HORSE-BACK RIDING. 7 1 



dividuals not only run a more rapid course, but pre- 

 sent symptoms of greater intensity, and are more 

 rebellious to treatment than when they occur in peo- 

 ple of other temperaments. 



Besides this hereditary disposition, scrofula may be 

 induced (how we know not) by causes such as ex- 

 cesses, privation, deficiency of fresh air, light, or 

 exercise. 



From whatever cause it may have been produced, 

 our reliance is in dietetic and hygienic measures, 

 and the providing of plenty of fresh air, light, and 

 exercise, and these can scarcely be acquired in a 

 pleasanter or easier manner than by horse-back rid- 

 ing. 



f. Rachitis. — Rachitis, a disease common to child- 

 hood, is characterized by a tendency to a softening 

 of the osseous or bony tissues, or rather to a non- 

 deposition of the earthy constituents in the bone, and 

 an alteration in the nutritive function. 



It is a disease that of itself does not kill, but is 

 not on that account to be less feared. 



Deficiency of stature, deformity of the lower ex- 

 tremities, curvature of the spine, a vicious conforma- 

 tion of the chest, early loss of the teeth, and a prem- 

 ature appearance of old age, which but too often 

 affect the children of the wealthy, are its offspring. 



The pelvis in rachitic women is often deformed, so 

 that a natural confinement, if not absolutely impos- 



