Remarks on an additional means of treating lateral curvature of the spine. The invention of Drs. Brown, Boston, U.S. / by W. J. Little.

Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on an additional means of treating lateral curvature of the spine. The invention of Drs. Brown, Boston, U.S. / by W. J. Little. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    longed wearing of this apparatus by a healthy growing individual during a considerable length of time, for the sake of experiment, a curvature of the spine in the oppo- site direction to that which so often becomes the subject of medical treatment would be induced. In the instrumental treatment of spinal, as of curva- tures and deformities of other parts of the frame, the ob- ject of the practitioner should be, the employment of those means which, if continued during too long a period, appear calculated to induce a curvature or deformity in an oppo- site direction. These constitute some of the advantages of the Hori- zontal Lever-Belt. It is scarcely necessary to point out one disadvantage that it possesses, apparent upon cursory inspection. Although portable as well as simple in its application, its construction is, at first view, complicated; and when applied, the patient’s appearance is not at once rendered less unsightly. This is doubtless a serious draw- back in the minds of those who consider the most essential means of treating lateral curvature to consist of that which instantly improves the figure — a matter most becomingly entrusted by the medical practitioner to the corset-maker. But the practitioner will experience no difficulty in inducing the sensible parent or patient to set aside the handsome corset, contrived mainly to hide deformity, for that contrivance which may ultimately render concealment unnecessary. The Horizontal Lever is unsuited to persons desirous of recovery without considerable retirement from the ordinary occupations of society. It would be fortunate if the successful management of and the axilla firmly rests upon the crutch, the shoulder is regarded as a fixed point, from which the attached muscles may act, and tend to draw the neighbouring part of the column towards it; also to diminish weight.