for curing a Stoop. 239 



is slung over the back in such a way that it must be supported 

 by a riband put around the head. 



Although this contrivance prevents the head for a time from 

 falhng fonvards, its bad effects may be demonstrated. When 

 the weight is on, the muscles of the back of the spine are pas- 

 sive, while those on the fore-part of the neck are necessarily 

 brought into action to prevent the head from being pulled too 

 far back: this is easily proved ; for if we put the fingers on 

 the sternal portions of the sterno-cleido muscle, which, with 

 the small muscles on the fore-part of the throat, pull the head 

 forwards, we shall feel them tense and in action. The increased 

 activity of the muscles on the fore part, and the passive condi- 

 tion of those of the back, may be further exemplified by raising 

 the weight when the girl is not aware of our doing so; thtt 

 head will then be immediately poked forwards. 



We have many opportunities of observing the incorrectness 

 of the principle on which all similar plans for the cure of a 

 stoop have been founded. For instance, porters who carry 

 burthens on the back, by the assistance of a band round the 

 forehead, always stoop ; while those w^ho carry baskets before 

 them suspended by a band round the back of the neck, are 

 peculiarly erect. But the most remarkable example of the 

 effect of the head being pulled back by a weight hung behind, 

 is the condition of the women who carry salt in the streets of 

 Edinburgh, for they may be recognised as much by their mise** 

 rable Sardonic grin, which is caused by the constant excite- 

 ment of the platysma myoides muscle, as by their stoop. 



Very annoying and even distressing consequences may ensue 

 from any system of treatment where a constant resistance to 

 the muscles of the fore-part of the neck is kept up. A gentle- 

 man had for many years worn one of the collars invented by 

 Mr. Chesher ; after sonie time, the muscles of the back became 

 so weak, as to be incapable of supporting the column, while 

 those on the fore-part of the neck were so disproportion-^ 

 ately increased in strength, by the constant resistance opposed 

 to them by the strap passing from the suspending rod under 

 the chin, that whenever the strap was loosened, the chiii wa^ 

 forcibly drawn towards the chest. As the muscles of the back 

 part of the neck did not offer any counteracting resistance, the 



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