46 THE BRADSHAW LECTURE 



around the spine and supported by the pelvis 

 retain, or should retain, much of their old posi- 

 tions. Such is a brief outline of the main changes 

 brought about by the assumption of the erect 

 position. 



THE ADAPTATION OF THE HUMAN FRAME TO THE 

 ERECT POSITION. 



After the thousands of centuries that the erect 

 position has been assumed, can it be said that the 

 human frame has completely adapted itself to the 

 changed attitude ? I think it must be admitted 

 that it has not, and that there are many defects 

 and liabilities that can be directly ascribed to the 

 change of posture. I have been trying to think 

 if there are to be found any common defects, fre- 

 quent in quadrupeds and in man, that the erect 

 posture has been beneficial in relieving, and I can 

 only think of umbilical hernia. This defect is 

 common in domesticated animals cows, sheep, 

 dogs, and to a less extent I think in cats. I have 

 never noticed the defect in a horse, because, pro- 

 bably, a horse with such a condition is useless, 

 and is destroyed and never used for breeding 

 purposes. Umbilical hernia has in the lower 

 animals, I believe, no tendency to cure itself. In 

 man it is exceedingly common in infants, but 



