Unearth a variety of artefacts revealing the understanding and treatment of physical disability from the 16th century up to today, central to which is one of the finest collections of artificial limbs in the world.
Orthopaedics
1850-1900
Wooden artificial peg leg, one of a pair, for amputation above the knee
Bamboo walking stick, surmounted by ivory skull
1751-1900
Copper inlaid iron divan crutch, N.W. Indian or Persian, 19th century
c. 1935
Rubber cover to go over prosthetic forearm for household duties. Fitment for holding a dish cloth. Made by Steeper c. 1935.
1946
Heavy-duty arm for a man with a left below elbow amputation. Blocked leather socket with a 'non-corset' webbing appendage with a leather front-V assembly and cordovan (leather) axillar pad. Long flat operating cord fitted with a large S-hook, attached to a lever for activating a 'push-rod' mechanism. {This operates a terminal device by means of a rod being extruded within the rotary when the lever is pulled upon}. Made by Steeper in 1946.
1973
Pair of CO2 powered upper limbs for a 10 year old boy born with absence of the left arm and a rudimentary right above elbow stump. Plastic sockets with a leather inner socket on the right side. Full shoulder cap on the left side. Standard (Dorrance) right split-hook, [body powered by means of a Bowden cable, routed to the outer side of the arm]. CO2 gas powered left split-hook operated by the shoulder (acromion process) activating the valve set on the shoulder cap. Powered right wrist rotation unit, operated by valve sited on the outer side of the socket and activated by stump pressure. Left split-hook operated by Bowden cable with perlon cord. Fully-automatic elbow mechanisms with locking/unlocking control from perlon cables sited across the chest. Made by Steeper 23 November 1973.
c. 1946
'Steeper' heavy-working arm for a right above elbow amputation. Leather socket fitted into a fully automatic elbow locking unit which is controlled by a leather strap, originally attached to appendages which are now missing. The elbow can be locked in six different positions or set to allow free movement. A flexion cord (also missing) should extend from the body appendages and pass through a pulley, sited at axilla level, and then through the metal eyelet on the medial side of the elbow and extended finally to any activated terminal device that has been fitted. The rotary face has three spring-loaded balls which eject the terminal device when the release catch is operated. They also allow the device to be rotated into a number of different positions. The small ball-headed lever on the wrist activates a lock to prevent such rotation. Made by Steeper, c.1946. (Weight: 2.2 lbs 1 kg)
1850-1920
Leg splint of iron, 1850-1920
Swiss above knee prosthesis. There is no socket but it bears a padded ring, on the Thomas splint principle. Side steels, adjustable for length. Knee joint, leather shin mounted on wooden lower end, ankle and toe joints. Made c.1935. (Weight: 6.75 lbs 3 kg)
1801-1930
Artificial leg with plaster sucker for amputation immediately below knee, 1801-1930
1841-1930
Cousin's leg splint, 1841-1930
Standard left Steeplon hand with mechanical thumb and rigid fingers.
1901-1930
Artificial leg with plaster cup for amputation above knee, 1901-1930
c. 1910
Typing appliance. Made by Blatchford c.1910.
1942-1948
Leather, metal and canvas arm splint worn by child with polio, made at West Hill Hospital, England, 1942-1948
28 printing blocks, possibly all for a 1915 catalogue by Gillingham & Son, Chard, Somerset
1880-1920
Pair of leg splints for child, wood, with light canvas covering on feet sections, one strip of canvas binding, probably British, 1880-1920
1801-1920
Black wooden back scratcher decorated with inlaid silver arabesque pattern, from Middle East, 1801-1920
Arm splint, adjustable hinge, wood and metal, probably British, 1880-1920
1920-1960
Artificial foot (model), right foot, aluminium ankle, made by Hanger, English, 1920-1960
1914-1918
Padded left leg splint boot type, probably Italian military issue, by Laboratorio Volontario pro Feriti, Via Uffici del Vicario 49, Palazzo Centurione, Rome, 1914-1918.
1801-1900
Iron divan crutch, Indian or Persian, 19th century
Arm splint, wood, probably British, 1880-1920
Orthopaedic hammer, English, 1920-1940
1976-1978
Pair of upper limb prostheses for a child with absence (amelia) of both upper limbs, by Hugh Steeper, England, 1976-1978. Plastic arms and forearms with friction shoulder and elbow joints. The right CO2 powered split-hook and wrist rotation unit are controlled by shoulder movement (the acromion) against the two valves on the right shoulder. The left has a passive wrist rotation unit and a powered split-hook, operated by the single valve on the left shoulder.
1960-1980
Conzett goniometer, for measuring degree of joint movement, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-1980
1940-1965
Child's black leather boot, "Magpie" trademark, with slightly raised sole on outer side and leather straps and metal socket for attachment of leg irons or splint, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1940-1965
Child's black leather shoe, "True-Form" design, with raised platform strip on the sole, manufactured by J.Sears & Co., from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1940-1965
1890-1920
Splint of iron, 2 hinged sections, with wooden foot-rest, English, 1890-1920
1701-1810
Iron brace and socket for artificial limb fitted for below-knee amputation, with decorative perforations, probably English, 1701-1810
Splint for right leg, outer, wood, inscribed with names of Drs. Philip, Hall and Maldon, probably English, 1880-1920
1850-1910
Leather strap for artificial left arm, fully articulated, probably English, 1850-1910
Long carved, wooden crutch, with crutch for neck, underarm and handgrip, wooden pins and pegs used instead of nails, English(?), 1801-1900
1900-1918
Splints for outer right leg, wood and metal, inscribed Dr. Hall of Maldon, English, 1900-1918
Splint for left arm, wood, with hand support, owned by Dr. Pringle of Penge, English, 1880-1920
1901-1940
Aluminium rod, threaded at both ends, perhaps part of an external orthopaedic appliance, possibly English, 1901-1940
1900-1930
Pin leg, for below-knee amputation, probably English, 1900-1930
1955-1970
Thigh support band, felt and plastic, English, 1955-1970
Truss, child, for inguinal hernia, probably English, 1850-1900
1914-1920
Artificial leg for amputation above knee, 1914-1920
Physician's cane with broken brass knob handle opening to reveal container, probably English, 1801-1900
1860-1920
Knee support, leather and iron, probably English, 1860-1920
1870-1920
Truss, for umbilical hernia, probably English, 1870-1920
1840-1900
Variable length humerous splint for child, English, c. 1870
1980
Walking frame, aluminium, by Remploy Ltd., 415 Edgware Road, Cricklewood, London, England, 1980, catalogue number OA14.
1890-1940
Double truss, circular, for inguinal hernia, size 36, by Allen and Hanburys, Wigmore Street, London, English, 1890-1940
1910-1918
Splint, right hand, wood, by F. Walters, 12 Palace Road, Lambeth, London, 1910-1918.
1890-1930
Single truss, for inguinal hernia, by Maw, London, 1890-1930
Double truss, circular, for inguinal hernia, size 39, by Allen and Hanburys, 48 Wigmore Street, London, W1, England, 1890-1940.
1851-1900
Extension splint for left arm, enamelled iron, by Evans and Co., 12 Old Fish Street, St. Paul's, London, England, 1851-1900.
