ion of recovering the straightness of the
end of the bone; but these patients are liable to another misfortune, that
is, to acquire afterwards a distortion of the spine; for as one leg is
shorter than the other, they sink on that side, and in consequence bend the
upper part of their bodies, as their shoulders, the contrary way, to
balance themselves; and then again the neck is bent back again towards the
lame side, to preserve the head perpendicular; and thus the figure becomes
quite distorted like the letter S, owing originally to the deficiency of
the length of one limb. The only way to prevent this curvature of the spine
is for the child to wear a high-heeled shoe or patten on the lame foot, so
as to support that side on the same level with the other, and thus to
prevent a greater deformity.

I have this day seen a young lady about twelve, who does not limp or waddle
in walking; but nevertheless, when she stands or sits, she sinks down
towards her right side, and turns out that toe more than the other. Hence,
both as she sits and stands, she bends her body to the right; whence her
head would hang a little over her right shoulder; but to replace this
perpendicularly, she lifts up her left shoulder and contracts the muscles
on that side of the neck; which are therefore become thicker and stronger
by their continued action; but there is not yet any very perceptible
distortion of the spine.

As her right toe is turned outward rather more than natural, this shews the
disease to be in the hip-joint; because, when the limb is stretched out,
the toe cannot turn horizontally in the least without moving the end of the
thigh-bone; although when the knee is bent, the toe can be turned through
one third or half of a circle by the rotation of the tibia and fibula of
the leg round each other. Hence if children are set in stocks with their
heels touching each other as they sit, and are then made to rise up, till
they stand erect, the socket or head of the thigh-bone becomes injured,
especially in those children, whose bones are soft; and a shortness of that
limb succeeds either by the bending of the neck of the thigh-bone, or by
its getting out of the acetabulum; and a consequent rising of one shoulder,
and a curvature of the spine is produced from so distant a cause.

M. M. An elastic cushion made of curled hair should be placed under the
affected hip, whenever she sits; or should be fitted to the part by means
of drawers, so that