Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-11
WOODEN LEGS MADE IN OMAHA
Human Anatomy Patched Up to took Very
Mgoh Like New. ''
ALUMINIUM MAY BE USED, BUT txPEr svE
Artificial Hands which May lie Closed
or Opened TO Point ms nm
Index, Like the Real
Article.

Envious rivals have said that there were
some places in Omaha whore ones leg could
be pulled. The statement may contain a
modicum OF truth II Is also true, how
ever that II you should lose a leg, or u
part of one, you could have the loss replaced
in imitation material right hero in the city;
place where one may go in and have
measurement made OF the absent mem
ber as compared with the counterpart intact,
and have a new leg manufactured almost
while you walt
The man who does this work learned the
business from his father, and has, in addl-
tlon to his skill as a carver In wood, dlplo-
mas showing him to be a graduate physician
in both regular and homeopathic schools.
He came to Omaha year ago last Novem-
ber. and strangely enough complains be-
cause his business is not better. But the
ground of his complaint is not that more
| people do not 60 out and have a leg or arm
amputated. He says there are enough OF
those unfortunates now but they have no
money with which to pay for an artificial
| limb.
1--WE carry no stock on hand" he told a
Bee reporter, because no two PERSONS are
! alike and a limb made to fit one person
| would probably fit no one else In the world.
l made a limb for a man one time, and be-
1t he died. There was nothing to do with
! tho result of my labou but to put-it on the
shelf and trust to luck After seventeen
| years a man came in one day who wanted
a bargain in an artificial leg. He had little
money to pay and was not particular about
| the At so | patched up the one l had been
carrying In the shop. and sold it to him.
I'VE make limbs out of English willow and
aluminium. The latter costs about twice as
much as the former, and the only extra merit
/ . hog, ia In thn lieht hn mi NJ G
! to us in rough hewn blocks about two feet
| long, round, and about six inches in damete
| They have the appearance of being care
| fully prepared logs for fireplace, and have
hole bored into one end that the timber
| may season evenly to avoid cracking.
| 1T takes on an average OF twelve days 10
build a leg, as all the work is done by
hand. After taking tho measurement of the
person to be fitted work on the limb is
| begun, commencing at the top There are
case Of a wooden foot, also at the toes We
sometimes make the forerart OF the foot
of rubber which forms it's own joint. There
! Is but one spring in an artificial leg, and
| that is placed about midway between the
knee and ankle, and is used to operate the
| foot to prevent the toes striking the ground
| in taking a step. The knee joint Is so con-
structeG that it operates Itself.
at may not be generally known, but one
| who loses limb must learn to walk again
after securing an artificial member. The
shock of amputation so deadens the nerves
| operating the limb that the subject loses
| control of them temporarily After the
artificial limb has been fitted, the patient
must practice some time before being able
to control the nerves OF the body sufficiently
to properly swing his neI leg. Where both
| legs have been lost this difficulty is not
so great. because there is balancing effect
in the deadening of the nerves on both sides
of the body
Artificial arms are not of so much prac-
tical use as the legs, yet they are made to
| do q good deal of work. Here is a hand in
which every joint of the fingers is repre-
sented as is also the one at the wrist. This
hand can be put in any position in which
the natural hand could be placed" And
with that the anatomical mechanic pro-
ceeded to close and open the hand after the
manner of the real article In doing this,
of course. it was necessary for him to use
one of his own hands. He then showed how
artificial arms and hands were provided with
appliances whereby a knife, fork spoon
could be attached for use as required.
| 1.-The making of artificial limbs is not a
trade said the operator, but an art. One
must have a faculty for carving wood in
correct imitation of the original article As
| an evidence that ii is an art the proprietors
of this building will not allow me to dis
| play a down stairs containing sam
pies of wooden legs made by me because
| 1t might be immodest"