Everyone knows how much pain and suffering have been produced by war. The terrible wars of recent times are, certainly, no exception. But one good thing has hap-pened as a result of recent wars: important help is being given to the physically disabled.
Since World War ll, the United States government has been directing special attention to this work. At pre-sent the governmcnt spends hundreds of millions ofdollars. a year on research, development, and testing of prosthetics. Because of the recently developed prosthetics, people who have lost legs above the knee in wars can walk almost without difficulty.Those who have lost arms can have natural-looking hands that can hold and use tools or pens. Patients whose muscles below the neck are paralyzed and useless can operate wheelchairs and urn on TV sets without help from others. These totally paralyzed persons, whom people call quadriplegics, can also use telephones without any help.
In the past few years, medical treatment has changed greatly, which allows artificial body parts to be used very soon after an operation.And, in particular, prosthetic devices themselves have undergone much improvement. For example, Dr. Hans Mauch, who was once a German space scientist, developed a knee for artificial legs in the late 1960s that is called "the biggest advance in 100 years." With the Mauch knee, some amputees are now able to climb stairs much more easily.
There have also been improvements in prosthetic hands and arms. Scientists in the United States and abroad have developed hands that open and close by electric power through devices which are attached to the muscles of the arm. Of course, it is sad that conditions exist which mike such devices necessary.Nevertheless, since they arc needed, it is good to learn that they are now available.
