tient by forcing him to wear an apparatus which is heavy, clumsy, and
inevitably injurious, instead of being beneficial in its results. In the
treatment of diseases and deformities of the spine, there should be no
compromising; the appliance that fails to give complete support should
not be worn. In our treatment of these maladies we employ only
appliances which are constructed under the personal supervision of our
specialists, upon principles dictated by common sense and the actual
necessities of the case. We do not confine the body in an iron jacket.
Our apparatus is light, yet durable, and is worn by the most delicate
children without pain or inconvenience. It gives proper support to all
parts, and is so nicely adjusted as to produce pressure only upon those
points which should receive support, leaving the muscles of the spine
freedom of action, thereby assisting in their development. In many
hundreds of cases treated by our specialists, the disease has been
entirely cured and the deformity removed. After seeing the patients and
adjusting the appliances, they can generally be treated at their homes.

LATERAL CURVATURE OF THE SPINE.

(CROOKED BACK.)

[Illustration: Fig. 6.
Lateral curvature of the spine. E to F, the primary curve.]

[Illustration: Fig. 7.
A mild case of lateral curvature of the spine.]

This deformity appears more frequently in anaemic persons, in whom the
flexibility and elasticity of the muscles are weakened, than in those of
a plethoric habit. It is generally contracted during youth, between the
ages of twelve and eighteen. Persons of sedentary and indolent habits
are especially liable to this deformity, hence, girls are most
frequently its victims. It is never seen among the natives of tropical
countries who habitually live in the open air, and seldom among the
barbarous races of northern latitudes. A distinguishing feature of the
American Indian is his erect carriage. The _primary_ curvature is
generally toward the right side, as represented in Figs. 6 and 7. Figs.
8 and 9 show the disease in a more advanced stage. The ribs are thus
forced into an unnatural position, and the vital organs contained in the
cavity of the chest are compressed or displaced, thus distorting the
form of the whole upper portion of the body.

[Illustration: Fig. 8.
Lateral curvature in an
advanced stage. ]

[Illustration: Fig. 9.
Lateral curvature in an
advanced stage. ]

SYMPTOMS. The first indication of