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Erskine Hospital near Glasgow opened in 1916. It was set up specifically to treat those soldiers who had suffered the loss of a limb during the First World War.

The creation of the hospital was driven by Sir William Macewen, one of Scotland鈥檚 most pre-eminent surgeons. At that point, artificial limbs were mainly sourced from overseas, a situation which Sir William Macewen found less than satisfactory.

鈥淗e felt the best way forward was for Scotland to establish its own limb manufacturing service here at the Erskine Hospital,鈥� says consultant physician Professor Ken Paterson.

Macewen created some of the first artificial limbs to be designed and made at Erskine Hospital, but he also formed a highly unique partnership. Professor Paterson continues:

鈥淗e spoke with a number of the owners of the large Glasgow shipyards on the Clyde, including Yarrows. He persuaded them to free up some of their craftsmen such as cabinet-makers who would normally have been fitting out luxury liners 鈥� but whose services were not much needed in wartime. Those craftsmen then began artificial limb manufacture at Erskine. 鈥�
The early limbs were very simple: a basket made of willow and leather into which the stump of the upper leg was fitted. On the bottom of that was a long piece of wood, terminating in a rubber ferule. The wood was very light, the limbs being made of willow 鈥� something that found favour with many of the men as it enabled them to get around quickly.

鈥淭he men who came back from the war to Erskine Hospital were seriously injured and potentially had no future,鈥� say Professor Ken Paterson. 鈥淏y providing them with an artificial limb they had mobility and they also received career training here at the hospital. So they left mobile and with a potential new career which allowed them to resume their lives.鈥�

Image Copyright Erskine Hospital

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