Figure 212 represents the patient at the age of
twenty-eight.
By ingenious mechanical contrivances persons who have lost an
extremity are enabled to perform the ordinary functions of the
missing member with but slight deterioration. Artificial arms,
hands, and legs have been developed to such a degree of
perfection that the modern mechanisms of this nature are very
unlike the cumbersome and intricate contrivances formerly used.
Le Progres Medical contains an interesting account of a curious
contest held between dismembered athletes at Nogent-Sur-Marne, a
small town in the Department of the Seine, in France. Responding
to a general invitation, no less than seven individuals who had
lost either leg or thigh, competed in running races for prizes.
The enterprising cripples were divided into two classes: the
cuissards, or those who had lost a thigh, and jambards, or those
who had lost a leg; and, contrary to what might have been
expected, the grand champion came from the former class. The
distance in each race was 200 meters. M. Roullin, whose thigh, in
consequence of an accident, was amputated in 1887, succeeded in
traversing the course in the remarkable time of thirty seconds
(about 219 yards); whereas M.
Pages:
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205