Austrian gutter leg splint captured by the British on the Piave in 1918 in Italy

Splints are rigid pieces of metal, wood or plastic used to keep a limb still after it has been injured, broken or sprained. This helps the limb recover and heal. Made from metal and painted black, this splint was found in an abandoned Austrian hospital during the British Army’s advance on the River Piave in northern Italy in October 1918. It is shown here with a leg splint found at the same time (A603130).