Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-09-06
THE MARKS OF LABOR
LEFT UPON THE HUMAN FIGURE
FROM ADAPTATION.

NVSIdI0ISuSs
Every occupation brings about its
own deformities.
The principle at the bottom of it all
is that we were not created to he al
ways standing up, nor always sitting
down, nor always kneeling, nor always
bending over; and that, with the ex-
ception OF climate, we were created 10
obey the law of diversity as we'll in the
movements OF our bodies, day by day,
as in our daily nourishment. The
best proof Of this fact is that, apart
from accidents, longevity attaches in
the main just to those professions that
afford the entire organism the great
est amount of exercise-those of the
soldier, the painter, the sculptor, and
the actor.
Even the person who has no EN-
ployment is subject to his own peculiar
deformities. If there exists such q
thing as perfect leisure, the proper re-
suits of that condition are produced,
fatty degeneration, an@mia, arrest of
growth. Diderot was correct when he
wrote: "It is the daily occupations
which determine not only the entire
size of the figure but also the true
proportions OF each member and their
combinations" Police magistrates
are rarely deceived At first sight as to
the profession of workman.
Among the professions there are
some deformities which affect the
health directly, and Others which
merely alter the normal normal atti-
tude of the body to the prejudice of
hygiene and athletics. The first fall
within the proper domain OF medicine
and still awsit their correct scientific
description. Here and there we read
of the necrosis of the match manufac-
turer, or the cataract of the black
smith, or the paralysis OF the miner,
and similar instances. But there still
remains to be written an entire treat
Use on the subject which would be of
the greatest interest and which would
indicate the means of guarding
against the dangers which beset nu-
merous class of workmen who are de-
voted to variety of special interests.
M. Chevalisr has made . number OF
Investigations and concluded that
compositors who are always standing
are apt to suffer from palsy, fatigue,
and. with age and an abuse OF alco.
holic liquors, from varicose veins and
ulcers. The same is true of women
who are employed in shops who have
to stand for ten and twelve or thirteen
hours consecutively. Some Of the
cleaners who have had to kneel long
while scruhbing are subject to swelling
OF the knee and to hycanthrosis, es-
pecially when they are rheumatic.
Occupations which require bend.
ing posture comprise those of the
clerk, the tailor, the shoemaker, the
gardener, the miner, the engraver, the
wood sawyer, the laundress, and
others. These have all the troubles
which come from the engagement Of
the viscers, whence arise affections oi
the digestive organs and the head
aches and countless other ills which
follow therefrom. The vertebral col.
umn tends also to be dsformed, as we
see frequently in the case of old gar
deners as we'll as aged students.
The metallic vapors Of mercury
copper. and arsenic are pernicious to
workmen exposed to them; those ex.
posed to the vapors Of copper have q
marked greenish color of the hair,
skin, and mucous membrane. The ef-
fects of arsenic are most injurious.
As for the evil results attending mer.
curry We may instance the case OF the
English ship which took on board q
cargo Of mercury and had its whole
crew attacked with salvation, ulcera.
ton, and partial paralysis.
Among instrumental musicians,
flutists and clarionetists may be rec.
ognized by the position of their lips
and the putting out of their cheeks
The violinists, who hold their violins
in place with their chins, hang their
heads, and incline them towards one
side. Harpists and players on the
guitar have callosities of the fingers,
Pianists have . tendency to an exag.
gerated development of the hands
such as Weber, who could stretch two
octaves.
Grooms and cavalry officers have
bow-legs ard incline to toe in
Priests, magistrates, and all who wear
skirts are predisposed to drag their
legs in distinction from soldiers, who
raise them. Dancers who have worked
hard at pointing have q deviation oil
the internal metatarsus, commonly
known as the onion. Painters have
the mark Of the palette.hole on theil
left thumbs.