Among my prized possessions is a collection of 15 volumes of the Manual of Artificial Limbs published by A. A. Marks. The editions on my shelf were published between 1896 (then titled A Treatise on Artificial Limbs) and 1924, and several contain original measurement forms and correspondence between the A. A. Marks company and customers. I recently read the digital version of the 1888 edition, which is one of three editions available at oandplibrary.org.1 Written by George Edwin Marks, this 400-page volume is similar in content and structure to later editions, with testimonials from satisfied domestic and foreign customers comprising half of the pages. Since these are repetitive, I read the first half of the book and a random sampling of the testimonials.
The Manual of Artificial Limbs is a promotional product, not a medical or scientific publication, but it provides information on a wide range of subjects related to prosthetic care. Topics include a brief history of prosthetics, commentary on amputation techniques, guidance on residual limb care, a measurement form and instructions, descriptions and images of designs, cost and payment information, and statistics on the number and type of prostheses provided. Because it is better known and easier to find than similar volumes by competitors, it serves as a convenient representation of this genre common during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book provides an intriguing glimpse into the history of our profession and societal attitudes during that period, and reading it caused me to reflect on the way that prosthetic practice has and has not changed in the past 130 years.
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