THE HUMAN SKELETON. 6 81 



the action of the muscles, placed there by nature as the sup. 

 ports, they cause these to lose their strength | and when the 

 stays are withdrawn, the muscles are found toolitttK%tij3* 

 port the body. Other mechanical expedients maynowDe 

 employed, the back may be forcibly stretched by pullies, or 

 the patient may be kept all day and night lying on an inclin- 

 ed plane. The victim of fashion may next, perhaps, be 

 placed under the charge of a regular spine doctor, who, by 

 means of pulleys, screws, paddings, stays, and close confine- 

 ment, destroys what little chance there still remains of a 

 cure. A decline now sets in, and the sufferer sinks into an 

 early grave. 



35. Dr. Arnott justly remarks, " it would be accounted 

 madness to attempt to improve the strength and shape of a 

 young race horse or grey hound, by binding tight splints or 

 stays round its beautiful young body, and then tying it up 

 in a stall ; but this is the kind of absurdity and cruelty 

 which has been so commonly practised in this country to- 

 wards what may well be called the most faultless of created 

 beings." /This disease may always be prevented by suitable 

 exercise, and the same remedy so applied, as directly to , 

 strengthen the affected part, will hold out the best prospect 

 of a cure. Boys never suffer from the spine disease, because 

 steel and whalebone in them are never made to perform the 

 office which God designed for the bones and muscles. 



36. The Chest. The thorax, or chest extends above from 

 the first bone of the neck, by which it is connected with the 

 head, to the diaphragm below, by which it is divided from 

 the abdomen. It is composed of bones, muscles, and car- 

 tilages, so disposed as to sustain and protect the most vital 

 parts, the heart and lungs, and to turn and twist with perfect 

 facility in every motion of the body, and to be constantly in 

 motion in the act of respiration, without the least cessation 

 during a whole life. In front, the chest is bounded by the 

 sternum, or breast-bone ; behind by the spinal column, or 

 back-bone, and at the sides by the ribs. Below, the 



