The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-04-08
b HAsKIN LETTER
Wooden Limbs and Cripples
By Frederic .. Haskin.

d 81 Fred
Last week an American firm man
lufacturing artificial limbs receoved
an order for a thousand peg legs
ITO be sent to Servia. This IS the be
u ginning of what is likely to be q
large and new industry resulting
from the war. The peg Leg is the
cheapest known substitute for the
natural member, but it will enable
the legless soldier to reach his home
more comfortably.
It is estimated that over half mil
lion men are already awaiting arti-
fetal limbs in Europe. and the num-
y, Der increases each day.
The United States government al
ways provides artificial limbs of the
best grade for soldiers who have lost
their own in the national defense.
The depelted treasures Of Europe
may not make this possible, but 1t is
recognized that artificial limbs OF
some sort must be provided. Several
American manufacturers have al
ready sent representatives to the field
lwho are making careful estimates of
the requirements, SO that that their
factories may be prepared to fill large
orders upon short notice
Private philanthropy will do much
Ito supplement the efforts of the gov
ernments Of Europe to make this
needed provision for their wounded
soldiers The Countess Maria Won
! Dumroicher, Of Austria, has already
offered to pay for 5000 legs for Aus
trian soldiers, and Philadelphia
woman, whose name Is withheld, has
volunteered to provide for another
Thousand. As the need is made man
Iifest, other philanthropists will
doubtless see the practical humanity
Of supplying legs to legless. and since
1.-THE European countries will not be
lin a position to meet the demands,
lmost of this trade must come to
Amcrica.
The artificial limbs manufactured
in this country are recognized as su-
fboth in mechanical perfection and in
comfort. one reason is that the out
put of the American factories during
the past ten years has been nearly
double that Of all Europe combined.
The need for them has been greater
here. The speed-loving American
was slow to recognize the safety
first" principles which have always
prevailed in industrial establish
lments abroad. This carelessness is
Irresponsible for the fact that the in
dustrial accidents OF this country
iannD.lly range to from ten to twelve
times as many, per thousand inhab-
litants. as those of any other nation.
Many of these accidents result in the
Iamputation OF an arm or leg. so that
fully $4,000 artificial members are
Required each year to make up for
the loss Of natural limbs. Old limbs
must be replaced by new ones, SO
that the quantity Of artificial arms
4 and legs manufactured here have
4 given the American producer an OPP
1 portunity to attain skill superior
1 to other nations.
The term cork leg" is a misnom-
4 er, as no cork enters into the compo-
sition Of any artificial limb upon the
market. Wood, steel and rubber are
the materials required, and as these
n are all secured in this country, the
war has presented no difficulties tu
this class of manufacturers. Fibre,
bone. ivory and aluminium and other
H metals have been experimental with
and found wanting for general use.
The best and most practical arms
and legs are made chiefly of we'll
seasoned willow wood. which com
bines Ightness and strength. They
have steel springs and joints, rubber
supports and leather for joint cover
ings and also for the lacings attach
ing thelntofthe body, and sometimes
for the casing above the elbow or
knee joint
a first class wooden leg. complete
with all attachments, should not cost
much more than a hundred d ollars.
and those who pay more do not re-
ceive the value of their money. On
# the other hand an article sold much
below that price is likely to be in
ferior in some detail. An arm usu-
ally costs about ten dollars less and
these igures provide expert skill in
taking measurements, the best ma
,terials obtainable, and the finest tin-
lishings known to the manufacturers
for the, practical value Of the limb.
The peg leg, or wooden stump IS :
much cheaper. 1t may cost from
$40 to S25 according to its design
While all of these lack the narssc-
Istion of the finished limb they are
better than no SUI bstitute for the lost
mem Der. N 55 #
The best#made leg for an amputa-
\ ton below the knee is laced in place
by a casing extending above IT.. "a
l.stcel Joint at the knee works SO II
harmony with the natural motion
that no limp is noticeable. The foos
is simple in Construction, but has q
natural motion to the ankle and IN
I.step and a spring to the toe. The
heel is given elaclty by rubber coli
umn abount an inch in diameter and
two inches. IN height, placed inside
I3of the foot in such a way that the
weight OF the body practically rests
upon 1t, although it is supported BY
the framework Of the foot. This
little piece OF rubber can be renew
led when it becomes hard.
Before the cast for an artificial
leg is taken the flesh il reduced az
much as possible by a leather casing
which is laced around the stump and
worn day and night for from two. to
four weeks before the final measure
~, an IA This I'm TTras AsEnerfnnt Az AS