XIII 



BONES AND JOINTS 



185 



the abdominal organs, and compresses some of the large 

 blood vessels so as to disturb the action of the heart. 

 Just as harmful is the slipping forward in the seat so 

 frequently seen in the schoolroom. The visceral organs 

 now press against the spine, crowding it back and caus- 

 ing a curvature ; the 

 shoulders drop for- 

 ward, causing a flat- 

 ness and compres- 

 sion of the chest 

 which seriously dis- 

 turbs respiration and 

 circulation. When 

 the seat is so high 

 that the feet must 

 dangle in the air all 

 day long because 

 they cannot reach 

 the floor, the strain 

 on the femur is sufficient to deform it. The discomfort 

 and fatigue may be patiently borne, but the pupil can- 

 not do as good school work as he could under more 

 favorable conditions. Mental work depends to a large 

 extent upon physical comfort. 



Such improper positions assumed day after day for a 

 series of years tend to fix the bones of the spine, chest, 

 and shoulders and cause permanent deformity. To 

 obviate all these difficulties schoolrooms should be 

 supplied with single adjustable seats and desks, and then 

 sufficient time taken to adjust the seat and desk of each 



FIG. 103. Incorrect position frequently seen 

 in the schoolroom. 



