The Washington herald., 1917-07-08


Crutched Friars, writes "A Yorkist"
in the Globe, Toronto. There is a
street in Toronto, the main street.
too, which might be renamed Crutched
Soldiers. That is a title of honor. not
term of reproach. 1t is also, be-
lieve me, spur to bravery. not an
infection OF fear.
You cannot scare a Canadian nov-
adays, on Yonge street or anywhere
else. by bringing him face to face
with the man who has lost a limb in
his country's fight. II held of a long
time" says one Toronto man in
khaki, "but when I saw so many men
with one leg l positively began to be
ashamed of having two"
or course, We all know by this
time how it happens that Toronto is
honored. for 1t Is emphatically an
honor, by the presence of so many
men who have lost a limb in their
country's defense. They form really
a very small minority of the wound
ed. But this is the orthopaedic
center OF the Dominion. 1t Is here,
and here alone, that artificial limbs
are made. 1t is here. therefore. that
the men requiring such limbs must
be concentrated.
This will not always be so. have
Just been visiting the artificial limb
factory carried on by the Military
Hospitals Commission at the corner
Of Buchanan street and Yonge street.
the Avenue of Crutched Soldiers. The
factory is not only turning out limbs.
it is going to turn out limbs-makers.
1t Is not only fitting men with new
arms or legs, It is going to train a
number of the disabled men them
selves to make new legs and arms for
their comrades.
Plan New Limb Factories.
This is a trade that cannot be learned
in a day. The men to carry 1t on must
first be carefully chosen. They must
have natural skill for handicraft, and
a natural gift for dealing with their
comrades. But when these men are
chosen and sufficiently trained. the
commission will be able to start new
limb factories, at Montreal. perhaps,
and winnipeg, and Vancouver or Vic
toria.
Emphasis must be laid on the need
OF that gift for dealing with indi-
vidual men, who differ greatly in tenn
permanent. disposition and taste, as
well as in actual needs. One man
has formed very definite opinions on
every detail of the limb he wants
opinions often based on imperfect
knowledge of what he needs and of
what is really practicable. Another
man Is easy to please. and is cutie
willing to leave the whole response
bility to the surgeons and mechanical
experts.
Make me a heavy leg" says one:
I'm a farmer" Make me a light
one." says another; mot more than
four pounds"
ARTIFICIAL Legs Light.
An artificial leg. according to the
experts here. should weigh about
one-third as much as the natural leg
it replaces. Now. a natural leg
weighs from twelve or thirteen to
eighteen or twenty pounds. 1t Is
not thought safe to make an artificial
leg Weighing less than five pounds.
On the other hand, even big man.
measuring twenty-four inches around
the thigh, does not need an artificial
leg weighing more than six and a
half pounds.
Some of the legs made in England
weigh as much as nine pounds, but
that Is quite an unnecessary burden
for man to carry around. For the
weight of natural leg Is largely due
to the muscles which move It. The
avoirdupois of an artificial limb Is all
dead weight, depending for its mo-
tion on the muscles of the hip and
of the one natural leg which remains
A man came home not long ago
with an English leg. which he highly
praised, making incidious compari-
sons between 1t and what he under
stood the Canadian leg to be. His
orinions got into print. But the same
man, after a little experience, was
extremely glad to secure a leg made
right here in Toronto. discarding the
article he had brought overseas with
him.
New Type Of Arm.
A soldier needing an arm is not at
present compelled to adopt the type
made by the commission. And, as a
matter of fact, many have chosen the
Carnes arm. made by a private firm.
Like any other limb needed, its cost
Is betrayed by the government. And
in the new factory in North Toronto
a room is actually being put at the
d;E Eposal Of the. Carnes representatives
for the finishing and fitting of their
wares. A new type Of arm. however,
has been perfected by one of the COM
missions experts. and is expected to
Prove more practical and popular
than any other. 1t is controlled chief
ly by the shoulder muscles. A slight
backward movement of the shoulder
closes the fingers and brings up the
forearm; forward movement opens
the fingers. and spring on the up
per arm, when pressed against the
side. straishtens out the elbow.
I've got hand that can pick up
SO BILL" said the proprietor of one
INGENIOUS limb. Now, hand that can
Pick up q $40 bill u mighty clever