The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-23
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SUPPLYING ARTI.
EICIAL LIMBS
Even Ancicnts Replaced With a
S~erviceablc Substitute Arms or
Legs That Had Been
Lost.
Scientific American.)

AN6S Ah0t l1GN Dull y
" Lost. Il
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(Scientific American.)
Man is undoubtedly the superior of
the animal in many ways, but it can
not he concealed that in some things
animals have considerable advantages
which we may we'll regard with en-
vious eyes. Take the crab and the
lobster (to mention but Il couple by
way of eNample) for instance; should
one OF these creatures lose a limb as
the result of accident. attack or strife,
kindly nature at once sets to work
to supply IL individual with a fresh
member, quite AS good, if not better,
than Its predecessor.
Man. on the contrary, has to rely
upon his wits to make good those
losses which result from his wars,
street accidents, railway collisions and
other del eX machina to which he is
exposed at any minute. Many OF the
marvellous artificial aids now obtain
able are regarded as essential products
OF modern times. but. as a matter of
fact. appliances of this kind are by no
means modern. In the museum of
the Royal College of Surgeons, Lin
coins Inn Fields. London. there is an
artificial leg, made about 800 Il. c., of
bronze. wood and iron. Again, who
has not heard Of the famous Iron
hand" made in Nuremberg. Germany,
in 1904. for the German Knight, Gotz
Won Berlichingen? Among the old
time Indians ears, noses and lips of
plaster were quite common, one of
their ordinary punishments being to
cut off these useful parts Of the hui
man anatomy. Greek and Roman
veterans who had lost a leg or an arm
in the wars used to replace them by
very capable substitutes. and Plinius
speaks OF a Roman soldier who (ahout
$50 years B. CD was famous for his
wooden hand with which he was still
able to fight as an able swordsman. In
1904 the Duke of Brunswick had to
use an artificial hand.
Artificial limbs with movable joints
were also largely made by the famous
Ambrose Pare 1517 to 1900, the
celebrated French surgeon known AS
THE Father of French Surgery" lie
was urgeo to Henry II. (1552), and
also to Francis IT,. Charles IN. and
Henry iii. He substituted the lig-
allure of arteries in the treatment of
gunshot wounds which. previously,
had to be cauterized with boiling oil.
Later on Father Sebastin. a Carmelite
monk. was renowned for the manu-
f~acture of movable arms and hands.
About the middle of the seventeenth
century T'%alcinelli. a Florentine sur
geon. mentions artificial eyes of gold.
silver and crystal painted in different
%colors; he also describes gold and sill
YER ears which were either tied to the
head with strings. or else sewn on
the skin of the scalp by the aid of gold
and silver wire. Silver noses are
spoken of also as having been in use
for a long time.
Artificial arms, legs and hands are
fairly we'll known and need but little
description. OF the more concealed
members we may mention artificial
feet, which vary considerably in con-
struction. material and price. After
what is known as a Hey's or n Cho-
parts operation leaving the heel and a
part Of the sole of the foot). the main
idea Is to make a p~resentable appear
ance With a cork-filled boot. In cases
of higher a%mputation. where an arti-
fetal ankle-joint is needed. it may take
the form of a transitive rod. working
in a socket or two rule joints" one
on either side of the stump: the lateral
yielding of a foot is sometimes inn
ftated by side springs which yield to
lateral pressure. One of the best sub
stitutes for the real foot is a curved
sole (Beaufortl, where the movement
has a natural appearance. though the
substitute itself is somewhat unSightly.
The simplest form of artificial foot is
a peg at the end of a bucket which
holds the stump. The center of the
artificial ankle is often on the ball and
socket joint principle.
The artificial foot is sometimes eX-
tended by means of catgut strings
fastened at the back of the knee. with
flexible bands passing down over the
surface of the foot. In Syme's opera
ton (amputation below the knee>,
pressure a be borne on the eXtrcm-
ity of the stump, and the foot can be
made to suit the purse and occupation
the knee the weight can he borne on
the extremity or by a leather sheath.
The simplest form of artificial hand
is a leather sheath laced to the arm
Lstunnp. and so fitted that a knife, fork
or spoon can be screwed into 1t. Other
hands open and close by hydraulic
pressure: the Beaufort hand is Of
wood. with a movable thumb. Prices
of artificial limbs vary greatly: for in
stance. an ordinary "box-leg." on
which the cripple kneels with the
stump pointing to the rear. can he had
for about IS shillings. while a iointed
mechanical leg may run up to as much
as 80 guineas.
One Of the greatest triurpphs ever
reported IN this curious industry, how
ever, Is undoubtedly the mechanical
face worn by a mar whom DIR. Delair
ia French doctor) exhibited recently
to the members of the French Medical
Academy. Owing to the accidental
discharge OF n fowling piece the whole
lower portion Of this mans face was
destroyed. and a portion of the tongue
seriously damaged. but by a marvellous
piece Of mechanism tho patient has
had his appearance restored to him.
The mechanism consists of four parts:
in the first place of a silver grooved
case. in which the lower row of arti-
fetal teeth are fixed, attached to a
tin device containing the upper teeth;
there is also a second part of indus
trial rubber and gold to hold the up
per front teeth. the whole terminating
in two small horn-like pegs. shaped
SO as to. hook into the nostrils. The
third part consists of the chin and
lower lip. which are made of special
soft rubber painted in flesh tint. in a
most deceptive manner. The chin is
also covered b va false beard. At
the back of this portion there are sew
eral small screws which pass through
holes In the tooth holders. and thus
Join the chin and lip to the artificial