Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — Modern Artificial Limbs. [ARTICLE]

Modern Artificial Limbs.

One of the greatest improvements of modern times is the construction of artificial limbs that are far ahead of the oldfashioned stump of a wooden limb. Years ago amputation was not performed as freely as to-day, the benefit of the doubt being given to the patient that the limb might be saved. When a limb shows signs of mortification, amputation is done at once to save the stump of the limb. By so doing the patient can have cork iimbs fitted in place that will be almost as good as the original one. They are light and easy of movement, and, in the case of cork legs, it is almost impossible to tell them when one is walking. By means of cork, springs, hinges, and rubber, perfect legs and feet are formed so that the joints are capable of the same movement as the original one. The instep of the foot bendsand gives, the toes spread apart and come back into position when the foot is taken from the ground, and in short a good imitation of nature is observed all the way through. Under such improvements it is better to have a crushed foot amputated at once than to run the risk of having mortification ruin the whole leg, and probably cause endless misery and finally death.— [Yankee Blade.