Memoirs of Erasmus Darwin, M.D. 35 



pends the head, and place's the weight of it on the hips. 

 This machine is capable or improvement by joints in the bar 

 at the back of it, to permit the body to bend forwards with- 

 out diminishing the extension of the spine. 



The objections to this machine of M. Vacher, which is 

 made by Mr. Jones, are, first, that it is worn in the day- 

 time, and has a very unsightly appearance. Mr. Jones has 

 endeavoured to remedv this, by taking away the curved bar 

 over the head, and substituting in its place a forked bar, 

 rising up behind each ear, v\ith webs fastened to it, which 

 pass- under the chin and occiput. But this is not an im- 

 provement, but a deterioration of M. Vacher's machine, as 

 it prevents the head from turning with facility to either side. 

 Another objection is, that its being worn when the mus- 

 cles of the back are in action, it is rather calculated to pre- 

 vent the curvature of the spine from becoming greater, than 

 to extend the spme, and diminish its curvature. 



For this latter purpose I have made a steel bow, which 

 receives the head longitudinally from the forehead to the 

 occiput ; having a fork furnished with a web to sustain the 

 chin, and another to sustain the occiput. The summit of 

 the bow is fixed by a swivel to the board going behind 

 the head of the bed above the pillow. The bed is to be 

 inclined from the head to the feet about twelve or sixteen 

 inches. Hence the patient would be constantly sliding 

 down during sleep, unless supported by this bow, with 

 webbed forks, covered also, with fur, placed beneath the 

 chin, and beneath the occiput. There are also proper 

 webs lined with fur for the hands to take hold of occa- 

 sionally, and also to go under the arms. By these means 

 I should hope great advantage from gradually extending 

 the spine during the inactivity of the muscles of the back ; 

 and that it may be done without disturbing the sleep of 

 the patient ; and if this should happen, the bow is made 

 to open by a joint at the summit of it, so as to be in- 

 stantly disengaged from the neck by the hand of the wearer > 

 This bow I have not yet had opportunity to make, use of, 

 but it may be had from Mr. Harrison, whitesmith, Bridge- 

 gate, Derby. 



. C2 lr. 



