Mr. Gillingham's artificial limbs
The English cobbler who stunned the medical world
Alex Q. Arbuckle
c. 1900
The genius Gepetto of prosthetic devices - Mark Rowley
James Gillingham ran an ordinary shoemaking business, the Golden Boot, in Chard, England. In 1866, he met a man who had lost an arm in a cannon mishap and had been told by doctors that there was nothing to be done about it.Eager to put his craftsmanship to test, Gillingham offered to make the man a new arm for free.The new leather limb he built was strong and rigid but also perfectly fitted. The medical world noticed his talent, and Gillingham soon began producing a variety of artificial limbs.Using a secret process wherein he molded the leather to the client’s limb before hardening it, Gillingham started a business making prostheses. By 1910, he had restored mobility and function to over 15,000 patients.He photographed many of his patients, and published the photos in medical journals to advise surgeons on the best amputation methods.Gillingham died in 1924, but his family continued his business for decades before finally closing in the 1960s.
There was nothing remarkable in its make, only the principle of fit and adjustment. - James Gillingham
The 'Leather Leg' is prepared by a process known only to the inventor; it is strong, light, and durable, easy wearing and not likely to get out of repair; simple in construction, and as beautiful as life in appearance. - The Lancet, 1866
Gillingham altered lives because he always maintained the fitting was always as important as the limb. By doing so, he emphasized the medical profession's obligations to the patient rather than to themselves. - Dr. Elizabeth Hurren
