296 APPENDIX. 



above described, or that every one who even habitually 

 takes that posture will eventually become crooked. But 

 in slender, delicately-formed females, from the age of 

 twelve to fourteen, who are confined eight or ten hours 

 per day in the school-room, with no other exercise 

 than a walk along the street with their teachers, such a 

 posture habitually indulged in, will most surely produce 

 deformities to a greater or less extent. The Hindoo 

 devotees who hold their arms above their heads as a pen- 

 ance, are often compelled to carry them so during the 

 remainder of their lives, the parts conforming to this 

 position. 



948. A highly observant and accomplished teacher, 

 who has spent more than twenty years in the instruction 

 of females, informs the author that he has long been 

 aware of the distorting consequences of this posture, and 

 that he could remember numerous instances of crooked 

 spines and dislocated shoulder-blades from this cause : 

 and that although these very pupils were nearly every 

 day warned of the consequences of such a habit, yet, 

 not seeing, or feeling any ill effects from it themselves, 

 they would carelessly indulge in it, until the posture 

 became so natural, as to set all the common means of 

 prevention at naught, and thus distortion followed of 

 course. 



949. Now if the young lady will give no attention to 

 the mandates or remonstrances of her instructer, or pa- 

 rent, there is little hope of preventing her indulgence in 

 this, or any other pernicious habit, and such, therefore, 

 must be left to the reward of their own doings. But in 

 most instances, it cannot but be hoped and believed, that 

 those who are aware of the sad consequences of this 

 habit, both in respect to personal form and health, whether 

 they become so by reading these observations, or other- 

 wise, will take warning in due time, and thus escape 

 that deformity which is now but too common among our 

 best educated females. 



DRESS, ANOTHER SOURCE OF DEFORMITY. 



950. There is, or at least has been,, another cause of 

 distorted shoulders beside that above described, and the 



