The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-04-08
LIE T e r

remains, artificial fingers may be sup
piled with motion from the wrist or
palm
The most perfect set Of artificial
fingers in the world are believed TO
be owned by a woman reader of drs.-
matte art. who lost her fingers few
years ago. 1t was essential to her
work that her artificial fingers
should be flexible and natural in ey-
cry movement. Those supplied her
are SO perfect that she uses her hand
as gracefully in making gestures al
before her accident. Each joint is
movable, and the motor is supplied
under a rubber valve in the palm OF
her hands.
The action Of the hand is the great
problem in the manufacture Of an
artificial arm. A6patent hook is now
supplied which is capable Of grasp
ing almost any article and holding
1T firmly. 1t enables the individual
to cut food at the table. to write, to
thead a needle and sew. to handle a
shovel. broom or other implement.
with a skill almost equal to that or
a natural hand, butso far its appear
ance is not disguised in any way
when in use a wooden hand is pro-
vided which screws over the hook for
the dressing up process. Hands
have been made with holes in the
palms into which knives. pens and
other articles could be inserted. but
their action has been usually unde-
pendable. "a rubber hand is also
in use. is less stiff that wood, but
can have no motion of it's own.
The best finish for the artificial
limb IN the opinion Of the manufac-
turer is the natural wood. vanished.
Flesh tones are supplied when desir-
ed. They are made of white lead
enamel, and are bound to crack and
chip off in time, so that the surface
becomes unsanitary and also more
unsightly than the natural finish
An artificial limb is not a lifelong
Investment, as it will wear out and
have to be renewed. Most of them
are guaranteed for five years and
their average service is about twice
that.
Between two and three hundred
firms are now engaged in the artifi-
cial limb industry in the United
States They know almost to unit
cial limbs, and keep closely III touch
with Industrial accidents necessitat-
tests. In nine cases out of ten. his
always ready to meet a demand upon
short notice. but as each limb of
good quality must be made from In
diyidual measurements, they are nor
made in large quantities in advance
of orders. Preparations are in pro-
gress now however. by which promp.
attention can be given TO European
orders Of whatever size. "A number
OF railroad and Industrial corpora
ttions have regular contracts with
artificial limb manufacturers, by
which the needs of crippled work
men are promptly met N
The loss of a leg does not incap.
ACETATE a man for many kinds of
work. He may be back upon his
job within three months after am
putatipn, with an artificial limb SO
perfect as to pass unnoticed. Hun
dreds of railroad engineers and con-
ductors in active service are using
wooden legs. Tt is claimed that.
twenty-five engineers employed by
one railroad company have had bcNn
legs amputatedS and are performing
their work upon wooden supports.
The man with the wooden leg is no
longer the butt Of his com panion's
ing additional supplies. They are
loss is unsuspccted. He can dance,
walk and hunt with any Of his conf
rades. FL. II y.