THE BONES. 49 



Children at school, in consequence of sitting long in a bent 

 position, are very liable to a curvature or bending of the spine. 

 The remedy consists in avoiding the causes sitting in an erect posi- 

 tion, exercising much in the open air, living on a light and princi- 

 pally vegetable diet, as bread and milk ; bathing daily with cold 

 water, keeping the bowels regular, and wearing a stimulating 

 plaster on the spine, and avoid the use of mercury. 



The following figure represents a contrivance to lessen the pressure or weight of the 

 upper part of the body on the diseased spine. 



f 



Says Dr. Lee, in his treatise on physiology, " How preposterous, 

 unnatural, and ruinous is the practice of confining delicate females 

 for hours together every day to sedentary employment, the sure 

 consequence of which will be, weakness of the body generally, 

 and of the back in particular, especially if the seat be a bench 

 which has no back, or even a narrow chair with a perpendicular 

 back. 



u The effect of such a practice is, that in consequence of the 

 fatigue induced by such a posture, the spine gives way in some 

 part and bends, and in a little time the curvature becomes per- 

 manent. And often when a bend has taken place in one direction, 

 there immediately follows an opposite bend above or below, to 

 keep the centre of gravity of the body always directly over the 

 base ; the curve accordingly thus becomes double, like an italic/, 

 and the distortion is rendered complete. 



" The means employed to remedy this affection almost invariably 

 make it worse. In the first place, strong, stiff stays are put on, to 

 support the back, as it is said ; and so they do, perhaps, while they 

 are on ; but as they supersede the action of the muscles, placed 

 there by nature as the supports, they cause these to lose their 

 strength ; and when the stays are withdrawn, the muscles are found 

 too weak to support the body. Other mechanical expedients may 

 now be employed, the back may be forcibly stretched by pullev? 

 4 



