which, by calling upon all the parts for their due proportion of assistance will cause their due equality, and to aid or counterbalance each other, till exquisite beauty will be displayed in symmetrical proportions, glowing complexion, and sparkling eyes. 3d. Well regulated diet;-but this is foreign to the topics under immediate consideration.

How much of the uneasiness manifested by children, their restlessness, crying, and consequent sickness, is occasioned by improper restrictions of dress, no one can tell. That pain should follow a compression of the infantile organs, just labouring to attain a strong and correct action, is but a natural result; and without doubt, sickness and fits too often arise from the remote cause of improper management on the part of nurses, in regard to dress alone. Every part of the youthful frame should be unconstrained, but especially the chest-if compression must be resorted to, for elegance and fashion's sake, let it be the fashion to bind the hands and feet, and not the viscera on which life more immediately depends.

As the child continues to grow, the importance of varied and energetic exercise in developement of the vital portion of our frame is altogether indiscribable. If the arms and shoulders

are suffered to remain idle, a contraction of the chest is the inevitable consequence-the shoulders approach each other in front, a constant pressure is exerted upon the lungs, and serious consequences ensue. This kind of evil is sometimes remedied by a back-board, which may draw the shoulders back, to be sure, but will only add to the coming misfortunes. The pressure of the board upon the back, and the manner in which it is confined, serve to injure the muscles of the back, so that, without external support, the body must bend forward, and, as it were, double up, compressing all vital organs, in a most dangerous manner. Let it be distinctly remembered that the body is kept upright, in a considerable measure, by the power of muscles of the back, which, in a healthy condition, are large and strong; and that any compression continued, tends to weaken, and may, if in a high degree, destroy them altogether. Stooping, therefore, is symptom of weakness of muscles of the back. The common remedy, is a case formed in part of wood and whalebone, drawn on, tightly and stiffly round the chest, that not only stooping, but all other motions are impossible. The patient,-for the moment artifice is required, in support of the human frame, there is disease,-the patient

may be straitened out, but the consequences of taking the work of nature out of her own control are manifested by the pale countenance, the difficult respiration, the loathing appetite, the nervous irritability, the incapacity to arduous fatigue, the cough, the hectic, the consumption, and last of all, to close the history of thwarted nature, the early grave.

Consumption is sometimes caused by hereditary communication, but more often by inactive habits, and the consequent pressure which is adopted by all fashionables, to redeem the body from a bent posture; and it can be avoided in almost all cases by a careful adjustment of exercise and diet, giving fair play to all the parts. Some consumptives are formed with contracted chests, a peculiar conformation, hereditarily derived and the only course to save them from the destroyer, is to institute such habits in early life, as will tend to expand the box, if we may so say, in which the vital organs are deposited. Two things are needed in Boston, and perhaps every where else. One is a woman, who, with the spirit of Miss Wright, but in a holy cause, will learn to demonstrate the anatomy of the chest and abdomen, at least, to all females, that they may know, for themselves and for their offspring, more than they will believe without seeing and feeling, as did the incredulous apostle, who thrust his finger into the wounded side of the Redeemer. Men may write but people will not read or cannot understand; and there is obvious impropriety in anatomical lectures delivered by men to classes of femalesbut if a properly educated woman, of strong mind and heart, would undertake such a task in behalf of her sex, she would deserve the appellation of Apostle of usefulness to a misguided generation. The other needful thing is a system of calisthenic exercises in a proper place, with proper apparatus-and under a scientific and practical instructer. Our opinion is, that if people die of consumption, it is in most cases by foul playeither the person commits suicide, or is the victim of murderous management on the part of others.

Thus far we have noticed only indigestion and consumption; but there is another disease scarcely less formidable, and quite as fatal in its worst cases-we mean distortion of the spine.— The spine, or back-bone, as it is commonly called, is composed of a great number of small bones, bound together with surfaces nearly flat, between which is a soft substance, that operates at the same time to hold them fast, and to break any jar, which

would produce serious effect upon a solid column. Now, these small bones or vertebræ, are kept in their true longitudinal direction, in a great measure by the muscles of the back; and it is by reason of those muscles that we keep the erect posture; and if they become weakened, either on one or both sides, the column is liable to deviate, either sideways or outwards, producing an elevation of one shoulder, so often seen, or a humped back, which is the most terrible and often the most fatal form of the disease. If a young girl's muscles have not been strengthened by exercise, and if she has a habit of lolling upon one side, or sleeping upon one side, the inevitable consequence is that the spinal column being bent and having nothing to restore it, it must remain in the wrong direction. After it has for a long time been accustomed to its unnatural situation, so that the surrounding parts have taken a corresponding condition, a cure is exceedingly difficult. In the first place, the column must be straightened, and the muscles of the short side extended; the ribs will then come to their true position, and by careful management, it is possible so to restore the vigor of the frame, that life will be rendered comfortable, and prolonged in its beauty and grace.

We have already pointed out the means of prevention; it only remains to say a few words on the method of cure. And here we feel bound to say, that the gratitude of the whole community is due to Doctor Grigg, of this city, for his extensive and valuable researches in the mysteries of this subject. He has studied the apparatus and machinery of past times and of other countries, and has combined the best points of all in a species of bedstead, in which machinery is so arranged, as to afford the desirable effect in restoring the true condition of the body.

Dr. Grigg's machine is represented in the cut at the head of this article, and it will be seen, that it applies an easy process of extension by means of the inclined plane, which divides, and separates; the lower portion sliding downwards, to extend the body, while the upper part with the head and shoulders, retain their position. This extension may be increased or diminished by raising or lowering the bed of which the plane is formed; so that the patient may be perpendicularly suspended, or suffered to lie horizontally, or placed in any intermediate position, according to the severity of means required; and all this in the most convenient manner. Exercise is also introduced for the raising and lowering of the bed,

which requires exertion on the part of the patient, it being accomplished by a cord passing over the wheel which is drawn by the hand. Friction Friction is afterwards applied to excite the muscles by the patient herself or a friend, as may be most suitable, and by perseverance a cure even of an obstinate case may be affected, while in all incipient stages of the disease it is speedy and certain. Many more things deserve notice in the construction of this elegant and useful apparatus, but it is sufficient to say, that one of our most distinguished surgeons has pronounced it the best of which he has any knowledge.

We trust, that while Dr. Grigg labors thus successfully to understand and overcome this " Scourge of the fashionable world," the opportunity will not be disregarded to avail of his ability, by all who are sufferers in this case; and we shall be most happy if our remarks are so adapted to the want of the times, as to induce any persons to avoid, or to eradicate the discase of which we have spoken, before it be too late. The moment an inclination to one side is perceived, or that one shoulder or shoulder blade gains the predominance over the other, then is the time to apply the remedy, and to avoid pernicious habits.

L.

STANZAS.

When the warm blessed spirit, that lightens the sky,
Hath darkened his glory and furled up his wing,
And nature forgets the sweet smile, that her eye
Was wont on that radiant spirit to fling:

I turn from the world without, calm and content,
And find in my own heart a day-dream as bright;
And dearer, far dearer than that which is lent

To illumine creation with glory and light.

There's a thought in that heart it can never forget-
There's a ray in that heart that will lighten my doom,
Through many a sorrow they linger there yet,

And, holy and beautiful, smile through the gloom.

But they say that the garland Affection is wreathing,
Will fade ere the morrow has wakened its bloom-
They say the wild blossoms where young Hope is breathing,
Their beauty, their fragrance are all for the tomb.

They tell me the vision of bliss that is "glinting,"
My heart's star of promise in gloom will decline,
And the far scene that Fancy, the fairy, is tinting,
Will lose all its sunny glow ere it is mine.

Oh! if Love and Life be but a fairy illusion,

And the cold future bright but in Fancy's young eye,
Still, still let me live in the dreamy illusion,
And, true and unchanging, hope on till I die!

""Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours;
"And ask them, what report they bore to heaven;
"And how they might have born more welcome news.
"Their answers form what men experience call."

A New Year, with all its diversified interests, its hopes and its fears, its joys and its sorrows, with all the thrilling moment which its untried scenes may naturally inspire, has just opened upon us. It is natural, at such a season, for the mind to throw back its thoughts upon the year which has gone, gathering from the bitter lessons of experience and reflection, more practical wisdom for the better guidance of its future course.

Retrospection is at all times a salutary exercise of the mind: and it is to a frequent recurrence to the conduct of the past life, that much of that sagacity and judgment, on which we are wont to rely in wordly business, is to be traced. But at the commencement of another year, it would seem that the duty were irresistibly urged upon us, to gather up the sands of that whose funeral knell has just rung out; and over the grave of our ruined hopes and withered joys, to imbibe some useful instruction respecting the frail tenure of all earthly possessions, and the solemn realities of that unseen world, towards which each retreating year, as it rolls away with fearful rapidity, brings us nearer and nearer.