USEFUL ARTIFICIAL ARM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2824, 15 July 1916, Page 7

USEFUL ARTIFICIAL ARM

1 . NELSON MAN'S INVENTION. 'In the Mayor's room yes'enlay afternoon, Mr. I'. M. M'Knv, of Nelson, gnvo a clever demonstration ol' lliu very serviceable mechanical arm he lias invented, and whieh-ho demonstrates 'himself, being minus his left hand. Mr. M4l(ay -said initially that many wonderful artificial arnii had been made and sold from tiiiio to time, and in the advertisements they looked really well.. At times'they were shuwu with the -wearer picking up a three-penny bit or a -pin, Iran a table, or other similarly difficult feats,'but though ho hadmade elosa research. into tho subject lib had not- been able to lind an artificial arm that would enable a. man to do heavy tradesman's work, such us carpentering, plumbing, painting, paper-hang-ing, or even pick and shovel work. The arm lit. ias invented enabled such work to be done—and dona easily by any ablebodied mail used to such work. Both Dr. Valiutine 1 and Surgeon-General Henderson state, that they have never seen so good an artificial arm for working purposes, and after Mr. M'Kay had demonstrated' its manifold Uses their opinion was endorsed by those presont at tho demonstration. , .

Tlie arm consists of a very substantial socket'of aluminium (which takes tho stump), which. is, attached to a stout leather-collar that embraces the upper part of tho a-rJU, from which straps extend round the shoulder and round the chest, giving a firm purchase oil the body lor the strain tho arm has to take. At the butt ond of the aluminium socket, which is braced with steel, is the locking gear (a grooved hole with a. spring lock), iiito which any tool or; grip iniiy be fitted at any aiiglc. There the hammer, saw, shovel, etc., may be held far mnre securoly than .witll the human hand. Mr. il'lvay lias ..had a-series of tools, solidly made, witii a sleeve at the etid of each to fit the lockii'g g*ar, and very deftly ho, shows hoil- ii man so equipped may work just as efficiently as though he had not lost a member. When not working, a gloved hand— jnade of rubber and pliable inuiitz metal—can bs fitted into

the socket just as readily as any one of the multifarious collection of tools lie, has been equipped with.

It is ilio purpose of Mr. M'Kny to give a demonstration of his nrm before Government and other officials on Monday afternoon at 4.30 o'clock in the Mayor's room. Thereafter it is to bo placed at the disposal of returned soldiers, the idea to lx> given to indficial ■ limb makers, who will ba alloweu to sell the limb on a royalty basis'.