BONES, MUSCLES, EXERCISE, AND REST. 315 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Erect Attitude best for Walking. For Labor. For Mechanics and 

 Farmers. For great Exertions. For Speakers. Spine curves 

 from Front to Back. Becomes bent by much stooping. Position 

 of Students and Writers raises the Shoulders and curves the Spine 

 from Side to Side. Curved Spine frequent among Girls, but not 

 among Boys. Injures Spinal Cord. 



725. " In walking, it is all-important that the body be held 

 as upright as possible, the shoulders being kept back, and 

 the breast projected somewhat forward, so as to give the 

 chest its full dimensions. The lungs being, by this means, 

 allowed sufficient room to expand fully, breathing is rendered 

 free and easy, and every vital action is performed with vigor. 

 The attitude thus assumed in walking, places all the organs 

 of the body in their most natural position, and frees them 

 from all constraint." * * 



726. The wielding of the heavy sledge of the blacksmith, 

 and planing of the hard wood of the wheelwright, are done 

 with comparative ease if the body is kept erect. Such op- 

 erations of agriculture as hoeing, mowing, ploughing, are 

 generally easiest in the same position. Two men mowed 

 side by side during a summer. One of these men was rath- 

 er tall, large, and very muscular, and was reputed the 

 strongest man in his town. The other was rather under the 

 common height, of slender form, but very active. When 

 mowing, the strongest bent his body down, and struck his 

 scythe with all his might. The other stood erect, and, with- 

 out much apparent effort, swung his scythe as one swings a 

 cane. These two men, making such different efforts, per- 

 formed equal work in the course of the day. But when they 

 went, home at night, the strong man was wearied and almost 

 exhausted ; the other was somewhat fatigued, but lively and 

 elastic. 



* Journal of Health, Vol. I. p. 120 



