MY ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16216, 22 August 1918, Page 8

MY ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

THE CHEERFUL MAJOR’S SET. Now that- so many men are wearing these uncanny l)iit useful things, a few words concerning them may not be out of place. I lost both my legs “above the knee” at Ypros last July, so may claim to know something about the matter. A firm in the West End was recommended to me. so thither I was wheeled m my chair one afternoon. The manager met mo and took me down a Jong room with one end curtained off. Behind the curtain wore a number of men, both officers and other ranks, in various states of undress. Some had their new legs on for the first time and vpi'o finding it difficult to do anything hut stand. Others, who had had them for a few days, were walking about with the aid of sticks, and seme even dispensed with this aid altogether. I was taken into n small room where Blaster easts were taken of what little leg the Boche had left me; this was to ensure a perfect fit, and I was then told to come back again in a month’s time. In due course I returned and “tried them, on.” The'feeling of being once more in an upright position after so long in hod or on a chair was most curious and inclined to make one feel giddy, hut it soon passed away. At first I could do nothing hut hang on. the necks of two strong men, who tried to march mo up and down the room; I got most frightfully hot and tired, and felt that I should never he able to stand, but eventually I managed to walk a few steps with the aid of crutch sticks, and can now do my 100 yards with the best of them. There are three sorts of amputations shat affect the ordinary man—above the knee, below the knee, and what is known as “Symes.” This last is an amputation through the ankle hone. The patient retains his own heel and has an artificial foot—it hardly ranks as an artificial limb. If a man can keep In’s knee-joint he is all right and will walk, with scarcely a. limp; I know one man who has lost both his legs below the knee who can walk ten miles a day every day, ride a bicycle, dance, and roller skate. "With one above and one below there ar P few things that a man cannot do. though I think he will always reouire the help of a stick. Both legs off above the knee make things rather harder, especially, steps’ and stairs, though with the aid of rails even this difficulty ean he overcome. After four months I find that T can got about anywhere, provided there are no steps, and ran drive a nielor-enr without any difficulty. Necessity is the mother of invention, and no doubt someone will invent artificial sinews which will reduce steps from the bugbears they undoubtedly are to mem inconveniences; in the meantime T hone I have been able to show that a man may. with artificial limbs, weß outlive his legs, and get on excellently without being exactly at na-fm-A iiitinged.—J.B.C. (Major), in the Daily Mad.