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 off occasionally, 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 instantly 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.

It will be from hence easily perceived, that all other methods of confining
or directing the growth of young people should be used with great skill;
such as back-boards, or bandages, or stocks for the feet; and that their
application should not be continued too long at a time, lest worse
consequences should ensue, than the deformity they were designed to remove.
To this may be added, that the stiff erect attitude taught by some modern
dancing masters does not contribute to the grace of person, but rather
militates against it; as is well seen in one of the prints in Hogarth's
Analysis of Beauty; and is exemplifyed by the easy grace of some of the
ancient statues, as of the Venus de Medici, and the Antinous, and in the
works of some modern artists, as in a beautiful print of Hebe feeding an
Eagle, painted by Hamilton, and engraved by Eginton, and many of the
figures of Angelica Kauffman.

Where the bone of one of the vertebrae of the back has been swelled on both
sides of it, so as to become protuberant, issues near the swelled part have
been found of great service, as mentioned in Species 18 of this genus. This
has induced me to propose in curvatures of the spine, to put an issue on
the outside of the curve, where it could be certainly ascertained, as the
bones on the convex side of the curve must be enlarged; in one c