PEOPLE WITHOUT ARMS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1516, 22 January 1886, Page 3

PEOPLE WITHOUT ARMS.

Some doubt having been expressed that persons deprived of both arms cmld be taught to use artificial ones, and a recent case having attracted much attention, several communications have been addressed to us on the subject. A few of our correspondents express doubts on the question, others furnish instances where artificial limbi have played an important part '' I Knew of a case," writes a Newcastle gentleman, "in which a boy was deprived of both arms below the elbows, and his mother made the unuatural and cruel remark—' it would hr\ve been better if his head had been taken off, for he will prove a burden to the family for life.' Singular to say, that boy in after years was the sole support of the mother and the family to which he belonged. He became a horse coper, and did well in that calling. He had false arms and hands attached to his stumps, and books which he used for the purposes of driving cattle or horses. He wrote a fair band bv means of the appliances screwed to his arms, and the last time I saw him he was riding easily on horseback, holding the reins and directing his steed with the artificial hands he possessed." Many readers will doubtless remember another armless person who travelled about this district with a show some years ago. This person had no new hands, but he made the best use he eould of his feet. His hai.dwriting by means of a pen and his toes was of t very elegaut kind, and if eeimeoi of it in to bo neon in many

northern houses at the present time He went through the form of refreshing himself, shaving himself, washing and drying his face, and combing and brushing his hair, ending generally by placing his heel at the back of his neck. In fact, he could do with his feet almost anything that other persons usually do with their hands. He was said to have been a clergyman, but how the misfortune happened that deprived him of his hands was not stated. His prototype was to bo found in another person, also handless, who only a few years ago travelled from door to door in many North of England towns, and gained a precarious living bv writing out names with his feet. Wn have a copy of his caligrapy written as stated at present lying before us. Another curious case, the truth of which is vouched for by the narrator, is that of a young girl, the daughter of a farmer near Falkirk. She was born without either legs or arms, but became a seamstress and did I some good sewing work, plying the needle by means of her teeth. This ' young person was considered so great i a curiosity and phenomenon that many | overtures were made by the showmen ! fraternity to get possession of her for I exhibition purposes. All these efforts ! failing, she was carried off by stealth one day in the absence of her father, but the abduction was promptly detected, and she was quickly recovered It will be seen from these instances that persons unfortunately deprived of their limbs can be taught, or may teach themselves, to be of use in the world, and that even in their helpless condition they may rise above despair. With respect to Joe Snee, the Gateshead boy who was deprived of both arms by accident, and whose case evoked so much practical sympathy in Newer.stle lately, wo may state that he is still in Liverpool. Dr Page, to whom the lad and his parents owe a great debt of gratitude, arranged for the lad's journey there, in order that ho might, be supplied with artificial hands. He will remain there for about six weeks, in order that ]he may be taught the use of the hands supplied. It is the desire of Dr Page and the lad's friends that he should be afforded every chance k of familiarising himself with the new appliances before returning to Newcastle, and if six weeks be ?iot sufficient, he will be allowed to remain in Liverpool for a few weeks longer. After a sufficient time has elapsed to teach the boy the use of his new hands he will be brought back to Newcastle and will be taken, we believe, to a meeting of medical men, to exhibit the value of the appliances with which he has been supplied. The case, it is almost needless to say, is one iof immense interest to the medical faculty from a professional point of view, and it maybe tho means of leading to the benefit of other injured persons iin the future. To the public, who have shown such a benevolent interest in the lad, the intimation that he is likely to profit considerably by his present visit to Liverpool will be received, we are certain, with satisfaction. It is the opinion of those most directly interested in the case that the poor lad will be enabled to make a fair fend with the bands provided, and this seems extremely probable, after the incidents relating to other persons similarly placed have been disclosed. As previously intimated by Dr Page, on the lad's return steps will be taken to place him where he can be propeily trained and educated, and the money received will be spent solely upon himself by the trustees of the fund. — i Newcastle Chronicle.