Chap. 375.—An ACT to Provide Artificial Legs for Citizens of the Com-
monwealth who lost their Legs during the late war.

Approved November 1, 1870.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the gov-
ernor, auditor of public accounts, and Dr. H. L. Thomas, of
the city of Richmond, who are hereby constituted a board for
the purpose, are directed to contract for and furnish to every
citizen of this commonwealth, who lost a leg in the late war,
an artificial leg to supply the place of the one so lost: pro-
vided, that the applicant has heretofore furnished, or shall
hereafter furnish, a certificate from the court of his county or
corporation, showing that he is a citizen of this state, that he
lost his leg in the late war, and was a citizen of this state at
the time of the loss of said leg, or in a military corps of the
state: and provided further, that he has not received an artifi-
cial leg from any other state, the United States, or under the
provisions of an act entitled an act to provide artificial limbs
for citizens of this commonwealth who lost their limbs in the
late war, passed January twenth-ninth, eighteen hundred and
sixty-seven.

2. The sum of twenty thousand dollars (if so much is re-
quired for the purpose) is hereby appropriated to defray the
charges and expenses attending the execution of the pro-
visions of the foregoing section, to be paid by the treasurer as
the same may be required, out of any money not otherwise
appropriated, upon the order of the auditor, countersigned by
the governor.
8. Doctors B. R. Wellford, L. 8. Joynes, J. B. McCaw, Hun-
ter McGuire, R. S. Coleman, F. D. Cunningham, J. S. Well-
ford, O. F. Manson, R. 8S. J. Peebles, and J. 8. D. Cullen, of
the Medical college of Virginia, are hereby constituted a com-
mission to examine the various patterns of artificial legs that
may be submitted to their inspection, or that In any way may
be known to them, and recommend to the board such patterns
of legs as, in their judgment, combine in the highest degree
utility and economy.

4. The board may make such rules and regulations as it may
deem suitable to carry this act into effect, and shall contract
for and furnish such patterns of artificial legs as it may think
best adapted to the purpose intended by this act.

dD. Dr. H. L. Thomas, or his successor, as a member of the
board, shall act as surgeon for the board; and it shall be his
duty to see that each leg furnished, ix well made, of good ma-
terials, and that it is well fitted and adjusted to the person re-
ceiving it; and the said surgeon shall receive, as compensation
for his services, not exceeding two dollars for each leg fur-
nished.

6. Should the office of Dr. HI. L. Thomas, as a member of
the board, become vacant, either temporarily or permanently,
the other members of the board shall appoint another surgeon
to supply his place, either temporarily or permanently, as the
case may require.

7. This act shall be in force from its passage.