NEW ARMS FOR OLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1916, Page 4

NEW ARMS FOR OLD.

WONDERFUL NEW INVENTION. Wo see them in every street, the poor fellows with their empty sleeves, and wc often wonder what will become.of them (writes a London paper). But there is good news for them if we may trust what Professor Lavernu told the, French Academy of Sciences this week of a wonderful new mechanical nrm and baud. H seems to act by movements of the thorax, which set in motion a spring and steel wires which give to the arm and hand of aluminium almost nil the natural movements, even the most delicate. There are besides two categories * of members: one for work needing force, which permits workmen to take up their old trade; another, with the name of the "universal hand." for everyday life and lighter employments. The weight of the aluminium hand . • only 1214 ounces, and that of the entire arm from one to two pounds. Mutilated soldiers who were present at the Academy of Sciences showed what they were able to do when fuwshed with the new limbs—one played the violin, others struck matches and lit their cigarettes, others again picked up money, and so on. Also, from the anaesthetic side the new invention merits attention. When covered with a glove the hand has quite the normal aspect. And this is a point our sensitive warriors will appro ciate.