Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-07
AIDS FOR THE CRIPPLED.
1he Use of Artificial Limbs Moro Gen
eraI Than Most People Imagine.

n Use of Artificial Limbs Moro Gen
eral Than Most People Imagine.
Very few people have any idea of how
wide is the presence Of artificial limbs
1egs more especially. Arms and hands,
which trace their origin to art rather
than nature, are sufficiently conspicuous;
with legs it is different. An artificial
hand will pass muster with the casual
observer. but its existence cannot he con-
cealed from persons who are at all inti-
mate with its owner. On the other hand,
Q man or woman may go about with the
help Of a manufactured leg, and all that
their acuuaintances will think is that
they are slightly lame, such is the per-
lection to which the making Of these use
full helps to mankind has been brought.
A man can walk with an artificial leg
almost as well as if he had never lost one
of those with which nature provided him;
he can sit naturally, and rise without ar-
parent effort; all that is necessary is 10
get the limb from a good maker, and 10
practice its use diligently. There is moth
ing new about artificial limbs. The an.
clients made use of them, and attempted
something more ambitious than mere
stumps. II is only Of recent years, bow
ever, that legs and arms have been turned
out with really artistic skill. The con-
struction of the best limbs is ex-
tremely simple; there is none Of
the complicated machinery which some
years 4 was introduced into these
articles with a view to rendering them
less conspicuous, but with the result that
there was, almost Invariably, a rafting
noise that gave due notice of the approach
of a game leg. And this continual noise
WIS not the only disadvantage attaching
20 these elaborate pieces Of mac lery.
They were, al wa only natural, con-
SANITY out of order, and their behavior
could never be relied upon, Though they
might be trusted not TO carry their luck
less owners all over the world at whirl.
wind speed, in the fashion treated Of in
the old ballad, they were very apt to 60
wrong at critical moments, and cover
with confusion the persons whom they
were supposed to assist.
Such unpleasant situations never now
eAnJo oNeui Will a "th lDdtiNu diu
skillfully designed false leg, Springs are
Ne only machinery used in its construc-
hon, and they are Of a simple descrip-
ton. Legs are made Of various materials
but the best Of all is willow, and in this
country it has been found hat the willow
srees which grow along the banks Of the
Kennel give wood that is superior to all
others for this purpose. Leather, papier.
macbe, German silver and corrugated
fron have all been given a trial, but none
Of them do as well as good willow wood.
Cork, which is associated with artificial
Legs in the minds Of most people, is Of no
use whatever. A good limb is a costly
thing, but it wear well, provided that it
Is properly cared for. Persons who can
afford it have a couple exactly alike, and
once a year they make a change and
send the ore they have been wearing for
the last twelve months to the maker,
who overhauls it and executes any
trifing repairs that may be necessary.
BY following this course, a pair Of good
legs may be made to last a lifetime
London Standard.