336 On Gymnastic Exercises. 



this disease, because they have been found beneficial in other 

 Cases of distorted spine. It can scarcely be believed that any 

 person acquainted with the changes which take place in the 

 bones in such cases, would venture to recommend the trial of 

 violent exertions to remove the curves ; yet patients, whose 

 spines had been distorted by disease of the vertebrae, have not 

 only been obliged to mount ladders and climb ropes, but even 

 to be suspended and swung by the head for half an hour, three 

 times a day, under the direction of persons called regular 

 practitioners. They who advised such means cannot be aware 

 of the nature of the distortion that produces the hump back, for 

 they would not intentionally allow a patient to run the risk of 

 being killed by the slightest slip or accidental jerk*. 



There is a set of cases very common in London, in which 

 certain exercises may be detrimental instead of useful — 

 when the distortion proceeds from rickets, or is accompanied 

 by a ricketty affection of the limbs. Although the general 

 character of the spine in such cases is very similar to that of 

 the common lateral curvature, there is a very important dif- 

 ference between them ; and unless exercises be carefully per- 

 formed, and in a particular manner, the general distortion may 

 be increased, and especially that of the bones of the pelvis, 

 from which the most serious consequences may ensue. 



There can be little doubt that confounding cases of distortion 

 from rickets, with those Avhich are independent of this specific 

 disease of the osseous system, is the cause of the discrepancy 

 of opinion which has prevailed on the propriety of exercises in 

 cases of lateral curvature of the spine ; for as long as no proper 

 distinctions were made between the different causes of distor- 

 tion, the question of exercise must have been perplexing. 

 In some instances, certain exercises were evidently beneficial; 

 while in others, apparently similar, they increased the dis- 

 tortion. 



We think that we have now shown the necessity of every 



* The following instance of the fatal issue of a case where the distor- 

 tion was of that kind called hump-back, is given by a late author. — 

 ** On the 2 1st of October, she was hfted out of bed, and by some acci- 

 dent fell fi'om the arms of the servant to the ground on her back ; after 

 screaming, she died in five minutes." 



