BONES, MUSCLES, EXERCISE, AND REST. 319 



number are the subjects of great and permanent deviations; 

 while not a few entirely lose their health from the manner in 

 which they are reared." And again, " I feel warranted in the 

 assertion, already intimated, that of the well-educated females 

 within my sphere of experience, about one half are affected 

 wit/i some degree of distortion of the spine"* Dr. Warren 

 substantiates his opinion by that of Lachaise, a French author 

 upon the spine, who, in speaking of the lateral curvature, 

 says, " It is so common, that, out of twenty young girls who 

 have attained the age of fifteen, there are not two who do not 

 present very manifest traces of it." A fashionable mantua- 

 maker, of extensive experience and observation, says that 

 she has been obliged to stuff with cotton a large propor- 

 tion of the ladies' dresses, on one side or the other, to make 

 them exactly symmetrical. 



733. Nature lias given to all to both female and male 

 sufficiency of bone and muscle to sustain tlum in the, most 

 graceful and healthy position ; and when these are faithfully 

 used, and their strength developed, they fulfil their purposes, 

 and keep the form straight. The lateral curvature of the 

 spine is very rarely found among boys. Their various and 

 free exercise strengthens all their muscles, and prevents it. 

 But it is very common among females, who exercise less, and 

 wear external supports, which are intended to take the place 

 of their natural framework and muscular power, and sustain 

 the body. But these substitutes not only fail of their pur- 

 pose, but sometimes bring on the very deformity they were 

 intended to prevent. Although nature has provided all the 

 proper supports for the spine, yet, when they are not used, 

 they become weak, and then the spine bends to one side. 

 This lateral deformity is rarely found among laborious farm- 

 ers or mechanics employed in the heavy trades, or among 

 porters, or even hod-carriers, who carry heavy burdens on 

 their shoulders or heads, but in sedentary persons, who lift 

 the least, and whose work is the lightest, the muscles of 

 * Preservation of Health, p. 13. 



