CHAPTER IX.
ON SPINAL DEFORMITIES.
Pathological disquisitions form no portion of the task which we have allotted ourselves to perform; we must however speak cursorily of some things, the full description of which belongs more properly to the anatomist and surgeon, because, if we avoided the matter entirely, we should be unable to show the reasonableness of many of our adaptations, and the special cases in which they should be employed. Besides this, it must be borne in mind that our labours are confined to ladies and children, and that even with them we never pretend to take the place of the medical adviser. Medicine is not our vocation; but, when medical men seek us, then we can give to the body that support necessary to enable it to regain the erect position.
We cannot insist too often, nor too strongly, upon the necessity of early and proper exercise. To use the language of an accomplished writer: "If the days of childhood were devoted to the goddess Hygeia, and the perceptive faculties allowed to exercise themselves by observing the wonders of art and the beauties of nature, then civilization would add to all positive blessings, and a higher advantage co-existing with rude good health. It is true, that if these views were generally entertained, there would be less work for all kinds of medical professors, and they might exclaim, 'Othello's occupation's gone.' "
But the world would be spared much suffering and vast inconvenience. Physical health is one of the greatest sources of happiness to
