A probationary essay, on the causes and treatment of lateral curvature of the human spine; submitted ... to ... the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh / [Robert Knox].

  • Knox, Robert, 1791-1862.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A probationary essay, on the causes and treatment of lateral curvature of the human spine; submitted ... to ... the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh / [Robert Knox]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with the civilised state of society (for they are ne¬ ver to be seen in savage nations), and, as shall be afterwards shewn, depend for their production on the extreme neglect of the physical education of youth, and on the excessive and injurious attention given to the education of the mind; and, in the working classes of society, on the vast prevalence of manufactures, and other sedentary employments,— so it is reasonable to presume, that it is a deformity which must daily become more frequent in society, un¬ less checked, in so far as regards the wealthy classes, by the timely interposition of the profession. Yet it appears to me evident, that, at all times, the fe¬ male portion of society, more especially those inha¬ biting cities, must have been greatly subject to the lateral distortion of the spine. Pinn^eus, who wrote in 1579 says, that, whilst he resided at 0 Paris, he observed curvatures of the spine to be ex¬ ceedingly frequent, and that this was the case in every part of the kingdom ; that they affected chiefly females, and did not spare the noblest and richest fa¬ milies. The accuracy of the observation of Pimn^eus is very remarkable, and does him infinite credit. Con¬ tinuing to investigate the causes of such deformities, and the bad effects flowing from them, he remarks, * Opusc. Physiol, et Anatom.