244 On the Means generally ,used 



The part of the back formed by the ribs is not a flat, but 

 rather a round surface ; and as the shoulder-blades rest on 

 this, they would fall forwards were they not prevented by the 

 collar-bones ; but as these bones are miited to the breast-bone 

 by a moveable joint, and as the weight of the arms operates 

 principally on the anterior angles, of the scapulae, both the 

 collar-bones and the shoulders would fall forwards, were it not 

 for the action of several strong muscles which pass from the 

 spine to the scapulae. But these muscles may be destroyed by 

 any contrivance which supersedes their use. For example^ let 

 A A be the shoulder-blades, and B B the muscles which sup- 

 port them. If the scapulae be brought close to the spine by the 

 straps of the collar, and kept constantly so, there can be no 

 use for the muscles B B. They must consequently waste and 

 become nearly useless, while those on the fore-part of the 

 chest, being excited to resist the straps, will become increased 

 in power ; and hence, when the collar is taken off, not only 

 will the shoulders fall forward as in a delicate person, but the 

 muscles on the fore-part of the chest will predominate over 

 those by which the scapulae should be held back, and pull the 

 shoulders forwards. 



The spine and the ribs are occasionally bent so as to have 

 some resemblance to the back of a spoon. In such cases, the 

 shoulders not only appear high and round, but the lower angles 

 of the scapulae project in an extraordinary manner, because the 

 upper and anterior angle is not only unsupported by the ribs, 

 but is dragged forwards by the clavicles which are carried in 

 the same direction with the sternum. When this is to a consi- 

 derable extent, it constitutes the contracted chest or the chicken 

 breast. This, in a slight degree, is common in London, and 

 especially among young lads ; it may be discovered by the 

 coat having the appearance of being more worn opposite the 

 lower angle of the scapula than at any other part. Such a 

 condition of the chest can only be completely remedied by 

 appropriate exercises ; but a collar is here necessary for a time, 

 to keep the bones in the improved condition into which they 

 are brought by the exercises. 



These arguments will probably appear sufficiently well 

 founded to prove that a girl, under ordinary circumstances. 



