Page:The making of a man (1902).pdf/58



ARTIFICIAL ARMS

The construction of artificial arms may be said to have commenced with the sixteenth century. "The distinguished Chevalier Göetz fought at the head of the army of Margrave Frederick from 1504 to 1562 with an artificial iron hand. The fingers of this hand were closed one after the other by the action of several springs. We are further informed that this hand, which possessed enormous weight, enclosed the stump, and was attached to the armor which covered the body."

During the sixteenth century many very defective artificial arms were made, which, however, served the purpose for which they were intended, as they enabled the wearers to engage in battle, guide their horses, etc. The artificial hand being once attached to the weapon or bridle rein, mechanism for articulating the fingers was not deemed necessary.

Ambrose Parè, a noted French physician, born in 1500, and called the father of French surgery, describes an artificial hand made of iron, with more perfect mechanism than the one worn by Göetz; in this hand the thumb is immovable and all the fingers are opened and closed simultaneously under the influence of a single spring.

During Ambrose Parè's time efforts were made to restore natural movements of the lost parts in order to enable the maimed to perform all ordinary labor. Leather, paper, and other metals were substituted for iron. Parè leaves a figure of a leather hand, but without details as to its mechanism; it is apparently made with immovable fingers and thumb, but with a sheath inserted between the thumb and index finger for receiving a pen, etc.