“But I think our humour is exactly the same today. Only, we've made rules now. We've said we are not going to do prosthetic make-up scenes, because when they take it off half your face comes off. “---Jennifer Saunders (English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress) Not very many prosthetic alternatives were available to the amputee in the Middle Ages except basic peg legs and hand hooks. Knights had prostheses made by their armorers for use in battle. Some of these devices were fairly advanced but were usually heavy, cumbersome, and functioned only in battle. When the knight returned home, he usually wore peg legs or hand hooks for daily function. Prostheses were more cosmetic than functional; they were meant to hide the disgrace and weakness of defeat from other battles. Armour makers made the prostheses appear as extensions of the knight's original armour. Although they had a great knowledge of the human body, they knew little about creating a functional prosthesis. Although most of the recorded amputations have to do with traumatic battle injury, some amputations were due to leprosy and ergotism. Ergot was a medicinal rye plant that deadened the limbs senses and in some cases caused gangrene. The use of gunpowder and cannonshot at Crecy in 1346 brought the beginning of the end for the Age of Armour, but introduced a new cause of trauma that would have a great impact in the wars and traumatic injuries to come. Between 450 and 1000 AD, leather peg legs and crutches made of wood, leather, and/or metal were created. In 1508, the German mercenary Gotz von Berlichingen had a pair of technologically advanced iron hands made after he lost his right arm in battle. In 1529, Ambroise Pare, a French surgeon, developed an artificial leg with a movable knee joint, a flexible foot operated with a spring, and an artificial hand with fingers that were moved by tiny internal cogs and levers. Dear Egyptian Mail readers, Your comments and/or contributions are welcome. We promise to publish whatever is deemed publishable at the end of each series of articles. [email protected]
