The Washington times., 1922-04-02

As hong as q man has q strong and nor
NAL muscular system the disadvantsges of
the erect position do not appear to cause
great trouble, but in women. the feeble
and the old. the disadvantages are always
apparent. Downward displacement of the
abdominal organs are very common among
these classes. The stomach and colon, es.
pecially the transverse colon, the kidneys
end spleen are frequently displaced and
may sink right down into the pelvis.
In the animals the stomach, colon. ETC..
do not hang suspended by ligaments, but
rest evenly throughout their extent on the
broad. strong surface of the abdominal
wall. Their kidneys rest instead of being
suspended. The abdominal contents do
not press on the pelvic floor and hernia is
rare among them. The thighs of animals
are usually bent on the abdomen and this
lends additional support.
Appendicitis and Inflammation Of the
intestines are especially diseases Of the
erect position. The intestinal action must
force the food up through the ascending
colon. and II this force is sluggish there
etu8u0tiou ~ tuC udSC Va tuo Soioht
leading to appendicitis and other troubles.
In the animals the intestines lie in . near
ly horizontal position and the contents do
not have to be forced upward.
Mans peculiar habits Of eating and liv-
ing exaggerate the evils inseparable from
the erect posture. All rich and indigesti-
BILE foods produce numerous poisonous pro-
ducts In the blood. and these sink by grav.
station to the lower part OF the body. caus.
ing rheumatism, gout and similar troubles.
And what are the practical lessons that
we should learn from these discoveries
about the erect posture:
Considering the direct and indirect re-
sponsihility Of erect posture for so much
disease and suffering" said DR.. Knox
Thompson, II believe that the knowledge
Of that responsibility has not been suffi.
ciently utilized for the cure OF certain dis.
eases. Among them may be mentioned
most Of the catarrhs and arrangements of
the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tract.
comprising chronic nasal catarrh, acute
and chronic middle.ear disease disease of
the antrum Of Highmore and other acces.
sorry sinuses, bronchitis, bronchiectasis,
phthisis, dyspepsia, sastritis, gastric ulcer.
colitis, appendicitis, etc; certain forms OF
albuminuria. renal prolapse and prolapse
of other abdominal organs, including dila.
tion and prolapse of the stomach, prolapss
Of the colon; various vascular diseases such
as varicose veins, heart affections, an.
eurysm, ETC.; diseases and curvature of the
spine, and tendency to contracted pelvis,
hip-joint disease. knock.knees, bow-legs, etc.
Some may argue that recumbency does
all that the auadruped position could be
hoped to do but think that Is not so. In
a short or acute illness redundancy is prob
ably all that is needed In the way OF pos.
ture, but in a long and chronic afflictiou
the absence Of exercise in the recumbcut
posture continued over long period has
a weakening and deteriorating effect on the
constitution, whereas In such conditions
Is spinal curvature or Potts disease, ETC.,
the quadruped position would allow . con.
siderable amount Of healthful exercise.
THE erect posture should not be too
early adopted In children, and after learn
ing itthey should be encouraged to revert
to the allfours position for a while each
day. The Oriental custom Of sitting or
reclining on the ground or on couches or
mattresses, instead Of sitting on chairs, has
much to recommend It."