MARVELS OF MAN-MENDING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 141, 4 February 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

MARVELS OF MAN-MEND-ING.

HOW OHR WOUXDEI) 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, says a Home paper, 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, cr a leg. The sight of these maimed heroes is one to encite the compassion of the most, hardened, and gradually it is coming to be recognised that 110 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 \V. A. .May, the Direc-tor-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 'o" him.

It is to be hoped that a grateful country will set itself to see that the industry of "man-mending" is spelled up. Meanwhile a peep into this most unique of occupations >vi 11 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 twUted catgut, just like human limb*. \\ '.th one <»f 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, cntai! ng considerable skill and care. A sol d block of wood forms the ba-i*. and the only tools used are a few gouges, knives, and chisels. In most cases tlic shaping is done entirely with the eye, but lately the service.-, 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 nr.n 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 infre'iuent 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 muscular exertion they are still capable of putting forth.

THE PRICE-LIST.

A pair of legs and feet may be had for I'2o or .CMO, 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 whi'h gets over the difficulty of securing suitable pieces of willow According to "I.a Semaine Litteraire,' artificial limbs are now being made from the cancelled bank notes of the Bank of France, the notes being pulped and solidified under hy.<iaulic pressure. This would seen: . o foreshadow the introduction of paper limbs.

It will come as a surprise to most people to learn th.it a man can h rv a new hand, almost as serviceable as a natural one, for the matter 01 £•>. Even if he has lost his right hand he need not despair. The "manmender" will supply him with an artificial one. which will answer practically all the purposes of the one lie has lost. He will still be able to write, eat his meals, paint, drive, play billiards, and perform his toilet as conveniently as he did before. For the false hand is a truly m-u vellous pieco of work; each joint is almost as flexible as in a real ham.. Indeed the artificial member possesses a few advantages, not the least of which is the ability to support and use heavy articles tlict might cause discomfort to the original hand. This is done by means of a square hole in the palm, into which specially constructed toe's may be fitted at will—and no danger of blisters! The £5 paid for such a hand includes the special tools. Anvthing from £2 to £r. buys a pair "or" artificial eyes, and t'ingle ones are specially painted and matched at a proportionate charge. These eves are the most elaborate production of the surgical artist's skill Thev are made of dense glass and most truthfully tinted by clever suitable from the natural organs. The artificial eye is simply ill.>po<l into the empty socket, and worn intil the wearer himself is sc.ircelconscious of Its presence, and even contrives, without perceptible - to make it move in harmon\ with its fellow. . . artists, so as almost to be indistin \YOXnEUFI'I. Hf'UGEUV There are few parts oi tlie human bodv for which the surgeon U-.s i ot. striven successfully to produce fm>stilutes. Only very recently some •istounding feats in this lm- weie accomplished on wounded r.i the London hospitals. Ac C.uys Hospital where only wounded otncMs ait accommodated, a number of rases were received of injury to 'he inw. Several of the patients were s ippl.eci with artificial jaws. and. who, th»y recovered, f ouiul themselves hand: i a wonderfully sma- « •> tent. At St. Thomas's - tho case of a man who had been hurried over from France in a dying condition, with the abdomen terribly shattered bv a piece of shell. It appeared a hopeless case, but within twenty 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 v.as on the road to slow but sure recovery.

Not oven the extent of a person's injuries dotora the " man-memler." so long as his subject is alive and possesses vitality. He is ready to supply artificial noses, ears, palates, nr-drunis and even v. indpipes: ami he will offer lit you with everytiling replaceable, from a \vi.n to an

artificial foot, for a little over You ran have two arms and tw< for .'J-JO, and the maker guara that each will be nearly as usef the one it replaces. Such a set of false limbs ha tually been supplied. Some ago a man was terribly injured railway accident. He survived, ever, and was fitted with arti legs and arms, and an artificial and ear. Instead of being a less wreck, wheeled about in a o as he himself expected to be walks about to-day among his fortunate brethren with little oi thing in his movements to di guish him.