The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-12-16
LEG AND ARM INDUSTRY
DOOMED BY THE WAR
REQUIRES sklLLFUL WoRkMEN
TO MAKE ARTIFICIAL
LIMBS.

received orders from Lne brltlsH anu
French governments for $15,000,000
worth Of artificial limbs. The normal
producing capacity OF this establish
ment is $50 legs month, but its out
put is expected soon TO be multiplied
by five.
Another American manufacturer
who has factory in France, has just
returned to this country to secure ad-
ditional machinery and workmen. To
obtain the latter is not easy says the
New York Sun, for false legs and arms.
especially the former, are complex
pieces of mechanism, and to construct
them properly requires much practice
and long training.
Cork Leg Is Unknown.
The cork leg Is familiar in works OF
fiction. In real life such thing is not
and never has been, cork being just
about the most unsuitable material for
the purpose that could be imagined
Artificial limbs are made Of basswoo(
or willow, supplemented to some ex-
tent with leather.
The lumber for them Is carefully
selected, and the first step in the ma
king OF false leg is to cut from the
raw material block inches square
and of the requisite length Through
1t a hole is bored lengthwlse with a
large auger and the block Is put aside
in dry place and allowed to season
It ought to season for three years.
1t Is then carved in imitation of o
real leg, sandpapered to smoothness
followed out so as to convert 1t into
mere shell, and rendered waterproof
by coating of special kind Of var
nish. 1t may be covered with kid, but
methods of manufacture vary.
How LRnb Is Made.
The leg is made hollow for the sake
of lightness. and also to provide room
for the introduction Of strong spir9
spring and other elements of the Inc
chanism that Is to render the limb
useful and comfortable counterfeit o.
a real one. An artificial leg of up-to'
date pattern Is an ingenious piece o.
apparatus, and there is many a mar
today who wears one without betray
ing the fact to the casual observer.
OF course If the natural limb has
been cut off high up the artificial on'
must be in two parts, connected by
knee joint. If one must lose a portion
OF ones ambulatory machinery, thu
most desirable place for the alnputa
ton is between the knee and the an
kle Under such circumstances
false member may enable one to wall
without limping, or one may ever
tango satisfactorily, but loss OF part o
the foot or of the whole foot at thu
ankle Joint means that one must g.
hating through life.
The foot of the artificial leg Is in It.
self an exceedingly clever counterfeit
It's core is part Of the same piece o
wood that makes the body of the leg
F1veloping this core Is rubber vul'
canlzed on in a series of thin layers
the result being to give the foot live
Nv springiness, rendering it comfort
able for walking and helping to give
the wearer natural gait.
An artificial arm is Of similar CON
struction, with a wooden core for th'
hand, which is of vulcanlzed rubber
But as a substitute for the natura
limb It is q poor thing compared to
false leg. The hand is useless for pur'
poses of manipulation and has to bt
kept covered with a glove. Wires ex'
tend through the fingers so that the
latter may be bent into any desired
position.
Limb Allowed Every Three Years.
Under the law any person who has
lost a leg or an arm, foot or hano
In the service Of the United States
government is entitled to an artificial
member every three years. This Is
very liberal allowance because raise
leg, II not abused, ought 20 last eigh'
wear. Furthermore, the right is moi
restricted to soldiers and sailors; CIV
ilian employees of Uncle Sam can en-
JOY it likewise.
Few artificial arms are asked for by
those entitled to them, not more than
one arm, indeed, for every 100 legs
Pensioners and others who have los'
such members prefer as a rule to ac-
cept a money equivalent instead. They
are at liberty under the law to draw
$50 every three years in lieu OF an
arm, or IL leg be In question the
cash communication allowed is SIS.
There are in this country forty-odd
manufacturers of artificial limbs and
their products differ somewhat In
STYLE and construction. Congress has
declared that the manned veteran is
at liberty to choose his own make OF
leg or arm. To be fitted with It he
may journey to any city in the United
States where the false member can
be purchased, and the government VIII
nav his travelling expenses, including
Pullman car accommodations
Uncle Sam Pays the Fare.
1t will not pay for his meals en-
route, ruling on the part Of Uncle
Sam that has elected a good deal Of
grumbling. But crippled old soldier
residing in San Francisco may, If he
chooses, buy false leg in Boston,
travelling clear across the continent