New Ulm review., 1921-11-02
PROGR ANS PL AN
MENTAL I; CUL' | L'TURE
TURNER'S BEGIN WINTER WORK
OF STUDY AND LECTURE
COURSE.
TAKE UP SUBJECT OF SPINAL
DEFoRMITIEs AT FIRST
MEETING.

DEF AT FIRST
MEETING.
Sunday evening the Turner Societies
held the first of their monthly mental
culture programs for the winter. 1t is
planned to held these open meetings
once a month and members are at lib
erty to bring their. friends whenever
they choose to do so. The work is
planned with the idea of bringing
before. the parents. Of the children who
take up the physical training work Of
the Turner Gymnasium classes or in
the public schools, the necessity OF
home cooperation in working for the
better health Of the children, and also
with the idea Of increasing the general
information of all who attend, on sub
jects which should be of general in
sterest.
Spinal Curvature.
With this object in view, the first
meeting took up the subject of spinal
curvature. Mr.. Helm Of the Public
Schools had prepared a talk and de-
liyered it as the most important part
of the program. Mr.. Helm said that
there is an alarming amount of spinal
malsformation among the children Of
the local schools, much more than one
would suspect without giving the
matter thought. He described cases
which had coma under his observation
and told of the treatment given the
particular children to correct the de-
formities
Causes and Results.
According to Mr.. Helm, the cause
OF spinal curvature is to be found in
the habituI poor posture assumed by
the pupils in standing to recite, with.
one foot linked about the other ankle
and one hip leaning against the desk,
Also the sitting posture during study
time, the incorrect placing of desks
with reference to seats, with reference
to lights and with reference to the
height of the pupils. Any position
that lifts one shoulder or one hip con-
tinuously will cause spinal curvature
that will become permanent very
quickly if net at once corrected. Girls
are inclined to sit on one foot during
study hours and this throws the Whcle
body out Of alignment.
Not only do these poor postures re
suit in spinal curvature. The internal
organs are all so nicely suspended IN a
position, the balance cf which depends
upon the erect and straight position
of the trunk, that curve in the spine
is sure to throw them out Of posi-
ton, the lungs are cra1nped, the heart
works at a disadvantage, and the
stomach may be subjected to compres-
sion to such an extent that digestion
becomes impaired. Thus children suf-
fering from spinal curvature become
weak and pale, neven quite i'll enuf to
be under the doctors care. apparently
but never we'll and full Of life and
energy as they should be. Curvature
| is a progressive ailrrent and gradually
becomes worse as the child grows older
and many of them never reach
maturity. If they do, their health
1 /. 4 y
Correction of Deformity.
Mr.. Helm described the various kinds
of curvature and told how to detect
them. He also urged immediate at
tention to the deforrnity and mentioned
/ the method of treatment by streng
thening the muscles on the weakened
side SO that they may held the spine
/ in place. A physician should hav.
the case in charge from the beginning
|ef the trouble because there are likely
to be contributing causes in the die
which only the physician might Is,
able to discover. Mr.. Helms talk wa
very clear and instructive and shoult
certainly be OF assistance in opening
the eyes Of parents to the poor postur,
assumed by their growing girls. ant
boys. He urged more cooperation
between parents and teachers in th,
city. and suggested parents an,
teachers club. II
/ The rest of the program for til
[eYening consisted Of the singing Of >
number of the German folk-songs b
j the entire company, a humorous read
ling on the subject of Rheumatism b
4 4 Mrs Frances Scheman and two recita
i tons by Mrs. L. 6. Bell. Mr.. Hei
also read a German poem.
Mr.. and Mrs. Otto Montg omer
were pleasantly surprised last Wednes
4 day evening at the j . Holznger home
q The occasion was Mr.. and Mr.,
Montgonery's silver wedding annivel
sary, and were presented with a suitabl
n gift in rememb brance. Cards wei
. played and at the close Of the eyenin