IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND HANDS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND HANDS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Thomas Uren, of the City of New York, in
the United States of America.
Sealed the 25th July 1865, and dated the 27th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th April 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND HANDS" to be
as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to produce an artificial arm and hand
suitable for any amputation below the shoulder, and which, whether applied to
amputations above or below the elbow, will enable the person wearing it to
produce with facility the most essential motions of the arm and fingers, or
either, by the simple movement of the stump of the amputated arm.
A

page_text: The artificial arm consists of a hollow artificial upper arm made of wood,
with the upper end thereof formed to receive the stump of an upper amputa-
tion, and with a wing projecting for a short distance in front of the shoulder
and a like one bebind the shoulder. To each of these wings are secured leather
straps, each in the form of a loop, and within these loops are secured rings
made of irregular form; these rings are made of wire, bent so as to form
two eyes in each, one such eye to receive the rivets by which they are con-
nected with the looped straps, and the other on the opposite side to form the
connections with the expansion and contraction cords to be presently described.
The upper part of each of these two rings is in the form of a segment of a
circle. The segment part of the one in front is connected with a strap, so that
the strap can slide thereon freely, and this strap passes over the shoulder of
the amputated arm, across the back, under the other arm, around in front
and over that shoulder, where it is buckled to another strap, which is in like
manner connectod with the segment portion of the other ring at the back of
the shoulder of the amputated arm, and crosses the first-named strap, to which
it is secured, and extends to the other shoulder, where it is provided with
a buckle to receive the first-named strap. A brace strap extends across
the back, and is secured permanently to the two straps. By this mode of
strapping, and the connection of the straps with the segments of the rings so
that they can slide thereon, and the connecting of the rings with the wings of
the artificial arm in the manner described, the slightest motion of the stump
of the amputated arm will enable the person wearing the artificial arm to
impart with ease any desired motion to it, whilst at the same time the breast
of the person wearing it will not be in any manner constrained, as it must be
by straps passing over it, as heretofore practised in the attachment of artificial
arms to the body. The fore or lower arm is also made hollow, and it is
hinged to the upper arm to form the elbow joint by metallic joint pieces.
Two of these pieces are let into the opposite sides of the upper arm, and are
formed with circular sockets to receivo circular projections on the joint pieces,
the stems of which are in like manner as the others secured to the forearm.
The joint pieces are then connected by screws, which act as fulcrum pins.
The wrist piece is made separate from the forearm and is fitted thereto by a
flute joint, so that it can be turned, and the two are connected by a metallic
rod, which has a head resting on a cross bar in the forearm, and its other end
is booked to a metallic bale hinged to a cross rod near the outer end of the
wrist piece; this cross rod forms the fulcrum of the hinged connection of the
hand with the wrist piece. In this way the wrist can be turned on the forearm
to set the hand as may be desired. The inner end of the hand towards the wrist

page_text: is semi-cylindrical, with the axis thereof at right angles to the axis of the wrist,
and fitted to a socket of nearly corresponding form, but larger in the end of
the wrist piece. Two metal straps project from the hand and extend for a
short distance into the wrist piece, and the cross rod before described passes
through them. As this fulcrum rod in the wrist piece is in the rear of the
axis of the semicircular socket which receives the inner end of the hand, and
as the socket is a little larger than the semi-cylindrical inner end of the band,
a slight play is afforded to the hand on the wrist, which will avoid that
appearance of stiffness so offensive in artificial hands as heretofore made,
whilst at the same time it will avoid the looseness which would result from
the employment of a regular hinged joint. The hand is preferably made in
one piece as far as the main knuckle joints and is hollow, and two metal
plates project down from the outer end thereof and extend into kerfs formed
in the rear part of the forefinger and the little finger. A fulcrum rod then
passes across in holes made in these plates and in all the fingers, and thus
forms the principal knuckle joints of all the fingers. The forefinger is made
separate, and the other three are formed of one piece, or so attached as to be
all united and moved together, although in some instances, as will be described
hereafter, the fingers are made all separate. The thumb is fitted to a socket
in the hand, and is connected therewith by a hinged joint in a similar manner
to the fingers. A contraction cord is attached to the inside of the block
forming the three united fingers, and passes back through the hand into the
wrist piece and through a hole to the outside thereof, where it is provided
with a strap having eyelet holes to admit of hitching it to a hitch piu on the
outside of the wrist piece. When this cord is unhitched the three fingers can
be placed in any desired position, and by hitching the cord they can be placed
and held in a partially closed position suitable for carrying a cane or other
article.
Another contraction cord similarly provided with a strap and eyelets for
hitching and extending in like manner to and through the hand is formed at
the other end with two branches, which are attached in like manner and for a
like purpose to the forefinger and the thumb. An arm expansion cord is attached
by one end to the outer eye of the front ring in connection with the strapping
of the artificial arm to the body. And another similar cord, termed the arm
contraction cord, is attached in like manner to the other ring behind the
shoulder. The arm expansion cord passes into the upper arm through a hole
in front, and thence out again through a hole in the rear part of the arm and
near the elbow, and around a roller mounted in the said hole, and the cord is
then attached to the outside of the forearm near the elbow joint. From this

page_text: it will be seen that when the stump of the natural arm is moved slightly
backward, as in the act of straightening the natural arm, tension will be
brought upon this cord which will cause it to throw out the forearm, and
when the stump is moved forward this tension will be relieved and the fore-
arm will be free to be lifted. Another cord, termed the finger expansion cord,
is attached to a pin or rod in the upper arm and near the back thereof, and.
thence passes into the forearm under a guide roller mounted near the elbow
joint, and thence extends through the wrist piece to the inside of the band,
where it branches, one branch being attached to the rear end of the forefinger
back of the knuckle joint, and the other in like manner is attached to the
thumb.
A coiled or other equivalent spring may be inserted in the upper arm.
It should be coiled from each end around a pin extending across the hollow
of the arm and forming a loop between the two coils. The extreme ends of
the spring rest against and are properly secured to the inside of the arm. To
the extremity of the loop are secured three cords by preference made of
catgut. One of the cords extends from the loop (which acts as a spring
lever) over a roller near the lower end of the upper arm, and thence into the
forearm, where it is secured by suitable means. By this mode of connection
the tension of the spring sustains the weight of the fore arm and its
appendages. The second cord is attached to the loop of the spring, and
extends up and around a roller mounted in a hole made through what may be
termed the outside of the upper arm, and from this roller the cord extends
upwards in a groove in the outer surface of the arm, and its upper end is tied
to a loop on that part of the strap which is near the armpit, so that by moving
the stump of the amputated arm forward, as with a natural arm to lift the
hand towards the face, a pull is made on the said cord, which pulls the loop of
the spring upwards, and this by reason of its connection with the cord draws
the forearm upward by a movement apparently natural. The third cord is
also attached to the loop of the spring, and thence it passes under and around
a roller to and along a groove on the outer surface of what may be termed
the front part of the arm under a guide roller, and is attached to a loop on
the strap which passes over the breast, so that by reason of this connection
when the stump of the amputated arm is moved back the spring is moved
downwards, the first and second cords at the same time are loosened, and the
forearin is permitted to fall until stopped by the shoulders on the elbow joint.
The hand, as before stated, is preferably made in one piece as far as the main
knuckle joints, and on each side there is a plate which projects forward, and
to these plates is secured a fulcrum pin, on which the rear ends of all the

page_text: fingers are mounted so as to turn to a limited extent, the rear 'ends of the
fingers being so formed as to strike against two rods parallel with the
fulcrum pin and in rear of it. These rods serve as stops to limit the range of
motion of the fingers either when opened or closed. The fingers are each
formed with a second knuckle joint, which is preferably made in the form of a
rule joint. The thumb is connected with the band by a rule or other equi-
valent joint. If desired, it may be made with a second joint like the fingers,
but this is not deemed to be essential.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL ARMS AND HANDS," being a com-
munication from Thomas Uren, of the City of New York, in the United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of the improvement is to produce an artificial arm and hand
suitable for any amputation below the shoulder, and which, whether applied
to amputations above or below the elbow, will enable the person wearing, it to
produce with facility the most essential motions of the arm and fingers, or
either, by the simple movement of the stump of the amputated arm.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a front elevation of an
artificial arm constructed according to the present Invention and applied to
an upper amputation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is
a separate view of the elbow joints; and Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal
sections through the centre of the arm and taken at right angles to each other.
A represents a hollow artificial upper arm, which may be made of wood or any
other suitable material, with the upper end thereof formed to receive the-stump
of an upper amputation, and with a wing B projecting for a short distance in
front of the shoulder and a like one B behind the shoulder. To each of
these wings are secured leather straps C, C', cach in the form of a loop, and
within these loops are secured rings D, D', made of irregular form as
represented. These rings are made of wire, bent so as to form two eyes in
each one, such eye to receive the rivets by which they are connected with the
looped straps C, C', and the other on the opposite side to form the connections
with the expansion and contraction cords as at E, E'. The upper part of each
of these two rings is in the form of a segment of a circle. The segment part
of the one D in front is connected with a strap F so that the strap can slide
thereon freely, and this strap passes over the shoulder of the amputated arm,
across the back, under the other arm, around in front and over that shoulder,
where it is buckled to another strap F¹, which is in like manner connected
with the segment portion of the other ring D' at the back of the shoulder of
the amputated arm, and crosses the first-named strap F, to which it is secured
and extends to the other shoulder, where it is provided with a buckle I to
receive the first-named strap F. A brace strap I extends across the back,
and is secured permanently to the two straps F, F. By this mode of
strapping, and the connection of the straps with the segments of the rings so
that they can slide thereon, and the connecting of the rings with the wings of
the artificial arm in the manner described, the slightest motion of the stump
of the amputated arm will enable the person wearing the artificial arm to
impart with ease any desired motion to it, whilst at the same time the breast
of the person wearing it will not be in any manner constrained, as it would be

page_text: by straps passing over it as heretofore practised. The fore or lower arm J is
also made hollow of wood or other suitable material, and it is hinged to the
upper arm A to form the elbow joint by metallic joint pieces K, K, and L, L,
which are represented separately on an enlarged scale at Fig. 3. The
pieces K are let into the opposite sides of the upper arm, and are formed with
circular sockets to receive circular projections on the joint pieces L, L, thie
stems of which are in like manner as the others secured to the forearm.
The joint pieces are then connected by screws M, M, which act as fulcrum
pins. The wrist piece N, Fig. 4, is made separate from the forearm J, and
is fitted thereto by a flute joint so that it can be turned. These two parts
are connected by a metallic rod O, which has a head resting on a cross bar P
in the forearm, and its other end is hooked to a metallic ball Q hinged to a
cross rod R near the outer end of the wrist piece. The cross rod R forms the
fulcrum of the hinged connection of the hand with the wrist piece. In this
way the wrist can be turned on the forearm to set the hand as may be desired.
The inner end of the hand towards the wrist is semi-cylindrical, with the axis
thereof at right angles to the axis of the wrist, and is fitted to a socket of
nearly corresponding form, but larger in the end of the wrist piece. Two
metal straps S, S, project from the hand and extend for a short distance into
the wrist piece, and the cross rod. R passes through them. As this fulcrum
rod in the wrist piece is behind the axis of the semicircular socket which
receives the inner end of the hand, and as the socket is a little larger than the
semi-cylindrical inner end of the hand, a slight play is afforded to the hand on
the wrist, which will avoid any appearance of stiffness, and will avoid the
looseness which would result from the employment of a regular hinged joint.
The hand T is preferably made in one piece as far as the main knuckle joints,
and is hollow. The two metal plates S, S, project down from the outer end
thereof and extend into kerfs formed in the rear part of the forefinger
and the little finger. A fulcrum rod V then passes across in holes made in
these plates and in all the fingers, and thus forms the principal knuckle joints
of all the fingers. The forefinger W is made separate, and the other three
are formed of one piece, or are so attaclied as to be all united and moved
together, although in some instances, as will be described hereafter, the fingers
are made all separate. The thumb X is fitted to a socket in the hand, and is.
connected therewith by a binged joint in a similar manner to the fingers. A
contraction cord Y is attached to the inside of the block forming the three
united fingers, and passes back through the hand into the wrist piece and
through a hole to the outside thereof, where it is provided with a strap having
eyelet holes to admit of hitching it to a hitch pin on the outside of the wrist

page_text: piece. When this cord is unhitched the three fingers can be placed in any
desired position, and by hitching the cord they can be placed and held in a
partially closed position suitable for carrying a cane or other article. Another
contractor cord Z, similarly provided with a strap and eyelets for hitching, and
extending in like manner to and through the hand, is formed at the other end
with two branches, which are attached in like manner and for a like purpose
to the forefinger and the thumb. An arm expansion cord A' is attached by
one end to the outer eye of the front ring D in connection with the strapping
of the artificial arm to the body. And another similar cord G', termed the
arm contraction cord, is attached in like manner to the other ring D' behind
the shoulder. The arm expansion cord A¹ passes into the upper arm through
a hole in front, and thence out again through through a hole in the rear part
of the arm near the elbow and around a roller l' mounted in the hole. The
cord is then attached to the outside of the forearm near the elbow joint, so that
when the stump of the natural arm is moved slightly backward, as in the act of
straightening the natural arm, tension will be brought upon this cord, which
will cause it to throw out the forearm, and when the stump is moved forward
this tension will be relieved and the forearm will be free to be lifted. The
arm contraction cord G¹ passes into the upper arm around a roller K' mounted
in a hole in the rear part, and passes over a guide rod or roller Linside of the
upper arm and near the elbow joint. It extends into the forearm under a
guide roller M' mounted therein down through the wrist piece, and is attached
to the contraction cord Z for closing the forefinger and thumb. When the
stump of the amputated arm is moved forward tension is brought upon this
arm contraction cord, which will lift the forearm and hand, and by reason of
the connection of this cord with the contraction cord Z of the thumb and fore-
finger these will be closed by the same movement of the stump. Another
cord N, termed the finger expansion cord, is attached to a pin or rod O' in the
upper arm and near the back thereof, and thence passes into the forearm
under a guide roller P¹ mounted near the elbow joint, and thence extends
through the wrist piece to the inside of the hand where it branches, one
branch being attached to the rear end of the forefinger behind the knuckle
joint, and the other in like manner is attached to the thumb. The aperture
in the lower end of the upper arm through which this cord passes out bears
such a relation to the elbow joint and the location of the pin or rod O¹ to
which the cord is attached and to the guide roller P¹ in the forearm under
which it passes, that when the forearm is thrown out by the tension on the
arm expansion cord A¹ the finger expansion cord N' will be brought in contact
with and bent by the lower end of the upper arm, which operation or tension

page_text: will cause the cord to pull on and open the forefinger and thumb as it would
also the other fingers if they were connected with it, so that by simply moving
the stump of the amputated arm all the most essential motions can be given
to an artificial arm and band.
Modifications of the mode of applying the Invention, as also other improve-
ments, are represented in Sheets II. and III. Fig. 6, Sheet I., is an eleva-
tion of an artificial arm and hand applied to an upper amputation; Fig. 7
a front and Fig. 8 a back view of the upper part of a person, and represents
the mode of attaching the artificial arm. In Sheet II., Fig. 9 is a
longitudinal section of the arm and hand, with the lower arm and hand taken
in a plane at right angles to the plane of the palm of the hand. The fingers
are distended and the upper arm is detached and partly turned, so that the
plane of the section may represent the mechanism; Fig. 10 is a face view of
the palm of the hand, with the lower and a portion of the upper arm;
Fig. 11 is a like view of the back of the hand, wrist piece, and forearm;
Fig. 12 represents various instruments to be attached to the hand.
In Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet I., and in the Figures in Sheet II., a represents
the upper arm, with its upper end suitably formed to receive the stump of the
amputated arm and to extend partly over the shoulder, as at 6, to which part
a broad strap c, made of leather or other suitable material, is connected by a
metallic joint made as represented at d. This strap passes around the upper
part of the back to the other shoulder, where it branches into two parts e, f,
the branch e passing over the shoulder to the front, where it is provided with
a buckle 9, the other part passing under the armpit and secured in front to
the branch e by the buckle g. Two other straps h and i are secured
diagonally to the branch, just over the shoulder blade, the one h passing
over the shoulder to the front and the other i around the back and under the
stump of the amputated arm to the front, where it is connected to the strap h
by a buckle j. By these means the upper artificial arm a can be secured to
the stump of the amputated arm so as to be moved by it at will. The fore
or lower arm k is hinged to the upper arm to form the elbow joint by metallic
joint pieces 1, 1, and m, m. A coiled or other equivalent spring o, (Figures
9 and 9") is inserted in the upper arm. It should be coiled from each end
around a pin p extending across the hollow of the arm, and forming a loop q
between the two coils. The extreme ends of the spring rest against and are
properly secured to the inside of the arın. To the extremity of the loop q are
secured three cords r, s, and t. The cord r extends from the loop q (which acts as
a spring lever) over a roller u, near the lower end of the upper arm a, and thence
into the forearm k, where it is secured by suitable means. For simplicity and

page_text: cheapness the cord is divided and passed through two holes, and tied together on
the outside of the forearm (see Fig. 11) so that it can be readily lengthened and
shortened. By this mode of connecting the tension of the spring o sustains the
weight of the forearm k and its appendages. The second cord s is attached to the
Joop and extends up and around a roller v, mounted in a hole, made through
what may be termed the outside of the up perarm, and from this roller the cord
extends upwards in a groove in the outer surface of the arm, and its upper end
is tied to a loop w, Fig. 8, on that part of the strap i which is near the arm-
pit, so that by moving the stump of the amputated arm forward as with a
natural arm, to lift the hand towards the face, a pull is made on the cord s,
which pulls tho loop 7 of the spring o upwards, and this by reason of its con-
nection with the cord draws the forearm upward by a movement apparently
natural. The third cord t is also attached to the loop 7 of the spring o, and
thence it passes under and around a roller u to and along a groove on the
outer surface of what may be termed the front part of the arm under a
guide roller y, and is attached to a loop . Fig. 7, on tho strap h, which
passes over the breast, so that when the stump of the amputed arm is moved
back the spring o is moved downwards, the cords r and s at the same time aro
loosened, and the forearm k is permitted to fall until stopped by the shoulders
on the elbow joint. The cord r is called the balance cord, because it enables
the spring o to balance the weight of the forearm and its appendages, so that
when extended it will hang and swing naturally, and facilitates the operations
to be performed by the other cords. The cord s is the arm contracting cord,
because the forearm is elevated as by the contracting muscles of a natural
arm. The cord t is the expanding cord, because it throws out the forearm as
These several cords are made
by the expanding muscles of a natural arm.
adjustable by simply tying, although other known and suitable means of
attachment and adjustment may be substituted.
A metallic rod is fitted to the inside of the wrist piece a¹, and extends through
it longitudinally, and one end of it extends into the forearm k, and through a
hole in a cross piece c', and is there held by a screw nut d¹ tapped on the end
of the rod. The rod is free to turn in the cross piece. An arm projects
from one side of the rod within the forearm k, and the outer end of the arm e¹
of the rod 6 is connected with one side of the forearm by an india-rubber or
other elastic cord f1, and with the opposite side of the forearm by a cord f*
which passes through to the outside, where it is tied, so that by adjusting the
tie the tension of the india-rubber or other elastic cord can be regulated at
pleasure. By this means the hand which is connected with the wrist piece
can be turned in or out, and set as may be desired. The outer end of the

page_text: rod is connected by a hinge joint with another rod g', which extends
through and is secured by screws or equivalent means to the hand. The
outer end of the rod g' is formed with a socket, which is tapped, and the
opening of this socket is in the palm of the hand near the inner part of the
thumb and forefinger, so that a hook, fork, or other instrument can be readily
inserted. Some of these instruments are represented separately at Figures 12,
and a fork is represented by dotted lines in Fig. 10. The hand is preferably
made in one piece as far as the main knuckle joints ', and on each side there
is a plate which projects forward. To these plates is secured a fulcrum
pink, on which the rear ends of all the fingers 1, 1, 1, 1, are mounted so as
to turn to a limited extent, the rear ends of the fingers being so formed as to
strike against two rods m¹ parallel with the fulcrum pin and behind it;
theso rods serve as stops to limit the range of motion of the fingers either
when opened or closed. The fingers are each formed with a second knuckle
joint n', which is preferably made in the form of a rule joint. The thumb o¹
is connected with the hand by a rule or other equivalent joint p'; if desired,
it may be made with a second joint like the fingers, but this is not deemed to
be essential. Four cords q', q', q', q', called the finger expansion cords, are
attached one to each finger, between the second knuckle joints and the tips,
and pass over the outer surfaces, which are made with guide grooves for the
purposo and under guide staples near the main knuckle. The four cords are
connected together at or near the wrist, and thence continue as a single cord
through the inside of the forearm to and along a groove, and under the
roller a, thence along the upper arm a by the side of the cord t, and attached
to the loop of the body strap h, which is in front of the breast, so that the
same back movement of the stump of the amputated arm which is required for
throwing out or straightening the forearm k will open the fingers of the hand.
A fifth cord s', which is attached to the thumb behind its fulcrum pin, and
called the thumb expansion cord, passes inside of the hand under a roller t¹,
and is then attached to the finger cords, where they are united as one cord
and are operated in like manner. The four fingers and the thumb are closed
by the tension of a spring a within the band; this spring is preferably made
of coiled wire, and held in place by a pin v', which extends through it and
across the inside of the hand; this spring is so coiled as to have two arms w
and z', the arm w' by bending the wire about the middle of its length in the
form of three sides of a parallelogram, and then coiling up each end in the
form of a helix, and then uniting the two ends and leaving them to project
sufficiently to form the other arm x¹, to the extremity of which latter a cord y"
is attached. The two ends of the cord y' pass through holes in the palm of

page_text: the hand to the outside, where they are attached, so that they can be readily
tightened or loosened to increase or decrease the tension of the spring, and
thereby regulate the grasp of the fingers and thumb. Four cords, termed
the finger-contracting cords (one for each finger, are attached to the under-
side of the fingers between the second knuckle joints and the tips, and pass to
the inside of the hand over a roller or guide pin a to the arm of the
spring u', to which they are all attached. A fifth cord, termed the thumb-
contracting cord, is attached to the inner part of the thumb and passes around
the roller t, and thence around the same roller or guide pin a as the
finger-contracting cords, and like them attached to the arm w¹ of the spring u.
By the means above described the fingers and thumb are closed or contracted
by a spring, the tension of which always tends to close them, and by a force
which can be readily regulated, and they are opened or expanded by pulling
on the finger and thumb expanding cords, which is effected by the same
outward movement of the stump of the amputated arm which is used for
throwing out the forearm.
secured to the arm
upper arm on the
The modifications for amputations at or near the wrist are represented on
Sheet III., where Fig. 13 shews the artificial hand and wrist applied to a
person; Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section drawn on an enlarged scalo in a
plane at right angles to the palm of the hand; Fig. 15 represents the mode
of strapping. In these Figures the artificial forearm 1 is suitably formed to
receive the natural forearm or so much of it as remains, and the upper end
thereof is connected by elbow joint pieces 2 with two straps 3, 3*, one on
each side of the upper natural arm; the straps 3, 3*, are
by cross straps 4, 4. The strap 3 is on the outside of the
crippled side, and extends around and behind the shoulder joint on that side
of the body, around the back and over the other shoulder down the front
thereof, under the armpit to the back, and over the same shoulder to the
front. The other strap 3*, which is under the forearm, extends up in front
and over the shoulder to the strap 3, to which it is secured on the shoulder.
The extremity of the strap 3 in front is secured to a narrow strap or cord 5,
which passes down under guide rollers 6, 6, secured to the surface of the
cross straps 4, 4, and down to the wrist, where it is secured to the expansion
finger cords. The hand 7 and the fingers are constructed and connected as
already described, and the inner end of the hand is fitted to the outer end of
the forearm 1 by a semi-cylindrical socket as in the previous example, but
without the interposition of the wrist piece, but the wrist piece can be used if.
the amputation be not too near to the wrist. Inside of the hand there is a hinge
rod 8, as in the previous example, except that it does not extend so far into

page_text: the forearm. The contraction finger cords 9 pass over a roller 10 and around
a roller 11 in the forearm, and are then attached to a spring lever 12, the
tension of which tends to close the fingers. The expansion cords 13 pass
around the roller 10, thence around a roller 14, and then are connected to
the opposite side of the spring lever 12. The only difference in these respects
is, that in the present modification the spring lever has its tension reversed.
The extremity of the strap 5 is attached to the outer end of the spring arm 12.
The wearer, by simply drawing up the forearm or moving the upper arm
forward will loosen the strap 5 and the expansion cords of the fingers and
thumb, so that the fingers and thumb will be drawn in or closed by the tension
of the spring, and by throwing out or straightening the forearm or moving
the upper arm backward will draw on the strap or cord 5, which will pull on
the expansion cords of the fingers and thumb, and thereby overcome the
tension of the spring and open the band. As the spring arm 12 projects
beyond the outer surface of the forearm, the wearer, by bearing it on a tablo
or other surface, and pushing the arm forward, will press the spring arm back
and open the fingers and thumb.
Other modifications are represented in Sheet III., where Fig. 16 is a front
elevation of the upper part of a person with an artificial arm and hand
applied, and Fig. 17 is a back elevation; Fig. 18 is a section of the
upper arm combined with an elevation of the forearm and palm of the band,
and representing the forearm as held by the bolt t, at right angles to tho
upper arm; Fig. 19 is a view of the back of the hand and a portion of the
forearm; Fig. 20 is a vertical section of the arin and hand with the forearm
and band taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of the palm of the
hand, and with the fingers distended and the upper arm detached and partly
turned so that the plane of the section may shew the mechanism; Fig. 21
is a plan of the spring, a represents the upper arm or that portion of it
which extends from the elbow to the shoulder. The upper end is suitably
formed to receive the stump of the amputated arm and to extend up in front
and back of the shoulder as at 3, 6, to which parts a broad strap c³, or
shoulder plate made of leather or other suitable material, is connected by two
metallic joints made as shewn at d³, d. To both ends of this strap or shoulder
plate is secured a strap or webbing e, which extends under the armpit. To
the back of the shoulder plate c', and just below the back joint d³, is secured
one end of a strap f³, which extends across the back and over the other
shoulder. One end of another strap g³ is attached to the shoulder plate c',
between the two joints d³, d³, and extends across the back to and under the
other armpit and up in front, where it is connected by a buckle h³ to the first-

page_text: named strap f, the two being attached where they cross at the back, and
being also connected by a strap 23, which passes over the shoulder. This
strap extends beyond the strap f³ in front, and is connected by a buckle j",
with a cord (made of catgut), which passes under a guide roller
attached
to the upper arm a³, and thence it passes through an aperture to the inside of
the arm a, and around a guide roller m³ to the inside of the forearm, where
it is attached to the finger expansion cords as will be herein-after described.
The fore or lower arm n³ also made hollow, and of wood or other suitable
material, and is hinged to form the elbow joint by hinge pieces 03, 03. A
cord p³ is attached to the forearm at 93, a short distance below the elbow joint,
and at the rear part thereof. This cord passes over the guide roller m³ in the
lower part of the upper arm, and thence passes out through a hole in the
rear part not far from the upper end, and there passes round a guide roller,
and is then secured by a buckle s³ to a short strap projecting from the strapf³
at the back. When the stump of the natural arm is moved forward, as in
the act of lifting the natural arm, a pull is made on the cord p³, which lifts
the forearm n³ towards the face, as by the action of the contracting muscles
of a natural arm, and when the stump of the natural arm is moved back the
tension on this cord is relieved and the forearm descends by gravity. It is
desirable for many purposes to hold the forearm in a position at or nearly
at right angles with the upper arm. To do this by the action of the stump of
the natural arm would be very fatiguing, particularly in the case of a short
amputation. In order to effect this object without fatigue there is combined
with the two parts of the arm hinged together a sliding bolt t³, or stop, which
is adapted to slide in a recess in the back part of the forearm n³, and near
the elbow joint. This bolt has a short handle, which projects through a slot
to the outer surface, so that it can be reached conveniently to be operated.
One edge of the slot is notched, and the opposite edge is provided with a
strip of vulcanized india-rubber or equivalent spring, which presses against
the handle of the bolt, and by its tension tends to force it into the notches
formed in the opposite edge of the slot. When the bolt is pushed until its
handle is forced into the notch nearest the elbow joint the end of the bolt
abuts against the lower end of the upper arm a³, and the forearm n³ is thereby
held in a position forming an acute angle with the upper arm, and if the
handle is placed in the middle notch the forearm will be held in a position at
right angles with the upper arm, and when placed in the notch farthest from
the elbow joint the end of the bolt clears the upper arm and leaves the
forearm free to be moved. In this way the forearm can be readily fixed in
any desired position, or left free to be operated by the motions of the stump of

page_text: the natural arm. As there is a spring pressure which tends constantly to
force the handle into the notches, to operate the bolt it is only necessary to
draw the handle out of any one notch and by it push the bolt lengthwise to
the desiren positiod.
Four cords j, j, j, j', made of catgut, and termed the finger expansion
cords, are attached one to each finger between the second knuckle joint and
the tips; they pass over the outer surfaces, which are best made with guide
grooves for the purpose, and under guide staples near the main knuckles.
The four cords pass under a guide roller k' in the band, and beyond that they
are all connected to one cord t', and thence continue as a single cord through
to the inside of the forearm to and around a guide roller m, mounted in the
forearm, and then it is attached to the upper side of a spring n*.
The expan-
sion cords are also united to the cord, so that the fingers can be opened
either by the tension of the spring or by the back movement of the stump of
the arm required for throwing out or straightening the forearm. A fifth
cords is attached to the thumb behind its fulcrum pin, and is called the
thumb expansion cord; it passes inside of the hand under a roller o', and is
then attached to the finger cords, where they are united, and is operated in
like manner. The four fingers and the thumb are closed by the tension of
the spring n within the forearm. This spring is made of coiled wire and held
in place by the cross bar y³, which extends through it and across the inside of
the forearm. This spring has two arms q', and one r', and the arm 2+ is formed
by bending the wire at the middle of its length and then coiling up each end
in the form of two helices, then extending the two ends and leaving them to.
project sufficiently to form the other two arms q', to the extremities of which
cords s, s, are attached, which pass through holes to the outside of the fore-
arm, where they are connected so that they can be readily tightened or loosened
to increase or decrease the tension of the spring to regulate the grasp of the
fingers and thumb.
Four cords t', termed the finger contracting cords (one for each finger),
are attached to the under side of the fingers and pass to the inside of the hand,
over the guide roller k to the front side of the arm of the spring n', to
which they are all attached. A fifth cord v, termed the thumb contracting
cord, is attached to the inner part of the thumb, and passes around the
roller o, and thence as the finger contracting cords, and like them is attached
to the arm r of the spring n'. The fingers and thumb are closed or con-
tracted by a spring, the tension of which always tends to close them, and
by a force which can be readily regulated, and they are opened or expanded
by pulling on the fingers and thumb expanding cords, which is effected by the

page_text: same outward movement of the stump of the amputated arm which is
used for throwing out the forearm. The fingers and thumb are thus suspended
to the spring, which is interposed between the expansion and contraction
cords, and which are connected with it on opposite sides, so that by tightening
the cords which are connected to the arms q' of the spring the tension of the
spring will contract the fingers and thumb and thus keep the hand closed,
but by throwing out the arm the expansion cords are pulled by their connec-
tion with the straps over the breast, which overcomes the tension of the
spring n', and the fingers and thumb are thereby expanded to open the hand.
The outer end of the arm of the spring n', with which the expansion and
contraction cords are connected on opposite sides of it, projects to a sufficient
distance outside of the forearm, so that by bearing the outer end of it on a table
or any other surface and drawing the arm back will cause the fingers and
thumb to be operated, and the hand to be opened at the will of the person
wearing it.
When this is to be applied to an amputation below the elbow,
but which is not too near the wrist, the spring n and its connections should
be placed lower down towards the wrist so as to leave the requisite room for
the reception of the stump of the natural forearm, to which the upper end of
the forearm will be properly adapted.
What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the method
first herein described of connecting the artificial arm with the body so as to
avoid the use of any strapping across the chest as described.
I also claim the contraction cord in combination with the artificial upper
and forearm, and strapping or the equivalent thereof for securing the
artificial arm to the body, and with which the contraction cord is connected.
I also claim the expansion cord in combination with the upper and lower
arm, and the strapping or the equivalent thereof for securing the artificial arm
to the body, and with which the expansion cord is connected.
I also claim the combination of the expansion and contraction cords with
each other, and with the artificial upper and forearm, and with the straps or
the equivalents thereof for securing the artificial arm to the body, and with.
which the expansion and contraction cords are connected.
I also claim the combination of the hinged forearm with the balance cord
and spring whereby the weight of the hinged forearm is balanced by the
spring, and when desired can be made to hang naturally, whilst at the same
time the forearm being so balanced will greatly facilitate the motions to be
imparted to the artificial arm.
I also claim the combination of the expansion and contraction cords with
the balance cord and spring and with the hinged forearm.

page_text: I also claim the combination of the hinged hand, the turning wrist piece
and the forearm.
I also claim the hinged hand, the turning wrist pieco, and the forearm, in
combination with the means of connecting them by a turning joint and
adjustable connection so as to admit of turning the wrist as set forth.
I also claim the combination of the hinged fingers and their expansion
cords in combination with the arm expansion cord.
I also claim the combination of the hinged fingers and their contraction
cords with the arm contraction cord.
I also claim the means herein described for securing and holding the hinged
fingers and thumb in any desired position.
I also claim the hinged fingers and the contracting cords in combination
with the expansion finger cords whereby the fingers can be opened or closed
at the will of the porson wearing the artificial hand as set forth.
And I also claim the spring arm or lever which projects to the outside of
the forearm so as to be operated by bearing against any resisting object as
described in combination with the jointed fingers and the expansion and
contraction cords.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
of our Lord Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
year
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)