heel served
10 extend the foot when the limb was
Strengthened, and the spring OF he ins;epuT-
lifted tie toes from the ground when the leg
was bent IN walking. hut the action II the
foot L utterly wanting in lateral motion in the
ankle-loInt, consequently the wesrer could
not walk on uneven ground without cunsid-
cradle jar AMI strain Moreover the metal
joints creak and rattle after a little time and
the approach 81 the wearer is thus IN
Pleasantly announced In all such join.ed
extrem,t!es the ~esrers are Obliged 10 carry
pocket oil-cases. An Improvement WAS made
upon his leg by giving 1t a ball and socket
ankle joint, which gave every motion that is
attainable in the human joint and by means
of TIE Use OF railroad-csr spring rubter.
which acts by compression, the danger Of
brsakage was got rid Of This leg has been
again inn rovei on, as it was found that the
side motion II gave WAS ant 10 make the
wearcr stumble. as he had no muscles 20 sup
port the leg with So the limb now mos:
generally in use is one that has only an up
IN down motion
The government supplies both officer. and
men who have lost their limbs in the service
OF their country VITA artificial ones tree Of
charge, and One of the provisions Of the pen
sion bill Is for the the purr.,se Of. as &c were