312 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



to Captain N., and said, ' If you will give me a dollar, I will 

 carry you on the top of these.' " 



719. I once saw, in the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, a 

 colored woman carrying a tub of water upon her head, and a 

 pail of water in each hand. There it was not unfrequent to 

 meet a woman with a large pail of water on her head, which 

 she carried with apparent ease and without spilling. We 

 often meet the Italian pedlers carrying a large tray covered 

 with images, or flower-pots, or toys, upon the head. They 

 carry this with as much apparent security as others would 

 carry them in their arms. Those who bear upon their heads 

 heavy burdens which require strength, or pails of water that 

 must not be spilled, or fragile merchandise that must not 

 be broken, carry their heads very erect and their back-bones 

 very straight. They hold the upper extremity of the spine 

 directly over the lower end. 



720. This perfectly erect position of the spine affords the 

 easiest method of carrying, not only burdens, but the head 

 and the trunk, in the ordinary walks of life. Any one can 

 try the experiment of holding a pole erect in his hand by one 

 end. If it be vertically erect, he will exert no more strength 

 than barely to lift the weight. But if it be inclined to either 

 side, it will require considerable exertion to prevent its fall- 

 ing. So, if the head be bowed forward, if the chest be bent 

 downward, then the weight is not immediately above the point 

 of support ; it does not rest upon this foundation, but it must 

 be held up by the exertion of the muscles, which is a very 

 wearisome labor. 



721. In order to carry the head and body with the greatest 

 ease, we must be governed by the same law as in carrying 

 any burdens. We must bring the weight, the centre of its 

 gravity, perpendicularly above the point of support. But, 

 if we have any weight added to one side of the body, we 

 must change the direction of the spine, so that it shall bring 

 the centre of weight in the proper line. This we do instinc- 

 tively. When a boy carries on his breast an armful of wood, 

 he Jeans backward to bring the weight over the base of the 



