The National tribune., 1895-06-27
ABOUT CRUTCHES.
Where They Arc Made and What They Are
Made of-Demand Increasing.

Where They Are Made and What They Are
Made of-Demand Increasing.
Nearly all the crutches made in this coun-
try for use here and for export TO foreign
countries, principally to the West Indies, TO
Mexico CentralAmerica, and South America,
are made in four or five factories in New
England. and two or three factories in other
parts of the country, says the New York San.
Perhaps three-fourths or more OF them are
made in New England, great number
being produced by a single factory in New
Hampshire. A few crutches are made TO
order outside Of the factories. but they are
very few. Almost without exception, and
including those made to order, crutcbes are
made in the factories. Most Of the factories
are located where they are so as TO be as near
as possible 10 forests Of suitable timber, and
because Of tie great cheapness Of labor.
Practically 10 cruiches are imported.
Rock maple is the wood most used in the
manufacture of crutches; they are made
also of lancewood, rosewood, hickory, and
other woods, and of bamboo. The great
majority of crutches are now made of the
modern style. the spread or double-bar
crutch, so familiar 10 the eye; bat the Old
style c-utch has by no means gene entirely
out Of use. Perhaps 10 per cent Of our
crutches are still made of the oid-fashioned
style, a single straight bar with an arm
piece across at the top. Clutches Of this
kind are sometimes made of ash or oak they
are more commonly sold where but single
crutch is desired, and where, therefore,
greater strength and stiffness are needed.
Tt in not unusual for women who use
crutcnes 10 have two pairs. one for ordinary
use, and the other for more formal occasions;
the pair nore commonly used might become
more or less scratched or marred. Some
women have Two pairs, one pair of light
colOTed wood, he other OF dark, the better
30 mach tie gowns they might wear. Men
are not 50 particular as this, but many Of
Them buy cru,ches Of fine materials, finely
made and finished In Spanish-American
countries men like crutches handsomely and
more elaborately mounted.
Clutches may be bought at almost any
price: a pair Of modern deuble-bar crutches
with rubber tips can be bought for 81. per-
hRps for ess From that they run upward
according 10 material and finish Clutches
are often made with solid silver trimmings,
and not i89requently with gold trimmings
snd with ivory handles and with ivory arm
pieces. Probably SO TO S25 a pair would
cover the cost OF most OF The finer rutches
some, however. cost $50 $50, and more.
Crutch armpieces are finished IN various
ways many are covered with leather, many
are finished in polished wood one of the
newest syles is a polished wood top fin
1shed 10 the shape OF a cows horn, and So
called. There are patents on cruiches prin-
cIpaliy on one end or the other, the top OF
tbe tip. Rubber tips have been used for
many years, but there have been varions
Improvements in them. Formerly a piece
Of rubber was simply tackled On to the end
of the crutch.
An Improvement on this was ferrule on
the end of the crutch and projecting be-
yond the end Of in, forming q socket into
which the rubber could be inserted. There
1s a clamp tip which can be opened and
closed $50 that the worn rubber can be taken
out and renewed Most of the rubber iips
have openings into which ice spikes can be
inserted in icy weather. A recent device
combines the ice spike, rubber and ferrule
IN such a manner that the ice spike can be
uEed or not. as desired.
Dealers say that the demand for crutches
increases more rapidly proportionately than
the increase Of the population. This is ac-
counted Tor by the increasing accidents al
tending the extended modern use OF ma
ehiDeTy IN one form and another. and in
some measure il is attributed incidentally
TO improved methods of surgical ppactc
and the better manner in which patients are
not only permitted TO 20 out on cruiches,
but are urged 10 20, as soon as they can
safely do 50.
Nbiie there are many regular users oi
crutches. still there are thousands who use
crutches only temporarily, perhaps in get
ting oyer a broken leg OF a sprain, and who
never have occasion 10 use them again
Some people keep their crutches for the
recOllecii0ns that attach TO them; some
hang them on the wall, like a trophy thou
sands give them TO institutions where
crutches are needed. A large dealer said
that the annual production OF cruiches in
this country would amount TO 100000 pairs
Jealous oficer.