Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-23
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.
HOW THEY ARE MADE AND THE
MATERIALS THAT ARE USED.

Moved and Hands That Write-A Pc
culiar Business Which Requires Nicely
of Touch by the Mechanic.
"No, our business is not what it once
was,' said an artificial limb dealer. "Still
it is big thing, as hundreds and even
thousands of such limbs are made to order
every year"
"Then you make them to order, do YOUR
inquired the reporter.
"Oh, yes, they are all made to order.
They can not well be made in any other
way Why, sir, there are no two indi-
viduals alike, and, of course, it becomes
necessary to fit every artificial limb. The
size of right limb cannot be taken as a
model in making left one. Each must be
measured if artificial limbs are to be made
for them both. It's a peculiar business.
have been at it for over a quarter of a CEN
trtry and am pretty familiar with its de-
tails, but still something entirely new de-
velops every day."
MAKING A WOODEN LEG.
"How are artificial limbs made?" asked
the reporter.
''In various ways and of different materi-
ais. All first class goods are made from
English willow, which is light, compact
and tough wood, specially adapted to the
making of such limbs. The willow wood
is shipped to us in rough blocks measuring
from five to eight inches in diameter and
from one to two feet in length. One of
these rude blocks is the rudimentary form
of beautifully finished and well formed
artificial arm or leg. The first thing to do
is to drill or bore the center Of the wooden
block full of holes and hollow it out, be-
cause as you probably know, all artificial
limbs are hollow and merely shell like in
structure. When the center is followed
out the outside of the rough block is dressed
up a little. Suppose I am making a limb
for a person whose leg is off above the knee.
Trough out the thigh part of the artificial
leg, then fit the hollow portion Of it to
the stump of the PERSONS real thigh
and then proceed to dress down the
rude, block like piece of wood. 1t is shaped
as nearly like the original thigh as posi-
BILE, the knee joint turned out and then
the hollow portion enlarged until only a
thin, shell like thigh is produced. A
leather socket is attached to the upper part
of it, and it is complete. Next comes that
part of the limb from the knee down. 1t
is the most difficult part to make, as it is
required to be Of a more symmetrical form.
It's smaller, too, and the hollow part is
harder to turn out The knee joint is a
difficult thing to construct properly, as SO
many little points have to be carefully
noted. Then you come to the ankle joint,
which is still more difficult to make. Very
few artificial limb makers can make a good
ankle joint. Lastly come the foot and
toes An artificial foot with movable toes
is a neat piece of work when properly
made"
"Do all persons who want artificial feet
prefer movable toes attached to them?"
"Oh, no. Many do not want anything
but plain wooden foot"
''How long does it require to make an
artificial Lego"
"It takes one person about two weeks
It's slow work"
'sWhat does full length artificial leg
cost?"
"About 800, if made of first class ma
terial You see, the wooden, shell like limb
is coated on the outside with rawhide and
a layer of enamel placed over this to give
the limb beautiful appearance and dur
able exterior surface"
"Do you make many artificial arms?"
however, than leg, because they are
smaller, more symmetrical and frequently
intended for more general use. Many full
length arms are made, but the most of
them are merely "stubs;" that is, intended
to be worn below the elbow. Here's full
length arm. See how it fits upon the
shoulder stump, and is held there by
straps passing around under the other
Sa.x g 1o%o %I1o
arm is quite like the natural one. An ar
tificial hand is wonderful piece of me-
chanical work. See this one? It has fin
gers, with joints which are movable, and
can be used to quite an advantage"
MOVING ARTIFICIAL FINGERS.
GLOW are the fingers moved?"
"Why, there are rubber cords running
through the hollow arm. They are at
tached to the straps which hold the arm in
its socket at the shoulder, and being fast
ened to the base of the fingers regulate
their movements. Yes, sir, a person with
a we'll made artificial hand can use it to a
good advantage l have known persons
who could write a fairly good hand. 1t
may seem paradoxical, but it is true. Here
is a hand which am just finishing. See
how the various parts are knit together?
Everything must fit precisely or there will
be friction and the hand will be rendered
absolutely useless When properly made
artificial arm is worn and kid glove
placed on the hand very few will notice the
difference Oh, certainly, the wearer can
move the arm about at leisure and do al
most any little thing-such as pick up arti-
cles, shake hands with friend or carry a
bucket of water, or anything of the kind.
A shake with person who wears an artif-
cial arm is paradoxical-that is, it is a false
but friendly grasp"
allow can you carry heavy weight in a
false hand? Isn't the grasp too weak?"
eyes, but we obviate that difficulty easily
enough. See here? We take off the beau
tiful hand at the wrist and screw in a
hook, which will enable any one to carry
quite as much of a weight as if he pos
sessed his natural arm. There are some
peculiar cases which come to our notice.
Crippled persons have some odd whims
which they endeavor to crafty. Many of
these whims are expensive ones, too. These
persons will take fancy to some particu-
lar characteristic of an artificial limb and
order it made to suit their fancy"
care there more full length artificial
limbs made than there are stubs""
swell, / do not know that there are.
It's pretty hard to tell"
"Do you make artificial limbs for ladies?
ooh, yes; we have some lady patrons.
The number is increasing every year, too. u
"What class of people usually are your
best patrons?"
'Soldiers, farmers and railroad men
The number of railroad customers is CON
ctantIv increasinp while the disabled eX
soldiers who require artificial limbs are
becoming fewer every year, Some years
ago our ex-soldier trade was the best Oh
any but not so now.'-Cincinnati Times
Star.
Very Funny.
A well known humorist was at Dime
party, and the lady he took down promise
herself an immense treat.
She said: 81 have met him at last He
the funniest actor in London. And he is &c