The morning times., 1896-12-06
NO WARRIOR COULD DECLINE
New Leg So Marvellous That
Old Ones Are Cumbersome
and Unwieldy.
corn for a wholelesged man it is that

scorn for a whole-legged man il 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. Walk comma nded
he 10 the first one and then another. They
obeyed, stepping off like martinets with
the one poor leg flying out like a stick
before them. Il am going to mt you with
better legs" said he
murmur of disapproyal 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?''
Il don't know very much" drawled
Shrady, but I think any of you would be
glad u get wooden leg like mine"
And striking out into the room. the young
surgeon threw them all into ecstasies CT
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.
VERY INTRICATE.
The mech anism in q 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
attachment that is ball-bearing like
,
| notion and does not rub the stump.
| In the knee there is intricate machinery
| and at the ankle there are more bell-
bearings and many springs. They are
| adjusted in such a natural way that
one, being touched, starts another, and
\ this moves a third, and there is a sys-
| TEN OF muscular telegraphy through the
| wooden leg as in 4 natural limb.
Some OF the limbs have cords and
| pipes running down their interior These
| communicate with the toes, and a wooden
| legged man can stand ON his toes, dance,
| pirouette, run, jump on a chair with either
foot, and sit with his leg doubled up under
| him.
In the matter Of false arms he is even
! more fortunate. There is a pneumatic
attachment for a wooden hand that opens
and closes the fingers. In the vest pocket
| on the other side is rubber ball And
this On being squeezed opens the hand
| and closes 1t, operates the fingers and
| allows every movement
A man with two wooden arms can eat at
the table with knife and fork. He opens
and closes his fingers by springs that are
operated with the shoulder blades. He can
reach in his vest pocket by muscular move
ment OF the shoulder. close his fingers upon
cigar by a twist of the shoulder blade,
and take out the cigar and light it.
People excel i'll the use OF artificial limbs
in proportion as they practice. 1t is like
any other mechanism.
RIDING A WHEEL.
Riding bicycle is simple for n legless
man. He gets pair of $500 legs, with
which he can hop on a wheel and ride until
dcom's day. His knees never get tired. But
in learning he must be careful. or he may
suap his limbs off short In sprinting he is
| Just rs lucky. His legs literally carry hin
along.
Metals are not as well liked for artffiCta
limbs, legs and arms. They are apt q
break, and must be carefully handled
Willow is the wood that stands the mos
wear and tear, and there are other durable
| woods.
Vain men like silver and gold machinery,
and this brings up the price OF legs very
much. No one is supposed to know tht
legs are wooden, much less that they are
fitted out with silver and gold clasps
but you cannot argue with a veteran
II he wants gold hinge he should have it
JAMES BARTON.