Lateral curvature of the spine and flat foot : and their treatment by exercises / by J.S. Kellett Smith.

  • Smith, J. S. Kellett.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Lateral curvature of the spine and flat foot : and their treatment by exercises / by J.S. Kellett Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    themselves out srvfficiently to give the spina dorsi its due extent; or an excess of humidity, which soaking the same ligaments in a viscous juice, relaxes them, and suffers them to prolong themselves beyond their bounds ; but I believe weakness has a large, or indeed a larger, share in it than all these causes, of which we have a famous instance in a person of quality.* This person was very straight and well-shap'd, to the age of eight or nine years : 'twas then An observ'd, that he endeavour'd to lean on instance thingSj and that he inclined to one side, and sustain'd himself on the arms of his elbow-chair : his spina dorsi was examin'd, and was found to bend towards the right, assuming the figure of a crescent : we knew, that being of a very tender constitution, it was the weakness of the spine and its ligaments, which being unable to bear the weight of the parts of the body from the girdle upwards, bent under it. Little bodice of whalebone were made for him, to strengthen his spine ; as was a commodious elbow- chair, to rest that part in its whole length : to this chair were added strings, which passing under his arm-pits, supported the whole weight of his body, and eas'd the vertebra of the weight of the upper parts. But what precaution soever was taken, and what inventions soever were put in practice for several years, it has not been possible to prevent the spoiling of his shape : yet the heart and lungs are not press'd, the vital functions are not in- commoded ; and nature, weak in this regard, has recom- pensed this defect, by a thousand excellent endowments of mind, an exalted genius, and a courage and wisdom not to be found in others at his age. Gibbosity is not always a hereditary defect which passes from father to child : we see fathers and mothers with this imperfection have straight children: and * The Duke of Burgundy.
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