AN ARTIFICIAL LEG, ARM, AND HAND, ON AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1817

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, HENRY
WILMS, of Union Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surry, Cabinet Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, in and by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of May last, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, did give and grant unto me, the said Henry Wilms, His especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Henry Wilms,
my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves,
or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such others
as I, the said Henry Wilms, my exors, admors or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention for "AN ARTIFICIAL LEG, ARM, AND HAND, ON AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
provisoe obliging me, the said Henry Wilms, by an instrument in writing
under my hand.and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to, be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within two calendar months next and immediately.after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Wilms, do hereby declare and ascertain that the nature of my said
Invention is fully described in the following Specification, and by the Drawing
thereunto annexed (that is to say):-
Fig. 1 is the little finger, and a division of the hand from the wrist to the
first joint of the little finger, in which 6 forms part of the first joint of the
little finger, and is prepared to receive the steel spring dat c; d is a small
circular steel spring let into the above-mentioned part of the first joint at c, and
fastened at one end with the staple e, having a small niche at that end to give
the staple a firm hold; the other end which lies in the centre of this circular
spring is received into one end of the centre key f by which it is worked ;
e is the staple by which end of the steel spring d is fastened; f is the brass
centre key on which the joint turns, and which works the steel spring d.
The manner in which this centre key works the steel spring d is more clearly
shown in Figure 19. g is a small brass plate fastened to that part of the first
joint marked h, to sustain the friction. h is the centre piece of the first joint,
having a square hole at i, into which is fitted and fastened the square part of
the centre key f. k is a piece of wood which covers and completes the first
joint supporting one end of the centre key f, and is fastened on by means of
small screws.
is that part of the little finger between the first and second
joint. m is that part of the little finger between the second and third joint,
and n is the tip of the little finger. The second and third joints are formed
and worked in a manner similar to the first joints. 0, 0, are two small steel
springs which are fitted into the respective joints at p, p, and fastened by the
staples 9, 9. r, r, are two brass plates to sustain the friction, and are fastened
to 8, s. t, t, are the brass centre keys, and u is a piece of wood compleating
the side of the finger, and covering the second and third joints supporting
one end of the centre key of each of the said joints. w, w, is a string of
catgut running from the tip of the finger up the back of the finger and liand,
by means of a hole drilled for that purpose, and passing through the wrist, as
shewn in Figure 5. Figures 2 and 3 are the third and middle finger, and a
division from the hand to the wrist to the first joint of each finger. The
several parts of the third and middle finger are the same as those of the little
finger, and correspond to the description given of Figure 1, herein-before
specified, and the respective springs and joints, and formed of the same
materials, and are put together and worked in like manner. Figure 4 is the
thumb and forefinger, and a division of the hand from the wrist to the first
joint of the finger and thumb, in which b, b, are the first joints of the fore-
finger and thumb, and which, together with all the other joints of the fore-

page_text: finger and thumb, and which, together with all the other joints of the fore-
finger and thumb, are formed of like materials, and contain the same parts,
and are put together and worked in the like manner as is herein-before
specified concerning the joints of the little finger, and correspond to the
description herein-before given of Figure I. is a piece of wood which
covers the inside of the first joint of the thumb, and which supports one end of
the centre key of that joint, and compleats the shape of the thumb. y, y, is an
additional string of catgut fastened to the thumb between the first and second
joint, and running up to the back of the wrist; by means of this string the
joints of the thumb are worked. The several divisions of the hand comprised
in Figure 1, 2, 3, and 4, are fitted together by means of corresponding tenants
and mortasses in each division, as shewn at a in each Figure, and are fastened
with small screws. Figure 5 is the hand compleat, shewing the several parts
as they are put together, and the screws by which they are fastened. The six
catgut strings, one of which runs from the tip of each finger, and two from the
thumb, as herein-before specified, come out at the back of the hand at a, a, and
enter the wrist at b, b, and running through the wrist are fastened at c by
means of the pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and by extending or contracting these
strings the hand may be kept open or closed at pleasure. Figure 6 is
the bolt or bar by which the hand is fastened to the arm, and on which the
joint of the wrist turns.
Figure 7 is the arm from the shoulder to the hand, the several parts of
which Figure are numbered successively on from No. 1 to No. 12, of which
No. 1 is an artificial stump of hollow wood, covered with soft leather to
preserve the tender part when the arm is taken off from the shoulder blade..
No. 2 is the trunk of arm from the shoulder to the elbow, and formed for the
elbow joint, with a square hole at a to receive the square part a of the
centre key No. 8. No. 8 is a piece of wood forming part of the elbow joint;
and prepared to receive the steel spring No. 4 at a. No. 4 is the circular
steel spring with a small niche at a, which is let into No. 3 at a, and fastened
with the staple No. 5, and which is worked at 6 by the center key No. 8.
No. 6 is a brass
No. 5 is the staple by which the steel spring is fastened.
groove which is let into No. 3 at b, b, and in which the stopper No. 7 runs,
so as to prevent the elbow joint from being worked beyond the degree allowed
by the groove. No. 8 is the brass centre key on which the joint turns, the
square part a being fitted into No. 2 at a, and the end 6 being prepared to
receive the end 6 of the steel spring No. 4. No. 9 is a piece of wood which
covers and compleats the elbow joint supporting one end of the centre key,
and is fastened to No. 3 by means of small screws. No. 10 is the arm from

page_text: the shoulder to the elbow and the elbow joint compleat, forming an artificial
stump at a to be fitted into No. 11. No. 11 is the trunk of the arm from
the elbow to the wrist, having a socket at a to receive the artificial stump a in
No. 10. No. 12 is the hand which is fastened on to No. 11 at the wrist by
means of the bolt or bar shewn in Figure 6, and on which the wrist turns.
The joints of the elbow and wrist are made of wood, but the trunks of the
- arm. are formed of the material last herein-after specified and described, and
the whole arm is covered with soft leather, and appears as shewn in Figures 8
. and 9.
Figure 10 is the trunk of the thigh and the knee joint, the several parts of
which Figure are numbered successively on from No. 1 to No. 8, of which No. 1
is the trunk of the thigh, prepared for the joint of the knee at a. This trunk is
hollow, and is formed of the material last herein-after described and specified,
with the exception of that part which belongs to the knee joint, which is of
wood. No. 2 is a piece of wood which forms part of the knee joint, and is
prepared to receive the steel spring No. 5 at a. No. 3 is a brass groove let
into No. 2 at b, b, in which the stopper No. 4 works, so as to prevent the
knee joint from working beyond the degree allowed by the groove. No. 5 is
the circular steel spring. No. 6 is the staple by which the steel spring is
fastened into No. 2 at a. No. 7 is the brass centre key on which the joint
turns, and No. 8 is a piece of wood which covers and completes the knee
joint, supporting one end of the centre key.
Figure 11 shews the trunk of the thigh and the knee joint compleat, and
the joint of the knee is of the same construction in every respect as the elbow
joint, and forms an artificial stump a below the knee, which enters the socket a
in Figure 12, and rests on the pillar in Figure 12.
Figure 12 is one half of the trunk of the leg from the knee to the ancle, in
which a is the socket which receives the artificial stump a in Figure 11. 6 is
a pillar of wood which supports the leg. d is a piece of wood which sustains
the pillar b, and holds it firm in the centre of the leg, and which is formed at
e for the ancle joint. The trunk of the leg, from the knee to the ancle, is
formed of the material last herein-after particularly described and specified.
Figure 13 is the pillar of wood, which is placed in the leg between the
knee and the ancle, on which a is a circular piece of wood which steadies
the pillar and holds it firm. This pillar passes through the centre of the said
circular piece of wood a, and rises about an inch above the surface, where
it enters a small socket formed to receive it in the end of the artificial
stump a in Figure 11, and by means of which the whole leg is rendered firm
and steady.

page_text: Figure 14 is the foot, including the joints of the ancle and the toe, the
several parts of which Figure are numbered successively on from No. 1 to
No. 11, and of which No. 1 is a piece of wood, forming part of the foot, and
receives the steel spring No. 2 at a, and the steel spring No. 3 at b, and which
springs are respectively fastened by the staples No. 4 and 5. No. 2 is the
circular steel spring of the ancle joint, which is let into No. 1 at a. No. 3 is
the circular steel spring of toe joint, which is let into No. 1 at b. Nos. 4
and 5, and the staples by which the steel springs No. 2 and 3 are respectively
fastened. No. 6 is a brass groove, which is let into No. 1 at c, c, and in
which the stopper No. 7 works, so as to prevent the ancle joint from working
beyond the degree allowed by the groove. No. 8 is the brass centre key on
which the ancle joint turns, and which works the steel spring No. 2. No. 9
is the brass centre key on which the joint of the toe turns, and which works
the steel spring No. 3. No. 10 is the toe, is prepared for the joint. No. 11
is a piece of wood, which is fastened to No. 1 by small screws, and which
completes the foot and covers the two joints of the ancle and the toe, sup-
porting one end of the centre key of each of those joints.
Figure 15 is the foot complete, the several parts of which are fastened
together by means of small screws.
Figures 16, 17, and 18, are two legs and a half leg, complete. These legs
are covered with calf or doe skin leather, which is brought up round the hip
and tied by thongs of the same to the belt or girdle which incircles the waist,
as in Figure 16.
. Figure 19 shews the manner in which the brass centre key in the different
joints works the several circular steel springs; and all the joints in this
Invention, whether of the hand, the arm, or the leg, are constructed on the
same principle, are formed of the same parts and materials, and are worked in
a similar manner, with this exception, that the joints of the knee, the ancle,
and the elbow, require the brass groove and stopper, which are not required in
the other joints; and again, the groove and the stopper in the joints in which
they are used supersede the necessity of the small brass plate used in the
joints of the fingers to sustain the friction.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed all the circular steel springs, staples,
centre keys, brass plates to sustain the friction, brass grooves and stoppers, are
drawn to the size of which the are required to be used. The material of
which the trunks and sockets of the arm and leg are formed is composed of
sheets of cartouch paper and strong linen interleaved and strongly glewed
together, which must be brought to a sufficient degree of solidity by hard

page_text: pressure, and which is formed to the shape of the arm or leg upon a model of
wood, which must previously be made for that purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wilms, have hereunto set my
hand and seal; the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventeen.
HENRY (L.s.) WILMS.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Henry Wilms (being
first duly stamped), in the presence of
J. R. SUTCLIFFE,
2, Earl Street, Blackfriars.
E. W. VASEY,
His Clerk.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of May, in
the year of our Lord 1817, the aforesaid Henry Wilms came before
our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and seventeen.