The principles of fitting a limb are the same in amputations of the leg in which we are obliged to make the patient walk upon the bent knee (too short a stump, the position of the scars, persistent osteitis, the impossibility of straightening the knee when it is ankylosed or stiff in a flexed position), as in the old-fashioned kneeling pin leg. A posterior transverse band, passing over the bent stump helps to hold the limb on. _CHAPTER IV_ ARTIFICIAL LIMB FOR DISARTICULATION AT THE HIP JOINT Attempts have been made to attach to the pelvis, by means of a waist belt or braces, a wooden artificial limb whose upper end is fitted directly on to the tuberosity of the ischium. So far these have met with little success. In our opinion, the only really practical method is to enclose the whole stump and pelvis in a regular corset, and to attach the artificial limb to this corset.[8] [8] Amongst English limb makers this moulded corset with the steel hip attachments is usually known as the "tilting table."--(ED.) The moulding of this corset upon the stump must be accurate. The tuberosity of the ischium is the only bony point in the stump upon which pressure can be taken. The corset may be made of leather, but, until a new order is issued, the material of choice is celluloid, moulded upon a plaster of Paris cast, in spite of the disadvantage mentioned on page 4. The limb is an articulated peg leg, with convertible knee joint and double lock, exactly the same as in the limb for amputation through the thigh. It is attached to the pelvis (_i.e._ to the tilting table), as shown in figures 100 and 101, by a joint with a double anterior lock, which allows the patient to sit down by flexing the hip. [Illustration: FIG. 100. FIG. 101.] This general description and an examination of figures 100 and 101 will suffice to explain this appliance. It is comparatively rarely required, and its construction is difficult; we consider that the forms shown in the illustrations are the best. It is only possible to fit such an appliance when the conditions are good, when the scar is above and in front of the ischium, and when the latter is well covered. _CHAPTER V_ ARTIFICIAL LIMBS WITH FREE KNEE JOINT FOR AMPUTATION THROUGH THE LEG If the leg stump is ten centimetres long, if the knee joint is freely mobile and capable of complete, or almost complete, active extension, and if there are no adherent scars around the tuberosities of the tibia, the American apparatus with free knee joint should be adopted. _Walking on the bent knee_ (as stated on page 63) with the "poor man's peg" may be allowed as a temporary measure, but the patient must be advised to give his knee a rest frequently in order to lessen the risk of stiffness in a flexed position. There are two methods of fitting, corresponding with those we have described for the thigh.