Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-03-06


the iron parts of the limb" are
fashioned, and in another a long work
bench, covered with tools and shay
ings, stands out where thu best light
from the dusty windows will strike it.
A table is Uttered with drawings of
legs and arms, ankle-springs, rubber
toes and no end of small human patch
work. In another part of the room
there is a turning lathe. and not far
away the manufacturer himself in his
long gingham apron sits putting the
finishing touches on "patent-lacer.
extra length limb" He is jovial
man, apparently not at all depressed
by his trade. and he tells of his work
with great deal of pride The limb
is laid aside and be picks up wo-
mans hand incased in yellow glove.
By holding the wrist the fingers may
be bent back and forth in a manner so
natural and life-llke that it verges on
the horrible. OF this piece of work
the manufacturer is especially proud.
81 have worked ON it long time"
he says, land / can truthfully say
that it is the best hand made. It's
fingers are all jointed SO many times
that it will clutch, clinch, and alto
gether look SO natural that no one
would be able to tell it. if the glove
was kept in place. from a real hand"
The hand was all made of wood
whitfield out and jointed in truly
marvellous way.
Artificial limbs, although they are
tinted SO as to resemble wax. are made
principally of the extra-fine, close
grained wood of the English weeping
willow. Within the last year or two
aluminium has come into use to some
extent, and has been found particularly
valuable on account Of it's lightness,
strength and corrosive quality.
The wood is first turned in lathe to
the general shape of leg or arm, then
followed out until the shell is from
one-quarter to five-eighths of an inch
thick. The workman, who must be
skillful and ingenious with tools, now
takes the piece and whittles 1t down to
the general shape required. and then
DCk lAo Ou0 Ud6h VI CuOul0B ouO p1OpOA
angles and depressions in the top of the
inside portion SO that it will exactly
fit the stump of the "person with
mutilations. This is one of the most
difficult parts of the whole work. for
unless the limb is fitted exactly the
person cannot use it with any degree
of comfort The foot is whitfield out
by hand entirely and fastened to the
leg by means of hinge and spring
which allow a ready articulation. In
the more expensive limbs another
hinge is fitted up for the toes, and when
the amputation is above the knee a
nee-joint is also prepared so that the
leg will swing readily in walking.
Having completed the wooden parts
of the limb and polished them, the
manufacturer shrinks them over fine
piece of rawhide fastened to the wood
by means Of glue. AS it dries it hugs
the wood very close and adds much
strength without materially increasing
the weight. The bottom of the foot is
often made of soft rubber. which gives
it natural spring in walking.
When the leg has been painted it is
ready for use.
Limbs are attached usually by means
of leather bands which may be laced
tight, or sometimes they are held up
by straps running over the shoulders
like suspenders. Arms are often SO
fitted that the hand may be unscrewed
and knife or fork or hairbrush made
especially for the purpose can be put
in its place. thus enabling person to
perform the ordinary duties of life
with comparatively little trouble.
In not a few cases also blacksmiths,
carpenters and other artisans have been
enabled to work with tools especially
prepared for use with artificial arms.
A large amount of business is also done
by the manufacturer in piecing out de-
formed feet with blocks of wood
whitfield to the proper shape.
An ordinary artificial hand of the
very best make is worth 800, legs
from $50 to $125 and arms from $50
to $3.50.
The making of artificial noses and
ears has also become good business
within the last few years. A nose is
first nodded to the proper shape in
papier-mache, and then it is waxed
and vanished to the tint of the COM
plexion of the noseless person. Ordi-
narily it is fastened on by means of
pair of spectacles, to the nose-piece of
which it is firmly attached. In some
cases, however, where the remaining
stump is large enough, it is clamped in
place and the spectacles are not neces.
sary. An ear is made in much the
same way, but it is far more difficult
to attach. Most frequently small
springs fitting into the ear duct are
used, but they are likely in the end
to seriously impair the hearing.
Other physical deficiencies are rem
edied by wig, false teeth and glass
eyes. The last are made almost ex-
clusively in Thuringia, Germany. and
the workmen are marvelously expert.