Evening star., 1897-02-27
wOMAN'S PHYSIQUE.
Correct Proportions and How to
Maintain Them.

In a recent lecture at the Academy of Ma
ticnal Sciences of Philadelphia, Prof. A. B.
Brubaker. discussing the subject OF "Physi-
cal Development. said:
Prof Gottfried Schadow of the Royal
Academy of Arts. in Berlin, has given to
the world in his figure of an artistically
formed woman. the following measure
n-ents: Height. ,S'la inches; breadth of neck.
32. inches; shoulders. Is inches; waist, .
inches; hips. 1872 inches.
.Long before Prof. Schadow's time an un-
known artist created the statue. the Venus
de Medici. the worlds ideal Of perfection in
the female figure, on these measurements:
Height, 63 inches; breadth of neck inch
es; shoulders. IL inches; waist, 91s incnes;
hips. 13 inches
Prof. Sergeant. with several thousand
ia abulated life measurements hand, pro-
duced a composite figure of the young
American girl with these measurements:
Height, G;l2 inches: breadth of neck. IS
inches: girth of neck. FL inches; breadth
of shoulders, III inches: breadth of waist
SO inches; girth of waist, 24.6 inches;
breadth of hips. Isl inches: girth of hips
;SoI.4 inches; girth of calf. 1873 inches, girth
of upper arm. 10.1 inches; girth of thigh.
2l.i inches, ard forearm. - inches.
Miss Anna Wood has given measu e.
ments closely similar to those of Prof. Sar-
Seant, in her composite figure of the We'll
lesley College girl, being averaged from the
measurements OF over ZOO young women,
Given the height. proportion ard weight
of an average physique for the and
woman, what should he the attitude or POS
tUre of such an individual, especially when
standing? By posture is meant position
of equilibrium of the body which can be
maintained for some time. such as stand
irs, sitting Or lying.
For the maintenance CT the erect pos
tUre the following conditions must be real
ized: % The corresponding halves of the
body must be in the same anatomical re-
lation; CD the center of gravity of the
whole body must fall just In front of the
last lumbar vertebra- That the first of
these two conditions may be realized there
must be well-developed and symmetrical
skeleton and a corresponding symmetrical
development of the muscles on The two
sides of the body. That the second condi-
tion may be realized, there must be such a
development of the extensor muscles on
the back of the body will be sufficient TO
anita gOniZe the fiexor muscles on the front
of the body.
These conditions are not always realized
ard hence certain physical defects are OBJ
servable, such as oblquity Of the head ele-
walton or depression of the shoulder curya-
ture OF the spine. and so forth.
Among the defects which interfere with
proper stature and proportions may be
mentioned knock knees. bowlegs and pigeon
toes.
Knock knees occur in childhood or at
puberty. and are generally associated with
rfckets and due to want of muscular or
bony strength. Owing to the width of the
peivis, the thigh bones are inclined inward
This determines the direction of the de-
fornity. There Is a dlsproport.on between
the weight OF the body and the strength Of
the muscles In consequence the inner
cCndyle of the thigh bone grows down and
inward. and throws the lower leg outward
Bowlegs are also associated with ricketts,
ard want of strength In muscles and bones
In this condition the natural curve of the
tcnes Is exaggerated and the leg bends
outward.
Pigeon toes are a term applied to the in
ward direction of the foot dependent on
4 insufficient development of the muscles
which should turn the foot outward. This
Is condition observed in monkeys and
very young children.
In addition to the above mentioned de-
formities relating to the trunk and limbs
there are others found in both men and
women, especially in the latter however
which relate to changes In the shape of the
thorax. caused by undue compression or
construction.
1T Is difficult to understand WHY this
construction should have been fnduIsed in
thorough the ages. There is an idea. how
ever. that IL confers the Individual an
artistic effect. The Greek woman of the
decadert period suggested the methods and
objects 1t was adopted by the Romans at
the beginning of the empire. During the
middle ages 1t died OIt, to be revived in th..
twelfth century,"