294 APPENDIX. 



relax the muscles supporting the head. This position is 

 represented by Fig. 132. 



941. A little experience, with these suggestions m 

 view, will teach the pupil, it is hoped, to preserve a 

 healthful and becoming position at school, without assu- 

 ming the leaning posture, the consequences of which are 

 so pernicious. 



LEANING POSTURE. 



942. One posture which school-girls are exceedingly 

 apt to take, is that of leaning forward, and placing the 

 elbow on the desk for support ; and this they often do, 

 even when their seats are provided with backs. This 

 posture, if continued so as to form a habit, will often 

 show its effects on all occasions, the young lady having 

 such a disposition to lean, as to indulge it when any sup- 

 port happens to be near where she sits, let the place or 

 company be what it may. Such a one will lean, with 

 the hand supporting the head, when at home, on a table, 

 or window-stool, or any other convenient lolling-place, 

 for hours together. 



943. Where the spine is weak, in a growing girl, and 

 there is predisposition to curvature, there is no posture 

 that she can take, which is so unfortunate, and will pro- 

 duce such a complication of deformities as this ; for if it 

 is continued in one direction, which is commonly the case, 

 the consequences will be a curvature of the lower part of 

 the spine, together with one high, and one low hip ; one 

 high and one low shoulder ; and a crooked neck. 



944. The general deformity thus induced, is however 

 often most apparent in the shoulder-blades, one of which 

 is sometimes thrown so far out of place as to give it the 

 appearance of absolute dislocation, and which indeed, is 

 the case, when compared with its mate. Fig. 133. 



945. The other deformities which we have mentioned 

 as arising from the same cause, may in some degree be 

 concealed or qualified by means of stays, extra padding, 

 coussinets, and other efforts of the milliner's skill, with 

 which we profess no acquaintance. But the dislocated 

 shoulder-blades, especially when they are uncovered, seem 

 to defy all the arts of the most profound dress-maker, for 



