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A leg to stand on...


tarbridge
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The State of North Carolina contracted with the Jewett company in the years 1866-70 to make these prosthetic legs for Confederate Veterans.The Jewett company actually started a factory in Raleigh that made 1,550 prosthetics for the state, the cost total approximately $81,500.

The Veterans would say the amputation's far less painful than this artificial leg.Crutches were the most popular.

The foot was articulated and the legs were stained, they used leather to achieve movement. My GGG-Uncle lost his leg at Gettysburg with Co.H 26th North Carolina...I wonder if he ever had one of these contraptions.

I picked this Jewett leg up at the Raleigh Show, I am researching the Veteran that it belonged.

 

Off the State website...

About 75 percent of the operations performed by surgeons during the Civil War were amputations. For those who survived amputation and the resulting infections, the pursuit of artificial limbs was natural. Artificial legs, and to a lesser extent, arms, also helped the amputees get back to work in order to support themselves and their families. The United States government assisted Union amputees after the Civil War, but Confederate veterans were considered the responsibilities of the states. North Carolina responded quickly to the needs of her citizens and became the first of the former Confederate states to offer artificial limbs to amputees. The General Assembly passed a Resolution in February 1866 to provide artificial legs to amputees. (Because artificial arms were not considered to be very functional, it was another year before the state offered artificial arms.) The state contracted with Jewetts Patent Leg Company, and a temporary factory was set up in Raleigh. During the five years that the state operated the artificial limbs program, 1,550 Confederate veterans contacted the state for help.

 

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That thing looks horrid. My father in law had a modern artificial leg in the 1980's, and even those were cumbersome and heavy. It was okay for walking around the house, but not any distance.

 

The problem with crutches is overtime they can cause nerve and blood vessel damage under the arms. Not the best solution either.

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