Artificial legs, having fewer requirements to perform than artificial arms, are com paratively simple in structure. We borrow the description of the ordinary bucket leg in common use amongst the poorer classes from Mr. Bigg's Orthopraxy. "It con sists of a hollow sheath or bucket, accurately conformed to the shape of the stump, and having—in lieu of the more symmetric proportions of the artificial leg—a ' pin,' placed at its lower end to insure connection between it and the ground. This form of leg is strongly to be recommended when expense is an object, as it really fulfills all the conditions excepting external similitude embraced by a better piece of mechan ism. It is likewise occasionally employed with benefit by those patients who, from lack of confidence, prefer learning the use of an artificial leg by first practicing with the Commonest substitute." As, when the body rests on a single leg, the center of gravity passes through the tuberosity of the ischimn, it is essential that the bucket should be so made as to have its sole point of bearing against this part of the pelvis.
Of the more complicated forms of artificial leg, three are especially popular. The first of these is of English origin, and, owing to its having been adopted by the late marquis of Anglesea, is known as the Anglesea leg. For a description of it the reader is referred to Gray's work on Artificial Limbs, one of the firm of Grays having been the constructor of the legs used by the marquis. This was for a long time the fashionable artificial leg. The secend leg worthy of notice is that invented by an American named Palmer, and called the Palmer leg. From its lightness and the greater ease of walking with it, it has long superseded the Anglesea leg in America. In the third of these legs, also invented in America, and known as Dr. Bly's leg. the principal faults of the two other legs have been completely overcome. The advantages of this leg are thus summed up by Mr. Bigg, who has fully described and figured its mechanism: (1.) Adaptation to all amputations either above or below the knee. (2.) Rotation and lateral action of the ankle-joint. (3.) Power on the part of the patient to walk with ease on any surface, however irregular, as, owing to the motion of the ankle-joint, the sole of the foot readily accommodates itself to the unevenness of the ground, which is an advantage never before possessed by any artificial limb. (4.) The ankle-joint is rendered perfectly inde structible by ordinary wear, owing to its center being composed of a glass ball resting in a cup of vulcanite: thus it never gets out of repair, as the Anglesea leg but too frequently does, and the original cost is almost the only one the patient incurs. (5.) The action of the
ankle-joint is created by five tendons, arranged in accordance with the position assigned to them in a natural leg. These tendons are capable of being rendered tight or loose in a few instants, so that the wearer of the leg has the power of adjusting with precision the exact degree of tension from which he finds the greatest comfort in walking, and also of giving the foot any position most pleasing to the eye. (6.) There is a self-acting spring in the knee-joint, urging the leg forward in walking, and imparting automatic motion, thus avoiding the least trouble to the patient, who finds the leg literally and not metaphorically walk by itself. (7.) The whole is covered by a beautiful flesh-colored enamel, thus avoiding the clumsy appearance of the wood, as is always found in an Anglesea leg, admitting of its being washed with soap and water like the human skin. (8.) At the knee-joint there is a mechanical arrangement representing the crucial liga ments, and affording natural action to that articulation by which all shock to the stump in walking is avoided. This leg is patented, and, as might be expected, is somewhat expensive.
In cases of arrested development of the lower limbs. short-legged persons may be made of the ordinary height by the use of two artificial feet placed twelve or more inches below the true feet, and attached to the legs by means of metallic rods, jointed at the knee and ankle.
Other parts not entitled to be called limbs, can also be replaced by mechanical art— such as the nose, lips, ears, palate, cheek, and eye. In the present advanced state of plastic surgery, deficiencies of the nose, lips, and palate can usually,be remedied by an operation; cases, however, may occur where an artificial organ is required. Artificial ears are molded of silver, painted the natural color, and fixed in their place by a spring over the vertex of the bead. Loss of an eye causes sad disfigurement; but the artificial eyes of Boissonneau (see his Renseignements Glmeraux sur les Ycux Arteyeie leer Adop tion et Tear Usage), which have been shown in all the recent public exhibitions, completely throw all others in the shade, and cannot be detected without the closest inspection. For further details on all these subjects we must refer to Mr. Bigg's volume, which is a complete encyclopaedia on these and allied topics.