Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 189, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1919 — LIMBS ARE SELF-ACTING [ARTICLE]

LIMBS ARE SELF-ACTING

“Kinematic Surgery” Developed to Extraordinary Degree. Italian Physician Achieves Remarkable Results in Fitting Artificial Legs. Bologna, Italy—Remarkable results have been achieved in Italian military hospitals recently by the use of what is known'"its “kinematic surgery,” the invention of Professor Putti of Bologna university. Professor Putti’s methods have aroused intense interest on the part of American doctors attached to the Balkan commission of the American Red Cross who are supervising the artificial leg factories already established and being established In Athens, Saloniki. Belgrade and Bucharest for the war’s mutilated. At present allied soldiers in the Balkans who have lost their limbs are being fitted with artificial limbs and arms of a type similar to that employed by Sarah Bernhardt. Professor* Putti’s methods, however, are a distinct advance 6ver all other artificial appliances. His treatment of amputated limbs consists of a unique preparation of

the sturup to develop a “motor” end to the cords which, after being bound together over a Smooth “bearing” of bone, get as much as a three-inch travel of the leg by means of a reeducation and co-ordination of the muscles of the stump. After the stump heals Professor Putti cuts out a flap of flesh, which he folds back into an Incision to take the flap. This is allowed to heal and then through the loose flap of flesh a metal bar with attachments to operate the artificial limb below Is suspended. The muscles of the calf arid thigh readily respond after some weeks to the movement of the artificial leg, and soon the pressure of the swinging of the artificial leg re-educates the muscles through the flap of flesh, so that it may be said the muscles of the stump actually operate by themselves the mechanical features of the artificial limb. In the case of a severed hand the muscle groups surrounding the bone are trained to operate catgut cords which, In turn, operate artificial fingers. Not since the Introduction of “debridgement” In American army medteal work In France has any medical Innovation created as much comment.