Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-05-10
GIFTS OF CORK LEos.
The Government Gives Artificial Limbs
Men who Cannot Use Them.

The Government Gives Artificial Limbs 60
Men who Cannot Use Them.
The government, under the working
Of series Of complicated laws, is pre-
scnting artificial legs and arms to cer-
tain pensioners who still have the orig
inal members and who could not be
hired TO have the natural members am
putated to make use for these gifts
These artificial members are accord
ingiy turned TO ready cash at the full
market price
The original legs and arms are doing
good service, and pension Is drawn
for the injury they sustained The
eommutation price OF the cork leg
comes as a triennial present from the
government
IL would be wrong TO accuse The PEN
sioner OF any irregularity IN accepting
these presents from the government
He is simply taking what the law gives
him.
These triennial presentations are due
TO the fact that in the ratings for GER
tain injuries to arms and legs the PEN
sion is based on the equivalence of the
injury TO the loss OF a leg or an arm.
IL Is part OF system which allows
the distribution of public none, ac-
cording TO physicians estimate Of the
comparative value of the different
parts of the human body.
The revised statutes in sections 47S7-s
provide that every soldier who was fur
nished with an artificial limb by the
war department, since June is. 1870,
''and who was entitled to receive such
limb since said date" shall receive
new one every five years. Every per-
son entitled TO the benefits OF this law
may, Il he so elects, receive the money
value Of such limb, rating an artificial
leg at seventy-five dollars and an arti-
cial arm arm at fifty dollars
Section 4Te0 Of the revised statutes
says; Every person In the military or
naval service who lost limb during
the war of the rebellion, but from the
nature Of his injury is not able 10 use
an artificial limb, shall be entitled to
the benefits of section 47ss, and shall
receive money commutation as therein
provided"
vidcd that artificial limbs should be
furnished once in three years, instead
of once In five.
Having provided substitute limbs for
those who have lost the originals, the
following law fixes the amount of pen
sion which may be paid 70 he loss of
such members 1t was app'C ed March
5, 1888:
THAT from and after tn, passage of
this act all persons on the ponsion roll,
and all persons hereafter granted
pension, who, while in the military or
naval service of the United States, and
in the line of duty, shall have lost one
hand or one foot, or been totally disa-
bled In the same, or otherwise so disa-
bled 30 as to render their incapacity to
perform manual labor equivalent to the
loss of hand or foot, shall receive
pension of twenty-four dollars
month"
Here is a story illustrating the work.
ing of these laws:
Robert Nelson lives In the town OF
Lisbon, St Lawrence county. He
served as n private, company ID, Six
tieth New York volunteers, and, by the
testimony of his comrades, was a true
soldier, who obeyed orders, fought
hard, and remained at his post until a
confederate shot disabled him lie was
severely injured by bullet in the left
hip. and the injury was permanent.
Under the law, it was rated as equiv
alent to the loss Of hand or foot"
Mr.. Nelson, however. still has mis- leg
with him, and 1t does him pretty good
service.
He is a farmer, carrying on a tract
of one hundred and forty acres little
back from the banks of the St Law
renee river. He is lame from his in
juries. He is tall, erect with blue
eyes blonde gray mustache, and an
honest frank expression Of counte-
nance.
On September 20, 1883, he applied for
rating under the general pension
laws, and on December 80, 1884, GER
tificate was issued granting him twen-
ty-four dollars a month.
Once in three years the war depart
ment sends him a certificate which en-
titles him TO an artificial leg. lie does
not want IL He could not use IL II he
had IL And so, in accordance with the
law, he receives Communication" for the
legs at the rate of seventy-ive dollars
each. N. Y. TimeA