MARVELS OF MAN-MENDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16594, 18 January 1916, Page 6

MARVELS OF MAN-MENDING

HOW OUE WOUNDED HEROES ARE REPAIRED. One of the most pathetic consequences of the war, and one the consideration of which is becoming more pressing every day, is the enormous number of soldiers being discharged from hospital -wanting one or more limbs. Day after day there pass through the hospital doors dozens— aye, scores—of men whose papers bear the ominous words "Unfit for further service," and they are to be seen daily in our streets, minus a hand, an arm, or a leg. Tho sight of these maimed heroes is one to excite the compassion of the most hardened, and gradually it is coming to be recognised that no product of the surgeon mechanician's skill can be too good for these unlucky ones. A conference has already been held at Roehampton House with a view to securing the best artificial limbs for maimed fighters. At this conference Sir W. A. May, the Director-general of the Navy Medical Service, said that the number of men who are losing limbs is unfortunately on the increase—so much so, indeed, that the problem confronting the makers was to turn out the required number in time to be of use. The longer a man went without a limb, said the Director-general in explanation, the worse it was for him. It is to be hoped that a grateful coxmtry will set itself to see that the industry of "man-mending" is speeded up. Meanwhile a peep into this most unique of occupations will be of interest. —The Limbmaker's Art.— Artificial legs are made of willow wood, which is extremely light and strong. They have ankle, foot, and knee action, produced by springs and tendons of twisted catgut, just like human limbs. With one of these legs a man may indulge in almost any form of sport that is not too strenuous, and both cycling and golf are well within his power. Needless to say, the construction of the leg is a most delicate operation, entailing considerable skill and care. A solid block of wood forms the basis, and the only tools used are a few gouges, knives, and chisels. In most cases the shaping is done entirely with the eye, but lately the ser vices of famous artists and sculptors have been employed to secure the necessary accuracy of form. Mistakes are very easily made, as can be well understood, and not very easily remedied. The slightest slip of knife or chisel may ruin a whole block of excellent wood after many hours of labour have been spent upon it. But the result is well worth the trouble. Cases are by no means infrequent where persons with artificial limbs have worn them for years without being; detected by even their closest friends. This has even been the case with persons wearing two artificial legs; but, of course, that depends upon the amount of nfuscular exertion they are still capable of putting forth, —The Price-list.— A pair of legs and feet may be had for £20 or £30, not at all exorbitant when one considers the difference between walking on false legs and going without lower limbs altogether. And there is a possibility of their becoming much cheaper, owing to a recent departure which gets over the difficulty of securing suitable pieces of willow wood. According to '7., a Semaine Litteraire," artificial limbs aro now being made from the cancelled bank notes of the Bank of France, the notes being pulped and solidified under hydrau lie pressure. This would seem to foreshadow the introduction of paper limbs. It will come as a surprise to most people to learn that a man can have a new hand, almost as serviceable as a natural one, for the matter of £5. Even if he has lost his right hand he need not despair. The "man-mender" will supply him with an artificial one, which will answer practically all the purposes of the one be has lost" He will still be able to write, eat his meals, paint, drive, play billiards, and perform his toilet as con . veniently as he did before. For the false hand is a truly marvellous piece of work; each joint is almost as flexible as m a real hand. Indeed, the artificial member possesses a few advantages, not the least of which is the ability to support and use heavy articles that might cause discomfort to the original hand. This is done by means of a square hole in the palm, into which speciallyconstructed tools may be fitted at will— and no danger of blisters-! The £■> paid for such a hand includes the special tools. Anything from £2 to £5 buys a pair of artificial eyes, and single ones are specially painted and matched at a proportionate charge. These eyes are the most elaborate production of the surgical artist's skill. They are made of dense glass, and most truthfully tinted by clever artists, so as almost to be indistinguishable from the natural organs. The artificial eye is simply slipped into the empty socket, and worn until the wearer himself is scarcely conscious of its presence, and even contrives, without perceptible effort, to make it move in harmony with its fellow. —Wonderful Surgery.— There are few parts of the human body for which the surgeon has not striven successfully to produce Substitutes. Only very recently some astounding feats in this line were accomplished on wounded in the London hospitals. At Guy's Hos pital, where only wounded officers are accommodated, a number of cases were received of injury to the jaw. Several of the patients were supplied with artificial jaws, and, when they recovered, found themselves handicapped to a wonderfully small extent. At St. Thomas's Hospital there is the case of a man who had Deen hurried over from France in a dying condition, with the abdomen terribly shattered by a piece of shell. It appeared a hopeless case, but within 20 minutes of his arrival, at the hospital he was operated upon. The injured internal organs were replaced by others made for the patient, and soon he was on the road to slow, but sure, re covery! Not even the extent of a person's injuries deters the "man-mender," so long as his subject is alive and possesses vitality. He is ready to supply artificial noses, ears, palates, ear-drums, and even windpipes; and he will offer to fit you with everything replac&ble, from a wig to an artificial foot, for a little over £100. You can have two arms and two legs for £40, and the maker guarantees that each will be nearly as useful as the one it replaces. Such a set of false limbs has actually been supplied. Some years ago a man was terribly injured in a railway accident. He* survived, however, and was fitted with artificial legs and arms, and an artificial eye and ear. Instead of being a helpless wreck, wheeled about in a chair, as he himself expected to be, he walks about to-day among his more fortunate brethren with little or nothing in his movements to distinguish him.