The Portland daily press., 1897-01-09
MANNED BICYoLIsTs.
Lost Limbs Supplied for the Use OF the I'm
fOrtunRtes.

MTlHGS OtO SLfS : ~
Lost Limbs Supplied for the Use of the I'm
fOrtunates.
The mechanical bicycle gin is not an
inanimaGe invention, but living,
breathing human being. Science, ex-
haustiye experiments, research and ma
ture have combined to make up bicycle
girl. As result the wheelwoman might
be said to consist of more wood, springs,
steel, bolts and wires than flesh, blood
and bones. She may lack arms, legs,
teeth, hair, or one Of her eyes, and still
be a scorcher. So marvellous are the
achievements of certain MANNED bicy-
olists that students of the wheel have
taken to figuring out just how much OF
a woman it is necessary to add to the ar
tifcial accessories to make zeal, genu-
Incorporating bicycle girl. At first the
obstacles that presented themselves
scanned almost insurmountable. To
make leg on which person could walk
with ease and naturalness of gait was
one thing; but to construct limb that
would propel its wearer and bicycle
over oil sorts Of roadways was quite
different proposition
While these new bicycle legs and arms
are constructed of the same materials as
those used for ordinary purposes, they
are provided with certain additional i'm
provements which fit them for the work
they are specially called upon to perform.
Besides this, there is nothing in the new
mechanism which in any way units
them for everyday wear, SO that set Of
these will serve for any service that may
be required OF them.
The bicycle lin BIS are all made OF pre-
pared willow or bass. Special attention
ia paid to having the wood well seasoned
and strong enough to endure prolonged
strain, as well as the shock of An ordin-
airy accident; hence wood of only the
very finest and toughest grain is used.
When the outer shell OF the leg has been
properly formed and trimmed to the
length that will match the natural limb
of the would-be bicycler, the next step is
the fitting on Of the foot. This is an
extremely important factor in the b1ey-
Gle leg, as the foot must have exactly
the same ankle and toe action as the nat
ural foot. With that fact in view, rub
ber has been selected as the best mate
rial. and it is found that it serves as eff
eotively in ped aling as though formed of
flesh and bone. The body of the foot
consists of wooden core, which Is sur
rounded with sponge rubber OF great
porosity.
In it's construction a miniature spring
mattress of steel is foaued in the melted
rubber, nearer to the bottom OF the foot
than to the core, and an air space is
made in the heel Immediately above the
spring. The steel mattress, which ex-
tends from the heel to the toes, unat-
tached to the core, is composed Of q
number of tempered steel strips Embedded
in canvas Metal tips are PLAYED on each
end to prevent the springs from creeping.
The pneumatic chamber makes the false
foot equally compressible with the real
one. and thereby insures a perfeot unison
Of action when resting on the pedal. AS
the shaft Of the leg is sunk a consider
able distance into the rubber, the pliabil-
ity of the artificial bicycle leg at the
ankle is exactly the same as that in the
hunla an joint.
With the exception Of added strength
to the springs, which serve to give addi-
tionaI propelling force to the limb, the
general plan of the mechanism OF the
bicycle leg is nearly the same as that
used for an ordinary walking leg. Spe-
cial styles are prepared for different con-
ditions, of course. For instance, in many
cases where Gmputation has taken place
above the knee the missing joint must
be supplied by mechanical device. No
matter to what exent the limb may be
| lacking, however, the missing portions
can be supplied and laced on so securely
| to the stump that, owing to it's iD1pervi-
business to fatigue, it will do greater ser
Woe than natural member.
| In the case of a missing arm. the lack
can be even more readily supplied. as
these bers are not called into use in
as are legs. A case in which both an
arm and leg had been amputated for
| Injuries received in railroad accident Is
| that OF q young woman living in New
| York State. Before the accident she was
an enthusiastic wheelwoman, and when
| she had recovered from the shock and
become conyalescent her greatest regret
was TINT she could never again indulge
in her favorite pastime. When she came
| to ne measured for artificial limbs, how
ever, she was delighted TO learn that the
| genius of the manufacturers had made 1t
possible for her to resume her riding.
| Should bicycle girl have both legs
IA nd both arms amputated, leaving but
| the bare trunk and head, there is no rea
| son why she snoulu no6 De utteo WIN
new limbs and ride as we'll as ever.
| The matter Of false teeth, false hair
| and glass eyes Is u condition liable to be
within the range of any woman rider:
Those who are now making a study OF
the situation say there is no reason why
all the defects could not be overcome,
even if they were combined in one per-
son, who would by the aid of science be
made an up-to-date bicycle girl.
! The eyranSe. however is cODSide CRADLE
The latest improved bicycle legs would
cost form $40 to SIS each,
The other defects could be supplied at
| prices to suit the purse. In other WORDS,
o girl. who, through accident or disease,
il today lying absolutely helpless, may,