The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-06
CORK LEGS FOR VETERANS.
CORK LIMBS TO SOUTHERN
SOLDIERS.

Old Ones Are Cumbersome and I'm
wieIdy-COuId Dance at a Reunion
When All Are Fitted Out-WOOden-
Legged Men Who Ride Bicycles,
Sprint, Dance and Jump on Chairs.
BaII-Bearing, Rotary, Back-ActiOn
Spring and Pneumatic Limbs.
New York, Dec. A most friendly mo-
ton was made before grand army post
al a recent meeting. 1t was set forth by
a one-legged veteran of the war, and it
was to the general effect that the Grand
Army of the Republic present wooden legs
to the legless veterans of the southern
army.
1t is not to be supposed that southern
veterans cannot supply their own legs, or
that they are all in need of them. But
there have been improvements lately
made in the artificial leg industry that
render all legs of more than a years
standing ancient and capable of much i'm
provement. And it is thought the pur-
chase of supply of these new and highly
improved ones would be a chivalrous
move on the part of the Grand Army of
ing in quantities, could purchase them
much cheaper than men could individu-
ally. The whole move would be a step
in the direction of chivalrous conduct
which the north is criticised for lacking,
and would prove to north and south that
there can be high chvalry both sides of
the line. Afterwards there would be
grand general reunion.
There is no country in the world that
pretends to make cork legs as they are
made here. Legless men come from
France, from Argentine Republic, from
Russia, and from that home of science,
Germany, to get legs here. The finest
legs are turned out after patents kept
exclusively for trade this side of the
ocean. These legs are lighter, more sup
pie and fitted with appliances that make
them wonders of mechanical skill. Each
leg is made to order, and it takes two
men one week to complete a good limb.
The most remarkable thing about the
artificial leg trade is that those who are
engaged in it wear false legs or arms.
They become experts by experimenting
with their own substitute limbs. The
largest retail place in New YORK mas two
partners. One wears two wooden legs;
the other has false leg and false arm.
THE foreman is one-legged man and the
clerks are minus elbow, finger, .eg or RIO.
The expression, cork Leg was used by
the veteran who made the motion before
the G. A. r. He said that the wooden
legs now worn were very heavy and cork
ones should be substituted This is mis-
take, as far as the wording goes. There
never has been, and never will be, such
thing as a cork leg. An artificial leg must
be very strong. Even metals are lnse-
cure There must be the strongest metals
and most plant wood used in leg. But
the term cork Leg arose from the fact
that in many legs the calf is followed out
and filled with cork. This makes it light
er. But an entire cork Leg is unknown.
The weight of an artificial leg is about
three pounds And a man, to walk on
his light wooden leg, requires practice.
II is harder than learning to ride bicy-
Gle Once learned, and he cannot fall I'M
less he is tripped up. He can moderate
his speed, slow up or go back, or do about
as he pleases.
The trouble with new wooden leg is
with its lightness. A mans natural leg
weighs considerably more than three
pounds. His new leg, therefore, until he
learns to find his center of gravity,
upsets him. He is so very light on that
side
His most annoying trouble is with the
knee Joint as he tries to walk The sci
ence of walking with wooden leg is to
catch it on the heel. When the foot is
lifted from the ground the spring in the
knee throws the leg out straight in most
ridiculous fashion. People laugh, and
man becomes sensitive about walking in
the street.
When he has learned to walk he will
not lift the leg so high and when the knee
flies out the heel catches on the sidewalk
and stops it.
DR.. George F. Shrady to fit artificial limbs
for twenty war veterans Now, if there
is a man under the sun who is pampered
and petted, who gets admiration and VEN
Grafton it is the one-legged veteran. And
if there is a man who feels scorn for a
whole-legged man it is that veteran.
When, therefore, the young doctor stood
before a line of veterans he noticed a
smile of scorn fit over the twenty weather.
beaten countenances.' 'tWalki3 command
ed he to first one and then another. They
obeyed, stepping off like martinets with
the one poor leg flying out like a stick be-
fore them. 81 am going to fit you with
better legs said he.
A low murmur of disapproval ran down
the line. At length one of them voiced
the sentiments of all: Our legs are not
very good, young man." said he but
what do you know about wooden legs?'
II don't know very much" drawled
Snfauy, Out i LHlIk any Oh you would
be glad to get a wooden leg like mine"
And striking out into the room, the young
surgeon threw them all into ecstacies of
admiration over the clever way he handled
his artificial leg.
After that Shrady had no difficulty with
his veterans, but he had to remember to
walk stiff.
The mechanism In a wooden leg IS more
intricate than that in any other known
machine of its size. Connecting with the
stump of the leg there is an attachmen,
that is ball-bearing like a bicycle. This
gives a very line rotary motion and does
not rub the stump. In the knee there IS
intricate machinery and at the ankle
there are more bal-bearings and many
springs They are adjusted in such a NAT
ural way that one, being touched starts
another, and this moves a third; ana
there is a system Of muscular telegraphy
through the wooden leg as ia natural
limb.
Some Of the limbs have cords and pines
running down their interior. These com
municate with the toes. and a wooden-leg-
ged man can stand on his toes. dance,
pirouette, run. jump on chair with either