28 HYGIENE OF BONES. 



7. Hygiene of the Bony Skeleton. Except hair and teeth, 

 bones are the parts of the dead body which most resist 

 decay. Nevertheless living bone is readily altered in 

 shape, especially in young persons, by continued or fre- 

 quently repeated pressure or strain. This is well illus- 

 trated by the curious forms which some nations give to 

 their skulls (Fig. 9) by tying boards or bandages on the 

 heads of their children. 



FIG. 9. Skull of a child of the tribe of Chinook Indians (inhabiting tne neigh- 

 borhood of the Columbia River), distorted by tight bandaging so as to assume the 

 shape considered elegant and fashionable by the tribe. 



8. Why Children should have their Feet Supported and 

 should Sit Straight . The bones of a child being rich in the 

 softer animal matter are tolerably flexible, and may be 

 readily made to grow out of shape. Therefore children 

 should never be kept sitting on a bench so high that the 

 feet are not supported. If this precaution be neglected 

 the thigh-bones become bent over the edge of the seat 

 by the weight of the rest of the limb and may be made 

 crooked for life. 



7. What parts of the dead body decay most slowly ? How may 

 living bone be altered in form ? Illustrate. 



8. Why should the feet of children be supported when sitting? 

 Why is it important to sit straight ? Why should children not be 

 encouraged to walk too soon ? 



