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A BELT FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.
86 " It looks like you but it cannot be, as you are walking erect." This attachment consists of a waist-belt furnished with a pair of straps, one of which is secured to the belt in front and the other to the rear of the belt,
New Inventions. A BELT FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. IN THE LANCET of Nov. 10th, 1928 (p. 1008), there appeared under the title of An Improved Attachment for Artificial Limbs a short account of a body belt for this purpose, patented and introduced by Messrs. W. R. Grossmith. One of the difficulties which artificial limb makers have always had to contend withi in cases of amputations of the thigh has been that of the method of attachment of the prosthesis to the patient’s stump. This difficulty increases with the decrease of the length of the stump in more than an inverse ratio. It has been for years customary to attach the artificial limb to the body by means of
suspenders passing
over
the
shoulders. These might act satisfactorily in the erect position with the hip-joint extended, if carefully adjusted, but flexion of that joint and of the spine as in the sitting threw the position between relationship the parts and fittings concerned out of harmony, so that the socket of the artificial limb forwards, or even-in the case of a very short stump-might slip off
generally slipped
altogether.
Moreover,
the connexion between stump and socket was not a close enough one, and consequently allowed a good deal of play, or what mechanicians call " lost motion," with insecurity and inefficiency as a result. Various belts have been devised to meet this defect, and have been more or less successful, band and including, of course, the steel hip-joint, but the device referred to above seemed to me to be an improvement of promise and worthy of trial, and accordingly " security " belts were ordered for a number of cases by the Royal Surgical Aid Society. Enough time has now elapsed to enable some opinion to be formed as to the practical value of the belt, of which a diagram is reproduced herewith. These patients have reported favourably, and those whom I have examined have a greater control of the prosthesis than they had formerly when wearing suspenders, and are less liable to falls. One patient whom I examined after some months’ use of the belt said that she found herself able to check a stumble and recover herself in circumstances which with the Another old suspenders must have led to a nasty fall. case was one of an amputation leaving only 7 inches of stump, amputated 28 years ago, hitherto unable to walk without a noticeable outward swing. The wearer describes the benefits which she obtained from this attachment as : 1. In sitting in any public conveyance the leg does not slip at all, and keeps in a perfectly natural position without discomfort, either with both thighs parallel or with the two knees well apart. 2. In walking, the wearer is able to keep the leg as close as necessary to the sound limb and preserve a correct gait with an improvement in the contour of the hips. 3. She stated that a friend, seeing her for the first time since wearing the " security " belt, said,
pelvic
thence passing diagonally and crossing each other over the hip-joint, and finally passing around the thigh socket, and being there effectually secured to the inner side of the socket. These straps are adjustable for length, and, at the point of intersection at the hip, are arranged to pass freely through a guide. Further, where necessary, an additional strap is attached to the waist-belt at the outer side and carried straight down through the guide to the top of the socket of the artificial limb. It will be manifest that this arrangement of belt entirely obviates the necessity for any strap to pass directly downwards at the back of the wearer, securing much greater comfort in sitting. In addition to these advantages secured, by this attachment, which can be fitted to practically every make of limb for thigh amputations, its very low cost is an important feature. I may add that such a belt is peculiarly acceptable to female patients who find the use of suspenders very awkward, especially if they are inclined to embonpoint or have well-developed breasts.
E. MUIRHEAD LITTLE, F.R.C.S.Eng., Senior Surgeon to the Royal Surgical Aid London, E.C.
Reports
and
Society,
Analytical Records.
ENERGEN BISMEAL NUTRIENT BREAKFAST FOOD. (ENERGEN FOODS Co., LTD., ENERGEN WORKS, WILLESDEN, LONDON, N.W.10.) IT is claimed that 50 per cent. of this breakfast
food consists of crushed whole wheat, from which nothing has been removed, the balance being made up of wheat gluten and milk proteins, the result being a " starch reduced " product suitable for a diabetic diet. On analysis the following results were obtained :Per cent.
Moisture.... 10.0 Ash........ 1-2 Fat 3-7
I I
Per cent.
Protein 36-0 Crude
fibre
Carbohydrates..
1-34 48-76
No trace of deleterious substances or preservatives found. The calorie value of the food is 1714 per lb., and the composition of the food claimed by the makers is substantiated. was
DEXTROSE
(" CERELOSE ").
(CORN PRODUCTS REFINING CO., NEW YORK, U.S.A., 17, BATTERYPLACE. LONDON : BUSH HOUSE, ALDWYCH, W.C.2.) This sugar is a refined preparation of dextrose (glucose) made from corn (maize) starch. Chemical analysis shows it to be the pure hexose C6H1206 containing 7-6 per cent. of moisture, and having an optical rotation (calculated on the dry substance) of [a]D +53,1at 68 ° F. Owing to its high degree of purity it is well suited for nutritional and other medical purposes.
NORTH MIDDLESEX HospiTAL.—This institution (950 beds) of the Edmonton Board of Guardians during the year ended on March 31st last admitted over 1000 patients more than in the previous year, the total, including births, being 9797 ; out-patients increased by more than 6000. Lieut.-Colonel Spencer Mort, the medical superintendent and director, reports that the accommodation is insufficient for ordinary requirements ; in winter the pressure is severe. Increase of staff and further accommodation have, he says, become an urgent necessity. He adds that a special children’s hospital for Middlesex is badly needed. At
present children often
occupy adult beds.
New Inventions. A BELT FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. IN THE LANCET of Nov. 10th, 1928 (p. 1008), there appeared under the title of An Improved Attachment for Artificial Limbs a short account of a body belt for this purpose, patented and introduced by Messrs. W. R. Grossmith. One of the difficulties which artificial limb makers have always had to contend withi in cases of amputations of the thigh has been that of the method of attachment of the prosthesis to the patient’s stump. This difficulty increases with the decrease of the length of the stump in more than an inverse ratio. It has been for years customary to attach the artificial limb to the body by means of
suspenders passing
over
the
shoulders. These might act satisfactorily in the erect position with the hip-joint extended, if carefully adjusted, but flexion of that joint and of the spine as in the sitting threw the position between relationship the parts and fittings concerned out of harmony, so that the socket of the artificial limb forwards, or even-in the case of a very short stump-might slip off
generally slipped
altogether.
Moreover,
the connexion between stump and socket was not a close enough one, and consequently allowed a good deal of play, or what mechanicians call " lost motion," with insecurity and inefficiency as a result. Various belts have been devised to meet this defect, and have been more or less successful, band and including, of course, the steel hip-joint, but the device referred to above seemed to me to be an improvement of promise and worthy of trial, and accordingly " security " belts were ordered for a number of cases by the Royal Surgical Aid Society. Enough time has now elapsed to enable some opinion to be formed as to the practical value of the belt, of which a diagram is reproduced herewith. These patients have reported favourably, and those whom I have examined have a greater control of the prosthesis than they had formerly when wearing suspenders, and are less liable to falls. One patient whom I examined after some months’ use of the belt said that she found herself able to check a stumble and recover herself in circumstances which with the Another old suspenders must have led to a nasty fall. case was one of an amputation leaving only 7 inches of stump, amputated 28 years ago, hitherto unable to walk without a noticeable outward swing. The wearer describes the benefits which she obtained from this attachment as : 1. In sitting in any public conveyance the leg does not slip at all, and keeps in a perfectly natural position without discomfort, either with both thighs parallel or with the two knees well apart. 2. In walking, the wearer is able to keep the leg as close as necessary to the sound limb and preserve a correct gait with an improvement in the contour of the hips. 3. She stated that a friend, seeing her for the first time since wearing the " security " belt, said,
pelvic
thence passing diagonally and crossing each other over the hip-joint, and finally passing around the thigh socket, and being there effectually secured to the inner side of the socket. These straps are adjustable for length, and, at the point of intersection at the hip, are arranged to pass freely through a guide. Further, where necessary, an additional strap is attached to the waist-belt at the outer side and carried straight down through the guide to the top of the socket of the artificial limb. It will be manifest that this arrangement of belt entirely obviates the necessity for any strap to pass directly downwards at the back of the wearer, securing much greater comfort in sitting. In addition to these advantages secured, by this attachment, which can be fitted to practically every make of limb for thigh amputations, its very low cost is an important feature. I may add that such a belt is peculiarly acceptable to female patients who find the use of suspenders very awkward, especially if they are inclined to embonpoint or have well-developed breasts.
E. MUIRHEAD LITTLE, F.R.C.S.Eng., Senior Surgeon to the Royal Surgical Aid London, E.C.
Reports
and
Society,
Analytical Records.
ENERGEN BISMEAL NUTRIENT BREAKFAST FOOD. (ENERGEN FOODS Co., LTD., ENERGEN WORKS, WILLESDEN, LONDON, N.W.10.) IT is claimed that 50 per cent. of this breakfast
food consists of crushed whole wheat, from which nothing has been removed, the balance being made up of wheat gluten and milk proteins, the result being a " starch reduced " product suitable for a diabetic diet. On analysis the following results were obtained :Per cent.
Moisture.... 10.0 Ash........ 1-2 Fat 3-7
I I
Per cent.
Protein 36-0 Crude
fibre
Carbohydrates..
1-34 48-76
No trace of deleterious substances or preservatives found. The calorie value of the food is 1714 per lb., and the composition of the food claimed by the makers is substantiated. was
DEXTROSE
(" CERELOSE ").
(CORN PRODUCTS REFINING CO., NEW YORK, U.S.A., 17, BATTERYPLACE. LONDON : BUSH HOUSE, ALDWYCH, W.C.2.) This sugar is a refined preparation of dextrose (glucose) made from corn (maize) starch. Chemical analysis shows it to be the pure hexose C6H1206 containing 7-6 per cent. of moisture, and having an optical rotation (calculated on the dry substance) of [a]D +53,1at 68 ° F. Owing to its high degree of purity it is well suited for nutritional and other medical purposes.
NORTH MIDDLESEX HospiTAL.—This institution (950 beds) of the Edmonton Board of Guardians during the year ended on March 31st last admitted over 1000 patients more than in the previous year, the total, including births, being 9797 ; out-patients increased by more than 6000. Lieut.-Colonel Spencer Mort, the medical superintendent and director, reports that the accommodation is insufficient for ordinary requirements ; in winter the pressure is severe. Increase of staff and further accommodation have, he says, become an urgent necessity. He adds that a special children’s hospital for Middlesex is badly needed. At
present children often
occupy adult beds.