muscles of the neck, by inclining the head backwards and forwards, whilst he at the same time exercises the muscles of the upper and lower extremities, and of those which move the scapula and clavicles; in fact, all the locomotive muscles of the body are called into action by this exercise. If the lower cord and pulley be employed, it enables the patient to stoop more forward. The muscles of the spine and neck alone can be exercised in the following manner without the aid of the arms. Let two bands of vellum be passed round the head, one horizontally, the other vertically; let a loop or hook be attached to the fore and back part of the horizontal band, let the cord of the upper pulley be attached to the back part, and the spinal and cervical muscles can be put into exertion by performing flexion and extension of the spinal column."

COUCH PROPOSED BY DR. DODS.

The author, agreeably to the principles above laid down, that alternate exertion and relaxation are ne

cessary for invigorating the muscles, proposes that the elastic couch exhibited in the sketch should be used for relaxation. A, the frame, whose height is two feet three inches; width, two feet two inches; and length, six feet six inches, or seven feet. B, a moveable roller, with a small wheel and catch at a, which is turned by the handle C at b. D, thin laths of wood, two inches broad, slung by means of hanks of small twine, c c c c, and fastened by straps to the rollers B E. F, posts with tester, which screw into the frame at A. The object to be obtained from the use of this couch, is rest, combined with relaxation of the spinal muscles, and change of position. When it is used, there is placed upon the laths a hair mattress, two, or two inches and a half thick, on which the patient lies down upon her back, and the position of the body is altered by turning round the roller B at the end of the couch to which the laths are strapped. The posts and tester shewn by the dotted lines are only for convenience, should it be wished to convert the couch into a bed at night. In this case it is to be made after the manner of a common bed, with pillows, &c. During the day the posts are unscrewed and laid aside.

As it is extremely difficult to persuade patients (who, in this disorder, are always uncommonly indolent and listless), to persevere in the performance of any one exercise, it becomes requisite to devise a variety for them.

COUCH PROPOSED BY MR. SHAW,

H

"Upon the moveable inclined plane A A A, there are placed three boards, B, C, D. C, which is to be very short, not more than ten inches long, (it need not be on rollers;) D, to be about twelve inches, upon which is to be fixed a cushion, or the socket that is generally used on the common inclined plane, for the head to lie in. This board is to be moveable. The patient lies on the three boards, the hips being on B, the shoulders on C, and the head on D; silk cords are to be brought from each side of the sofaframe, and to be fixed to loops that are fastened behind and before to the patient's corset (without whale-bone.) The weight G is to be attached to B, and the weight H to D. It is evident that the board B will fall, in consequence of the heaviness of the body, and of its being pulled by the weight H.

When it falls, the portion of the spine between the shoulders (which are fixed by cords) and the pelvis must be operated upon. The lumbar part of the spine is more effectually stretched in this way than it can be by a collar, or even by swinging the body; for the force acts gradually and constantly, which experience in the reduction of dislocations has proved to be the best way of operating upon muscles and ligaments. There is also another advantage attending this mode of stretching the spine; the muscles are not only elongated, but at the same time strengthened by the patient instinctively using them, in opposition to the force acting against them. However, I do not trust to this instinctive action, but direct the patient to exert herself occasionally, so as to endeavour to pull the board B towards C."

By means of this apparatus a number of useful and amusing exercises may be performed; but the variations may be safely left to those who employ it. With a few additions, for example, rowing may be imitated. But here it ought to be mentioned, that rowing, unless done in a particular manner, is not a proper exercise for a person with a lateral curvature of the spine. In proof of this we may observe, that although the boatmen on the Thames are very powerful men, they are very often round shouldered and stoop.

WEIGHTS AND LEVERS, AS PROPOSED BY MR. SHAW.

Our only fear respecting this ingenious contrivance is, that, like many other good things, it may be abused, and be made to produce an effect quite the contrary of the one intended. There cannot be a doubt that, when it is used with proper intervals of rest, it will be productive of benefit. The apparatus, as seen in the sketch, consists of an upright rod, four or five feet high, and similar to the pole of a common fire-screen. In the upper part of the rod, a small wheel is placed, and about sixteen inches below the wheel, a lever eleven inches long is let in, and moves upon a pin; the opening in the rod being so cut as to To the end of the

permit the lever to rise and fall.

lever, a certain weight is attached. This apparatus