On the science of easy chairs, reprinted from "Nature", Oct. 17, 1878 : On posture and its indications, reprinted from "The Lancet", July 2, 1892 / by T. Lauder Brunton, M.D., D.Sc.Edin., LL.D. (Hon) Aberd., F.R.S., &c., assistant-physician and lecturer on materia medica and therapeutics at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

  • Brunton, T. Lauder (Thomas Lauder), 1844-1916
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the science of easy chairs, reprinted from "Nature", Oct. 17, 1878 : On posture and its indications, reprinted from "The Lancet", July 2, 1892 / by T. Lauder Brunton, M.D., D.Sc.Edin., LL.D. (Hon) Aberd., F.R.S., &c., assistant-physician and lecturer on materia medica and therapeutics at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    temperature in the atmosphere will readily act upon them unless they be guarded by some additional protection. The Hindoos are well aware of this, and they habitually protect the belly by means of a thick shawl or cummerbund, thus guarding themselves against any sudden change of temperature. This precaution is also frequently adopted by Europeans resident in hot climates, and is even retained by them after returning to England. But the function of the cummerbund may, to a certain extent, be fulfilled by change of posture alone. When the legs are drawn up, as in the picture of Winter already referred to, the thighs partially cover the abdomen, and taking the place of additional clothing, aid the abdominal walls in protecting the intestines and the blood they contain from the cooling influence of the external air. Thus it is that in cold weather, when the quantity of covering in bed is insufficient, persons naturally draw up their legs towards the abdomen, so as to retain as much heat as possible before going to sleep. In hot weather, on the contrary, they wish to expose the abdomen as much as possible to the cooling influence of the atmosphere. The posture depicted by Alma Tadema is the most efficient for this purpose. It no doubt answers the purpose to lie down flat on one’s back, but in this position the abdominal walls are more or less tight, whereas, when one of the legs is drawn up as in the painting just alluded to, the walls are relaxed, and the intestines not being subject to any pressure, the blood in them will circulate more rapidly, and the cooling process be carried on more effec¬ tually. In this attitude also the thighs are completely separated, and loss of heat allowed from their whole surface. Varying conditions of fatigue also alter the postures which people assume. When slightly tired one is content to sit down in an ordinary chair in the position of the letter N with the middle limb horizontal. As we get more and more fatigued we usually assume positions in