Artificial Hand and Arm from the 19th Century

From the files of the Science Museum’s History of Medicine website comes this impressive prosthetic limb, dated to the 1850-1910 period.

Made from steel and brass, this unusual prosthetic arm articulates in a number of ways. The elbow joint can be moved by releasing a spring, whereas the top joint of the wrist allows a degree of rotation and an up-and-down motion. The fingers can also curl up and straighten out. The leather upper arm piece is used to fix the prosthesis to the remaining upper arm. The rather sinister appearance of the hand suggests the wearer may have disguised it with a glove.

The object is apparently part of the Wellcome Trust collection.  One wonders if it was found in a hydraulic press and donated to them by a woman named Sarah.

Link (where there’s lots more cool stuff…)