Dear Sir, - A recently-published letter described artificial legs as abominations. Having depended on them for support since youth, I feel unable to let the description pass unchallenged.
Amongst London Life monopedes and admirers, such an appliance is looked upon with scorn and disfavour as a "machina non grata." If more consideration were given to the benefits conferred on certain types of amputees, the undoubted value of artificial legs would be conceded, and a more realistic view taken of them and their advantages.
To those who have undergone amputations leaving stumps to within four inches of the knee and more particularly to monopedes whose knee-joint has been spared, an artificial leg can be an essential part of their lives. In the latter case the falsity of the limb is impossible to detect if used with consideration of its limitations. Even in the former case, minus the knee-joint, an experienced wearer hardly shows its presence except by the merest limp and lift of the shoulders in walking. Indeed, its use cannot be detected with careful positioning of the foot when sitting. Care must be experienced in the method of sitting down or getting up. Low seats should always be avoided. Never sit on the floor. The rigidity and restricted movement of the ankle will instantly draw attention to the leg.
Not many of us are in the happy position, financially, to do al we please. If I were, I should not be under the compulsion of permanently wearing in public a wooden leg, with its inevitable accompaniment of stump corset, buckles, straps, braces, belts and the like. But one must eat to live, and given normal appearance, one has an equal chance with fully equipped and naturally complete mortals of earning a living. An obvious cripple, such as a monopede or a one-armed girl, is always at a disadvantage, and cannot get an equal wage, even though their loss or disability might not detract form their skill. Consequently the majority of women minus a leg or an arm must disguise their deficiency, which is, to my mind, why two out of every three such cripples wear some mechanical device. In my opinion more and more monopedes are resorting to the excellent metal legs, and many, too, with what are awkward amputations to fit. Artificial legs to-day are not the heavy, cumbersome, unwieldy contraptions, obvious in use and a burden to their wearers, that they were only a few years ago. The light metals play a big part in providing a light, comfortable leg, which is not always out of use for mechanical defects. The squeaking and clanking, a source of embarrassment and annoyance in older wooden models, has been obviated. Therefore a modern monopede, aware of this, wears a modern metal leg. Science has made her "leg-conscious".
To have got the idea from the foregoing that my leg and I are inseparable companions would be most wrong. Like good friends, we are together a great deal, but there are times when one wishes to be free and unrestricted. If the time and place are suitable, then I take it off and return to my crutch, or just plain nothing.
I hope your readers may no concede that there is a lot to be said in favour of an artificial leg which, in certain circumstances, is a practical, useful and even necessary addition - a far cry from an abomination.
Please thank "Single Shoe Only" for the interesting photo. I particularly appreciate it, as an occasional user myself of a peg. It is to be hoped she has some more to send. I do not remember seeing the promised photo from " Definitely One-Legged," to which I am looking forward.
Yours truly,
Modern Monopede.