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
1919
Wooden right above knee prosthesis supplied by Arnold & Co. in 1919 and worn until 1936. Probably made by Grossmith.
1990-2002
Artificial leg, for a below-knee amputee, made from a scrap metal cylinder and worn by a landmine victim in Cambodia, 1990-2002
1960-1970
Protective helmet worn by children living with thalidomide impairments including limb difference while wearing lower limb prostheses or artificial legs, whilst learning to walk, unknown maker, 1960s
1501-1600
Child's ankle support, iron, Italian, 16th century
2017
Instruction leaflet for SaeboFlex, a mechanical orthotic device for people with neurological impairments, following injury or illness, to retrain their hand's grasp function, by Saebo, 2017
1801-1900
Iron divan crutch, Persian or Indian, 19th century
1901-1930
Wheeled walking frame, by Carters, London, 1901-1930
c.1920
Carpenter's tool-holder with square clamp to allow for varying sizes of tool handles, for heavy working arm. Keyed plain adaptor (to hold appliance in a locked position). Made by McKay c.1920.
1960-1980
Palm splint device for maintaining fingers in an extended position, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-80
1999
Plastic wallet for adjustable folding walking-stick 31-34”, by Smith and Nephew Homecraft Ltd, United Kingdom, 1999
Boxed set of Smith-Peterson bone instruments, comprising of a range of graded metal ball reamers, femoral head-shaping cup reamers and a brace for their attachment, manufactured by Down Bros. , from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-1980
1991
Fabric clergy stole, embroidered with the crest of the British Orthopaedic Association, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, dated 1991.
1997-2002
One of two plastic warning signs used to mark the presence of landmines in Cambodia, with red skull and crossbones design and message in English and Cambodian, produced by the Halo Trust charity, 1997-2002
1959
A pair of upper limb prostheses for a patient with congenital absence (amelia) of both upper limbs. He was supplied with prostheses when he was 16 years of age in 1959. These, his second pair, supplied a year later, consist of blocked leather shoulder caps joined back and front by straps and buckles. Hinged metal upper arms (permitting active abduction) also metal forearms with active elbow flexion and fully automatic elbow locks. A passive internal/external rotation device located just above each elbow. Detachable hands/terminal devices with push-rod mechanism for operating mechanical thumb or split-hook. The left (Steeplon) hand has rigid fingers and push-rod thumb. The right has three wooden articulated fingers and a semi-opposed thumb and rigid index finger. Each elbow flexion control consists of a strap attached to an anchor point, one on each side of a shaped leather waistbelt. The upper end of each strap is connected by a perlon cord to a lever-arm which pivots on the back of the respective shoulder cap. Flexion is achieved by an upward lift of the appropriate shoulder. The elbow lock control system consists of a nylon encased perlon cable (on the Bowden principle), attached to the lock lever and routed to the front of the cap on the same side. The two cables cross in front of the chest and are anchored to the waistbelt on either side of the mid-line. The lock operation is achieved by a backward thrust of the appropriate shoulder. The terminal device control also utilises a Bowden cable (wire through metal casing) routed to the outer side of each arm. The casing being anchored to respective forearms and shoulder caps with the lever system on top of each shoulder. The cables cross at the back and are fixed to the waistbelt either side of the midline. They are operated independently by a forward thrust of the appropriate shoulder. Made by Fletcher/Steeper in 1959. (Weight of limbs: 7 lbs 3.1 kg).
1975-1985
One of a pair of artificial/prosthetic legs, adapted for a teenager user living with thalidomide impairments, to wear high heeled shoes with nylon stockings, made by J E Hanger and adapted by a limb fitter at Queen Mary's Roehampton, United Kingdom, 1975-1985
1600-1800
Perforated iron orthopaedic corset to fit lean adult male, Hamonic collection, allegedly early 17th century
1880-1920
Artificial hand, wood, with leather arm cover, moveable fingers, European, 1880-1920
1891-1930
Iron splint for lower leg and foot, 1891-1930
c. 1920
Claw hammer with early type Steeper adaptor. Made by Steeper c.1920.
c. 1935
Early telephone holding appliance. Made by McKay c.1935.
c. 1918
Kneeling type leather prosthesis for a very short flexed left below knee stump. Lace-up blocked leather socket. Wood shin, covered with leather. Toe joint and tenon ankle joint. Made by Horace Duncan c.1918.
1966
"Sitting socket" made of durestos and mounted on a toy dog. Designed for a child from 6 - 12 months of age, born with extremely short lower limbs (phocomelia). Can also be supplied for an infant with total absence of lower limbs, to enable them to sit erect and learn to maintain this posture. Made by Hanger in 1966.
Artificial arm, of a type provided for landmine victims in Cambodia, developed and manufactured by the Cambodia Trust charity, 1997-2002
1979
Complete arm prosthesis, with motor-driven car assembly, powered by compressed air, by the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Unit, Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, Edinburgh, 1979
1976
Articulated artificial/prosthetic leg, made for a 14 year old boy living with thalidomide impairments, by Blatchfords for the NHS and fitted at the Medway Clinic in Kent, 1976
1970-1985
Two child's adjustable quadruped walking aids, with shafts branching into four rubberised feet, manufactured by Ellis, Son & Paramore, Sheffield, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1970-1985
Left below knee prosthesis worn by an Army parachutist who lost his leg as a result of an IRA bomb, c1970s. Lace-up leather thigh corset with 4-point socket suspension. Above the knee restraining strap. Strap-type trouser guard. Polycentric knee joints fitted to the side steels. Foot is moulded and similar to a shop dummies with texture of skin and nails. Metal shin and plastic foot with imitation toes. Following the supply of his first prosthesis the patient was picked for the 'Red Devils' Display Team. The prosthesis was also worn by him on the "Time & Tide" which competed in the Global Challenge Yacht race in 1996.
1940-1965
Black leather boot for deformed foot, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1940-1965
Cane walking stick, formerly belonging to Joseph Lister.
Pair of child's adjustable crutches, with curved rectangular crutch ends and enclosed arm supports, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-1980
Leg suspension hook, japanned iron, European, 1801-1900
Carrying bag for SaeboFlex, a mechanical orthotic device for people with neurological impairments, following injury or illness, to retrain their hand's grasp function, by Saebo, 2017
Ball for retraining with SaeboFlex, a mechanical orthotic device for people with neurological impairments, following injury or illness, by Saebo, 2017
Divan(?) crutch(?), of steel, with decorated stem and serpent-headed finial to supporting curved horizontal section, probably from Far East or Africa, 19th century
1914-1918
Padded right leg splint, boot type, probably Italian military issue, 1914-1918
1851-1900
Artificial leg, for amputation above knee, 1851-1900
1989
Glove for use with prosthetic hand, made at Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital, Edinburgh, 1989
1942-1948
Plaster cast arm splint made for and worn by a child with polio, made at West Hill Hospital, England, 1942-1948
1950
Platform extension prosthesis for a young child with a short right leg and unstable hip. Blocked leather ischial tuber-bearing corset with adjustable side steels (to allow for lengthening as child grows), connected to wooden shin and shaped platform which supports a lace-up bootee socket. Wooden foot with rigid ankle and felt foot. Made by Hanger in 1950. (Weight: 2 lbs 0.9 kg)
1960-1975
A one metre long extended hand, with rotating wrist for picking up small items, by Prof. Meredith Wooldridge Thring, 1960-1975.
1940-1960
Child's mechanical spinal and head support, with adjustable waist-belt and chin-strap, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1940-1960
1920-1935
Wooden trolley, for transporting child patients within the hospital, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1920-1935
1914-1920
Artificial right leg, thigh amputation, part made by Wood Milne, from Provisional Limbs Depot, Stretford(?) 1914-1920
False right leg, military issue, English, 1914-1918
1980
Tap turning tool steel with wooden handle, for use by arthritics, English, 1980
Wrist and hand splint, with attachments to open out the fingers, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-80
St John & Red Cross fibre above knee prosthesis modified by a 1914-18 war amputee who refused an articulated limb and made very extensive repairs, using both cement and glue. He became a roof thatcher and tiler. When he eventually accepted a conventional prosthesis it had to be heavily weighted.
1900-1950
Double truss, circular, for inguinal hernia, size 39, by the Royal Surgical Aid Society, English, 1900-1950
O'Brien Halo pelvic traction apparatus, developed to gradually correct severe spinal deformity, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1970-1985
1910-1925
Large wooden frame structure with revolving metal platform within, for applying extensive plaster castes, known as "the gallows", from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1910-1925
