HEALTH CONDITIONS 



presses this fact. The modern riding ma- 

 chinery has not contributed to the physical 

 development of the farmer. One has only 

 to note the posture of the man as he sits 

 on the plow,, the reaper, or the wagon-seat 

 to see that this is true. He is likely to. take 

 the position of a horseshoe rather than to 

 sit upright with straight back and well- 

 carried shoulders. We need to give more 

 attention to the mode of construction of 

 seats on our farm machinery and vehicles. 

 The man who follows the plow is very likely 

 to fall into a loose and shambling gait, 

 with stooped shoulders and an unequal 

 poise of the body ; the plow-handles are per- 

 haps too low to allow him to stand erect 

 and carry himself well. The lack of good 

 posture and good carriage (both of which 

 contribute greatly to physical efficiency) is 

 also marked in most housewives. They 

 have not learned how to stand or to walk 

 or even how to sit. Directors of gymnasia 

 find that country youth usually need a radi- 

 cal setting-up, even though they may have 

 strong muscles, clear complexions, and 

 robust health. If, in addition to these use- 

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