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Parents are usually the last to notice it. Before there is any 

 perceptible deformity, the young person may be observed to 

 avoid, when at rest, the erect position of the body, by reclining on 

 her companions, or against any near object ; or will be seen to 

 prefer some particular position, in which the weight of the head u 

 thrown off the middle line of the body.— In leaning also, to write 

 or draw, one side will be often favoured more than the other ; and 

 no admonition will be sufficient to check the disposition to seek 



rest for the spine. 



The first appearance of deformity is usually an unequal projec- 

 tion of the shoulder blades, which is supposed to be a defect in 

 the situation of the scapula itself. Every degree of lateral curva- 

 ture in the spine causes a corresponding prominence of the ribs, 

 on the side to which the vertebra are bent ; and this again produces 

 the eminence of the shoulder blade on the same side. 



In examining the external appearance of the spine, the person 

 should be made to sit, for some time, with the body erect, in order 

 to produce a degree of fatigue ; when, if there be any tendency to 

 lateral curvature, it will be detected by the spine resting itself by 

 inclining towards the side, rather than forwards. The degree of 

 curvature may be ascertained by tracing the projection of the 

 spinous processes along the back, the situation of each of which 

 should be marked with ink for future instruction. 



In place of the lateral curvature, it sometimes happens, that the na- 

 tural S-like flexures of the spine are encreased, so as to produce a de- 

 gree of deformity. This is particularly to be observed with respect 

 to the dorsal flexure of the spine, in children of weakly constitutions, 

 whether male or female. The stooping of the shoulders, which 

 marlis the approach of old age, is also to be accounted for by the 

 diminished strength of tlie muscles of the back. I have known 



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