The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-12
woMAN's PHYSIQUE.
Correct Proportions and How to Main
tain Them.

tain Them
In a recent lecture at the Academy OF
National Sciences of Philadelphia, Pro-
fessor A. B. Brubaker, discussing the
subject Of Physical Development, ;"
said
Professor Gottfried Schadow of the
Royal Academy of Arts, in Berlin, has
given to the world, in his figure of an
artistically formed woman, the follow
ing measurements. Height, 63h inch
es;; breadth Of neck, 81 inches; shout
ders Is inches; waist, inches; hips
1915 inches.
Long before Professor Schadow's
time an unknown artist created the
statue, the Venus de Medici the world S
ideal of perfection in the female figure,
on these measurements. Height, GO
inches; breadth of neck, 4 inches;
shoulders, is inches waist, 91s inches;
hips Is inches.
Professor Sergeant, with several
thousand tabulated life measurements
in hand, produced composite figure Of
the young American girl with these
measurements: Height, 631s inches;
breadth of neck, Ss inches; girth of
neck, III inches; breadth of waist, sc
inches; girth of waist, 246 inches;
breadth of hips,a 1871 inches; girth Of
hips, 35.4 inches; girth of calf, 1873 inch
es. girth of upper arm, 101 inches;
|glrth of thigh, PA inches, and forearm,
80 inches.
Miss Anna Wood has given meas
urements closely similar to those Of
Professor Sergeant, in her composite
figure Of the Wellesley college girl. be-
L ing averaged from the measurements CT
over two thousand young women.
Given the height, proportion and
weight of an average physique for the
man and woman, what should be the
attitude or posture of such an individ-
ual, especially when standing? BY
posture is meant a position of equili-
brium of the body which can be MAIN
tanned for some time, such as standing,
sitting or lying.
For the maintenance of the erect
posture the following conditions must
be realized: D The corresponding
halves of the body must be in the same
anatomical relation; (2) the center of
gravity of the whole body must fall
just in front of the last lumbar verte-
bfa. That the first of these two condi-
lions may be realized there must be a
well-developed and symmetrical skele-
ton and corresponding symmetrical
development of the muscles on the two
sides of the body. That the second
condition may be realized, there must
be such a development of the extensor
muscles on the back of the body as will
be sufficient to antagonize the fleNor
muscles on the front of the body.
These conditions are not always re-
allied, and hence certain physical de-
fects are observable, such as obliquity
Of the head, elevation or depression of
the shoulder, curvature of the spine
and so forth.
Among the defects which interfere
with proper stature and proportions
may be mentioned knock knees. bow
legs and pigeon toes.
KNOCK knees occur in childhood OF
at puberty, and are generally associa-
ted with ricketts, and due to want of
muscular or bony strength. Owing 10
the width of the pelvis, the thigh bones
are inclined inward. This determines
the direction of the deformity. There
is disproportion between the weight
of the body and the strength of the
muscles. In consequence the inner con-
dyle of the thigh bone grows down and
inward, and throws the lower leg out
| ward.
"Bowlegs are also associated with
ricketts, and want of strength in muscles
and bones. In this condition the natu-
raj curve of the bones is exaggerated
and the leg bends outward.
Pigeon toes are a term applied to the
inward direction of the foot dependent
on insufficient development of the mus
cles which should turn the foot out
ward. This is a condition observed in
monkeys and very young children.
in addition to the above mentioned
deformities relating to the trunk and
limbs, there are others found in both
men and women, especially in the lat
ter, 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 INDUCED
in through the ages. There is an idea.
however, that it confers on the individ-
ual an artistic effect. The Greek wo-
nan of the decadent period suggested
the methods and objects. 1t was adopt
ed by the Romans at the beginning of
the empire. During the middle ages il
died out. to be revived in the twelfth
century,