The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-09
MANAGEMENT OF SPINAL CURVATURE

A reader sent this suggestion for those with spinal curvature (scoliosis):
 Perhaps you could convey to F. c. G. (who inquired about exercises) a suggestion which may give some comfort to her daughter. I have had slight curvature all my life, and have re- ceived much advice. Only recently it was sug- gested to me that by wearing small extra lift on the heel of the shoe on the side opposite the curvature might be more comfortable It cer- tainly helps My right hip is higher. and I wear the extra lift on the left heel. It is not noticeable, being only twice the height of the would warn her that her daughter should never sit on her left foot carry books under her rgiht arm or on her right hip. I have been in- convenienced all my life by this small defect since dresses and skirts pull to the right side. It is astonishing how this extra lift on my shoe straghtens my spine.-(Just Friend)
 Dr Gulick observed many years ago that New York grammar school children toted home five pounds of books every evening-that was when the homework hounds were in control of the public schools of Hick Town. Now some of the schools there are trying to do away with the homework abuse at least the beeter trained teachers endeavor to keep this evil down to a minimum.
 Prolonged sitting at school desks under re- straint is large factor in the development of postura or functional curvature of the spine in children from to 12 years of age. Antiquated notions of discipline still prevail in the com- mon schools, and for some mysterious reason the quaint old-fashioned pedagogues still feel that whispering, moving about or other per- fectly natural activities must be suppressed in the school room in order that the hypersensi- tive little mollycoddes may keep their atten- tion on their studies. In actual life such abnor- mai quiet is nowhere required not even in the public library where archaic rules still post ed but not much needed by patrons.
 Nowhere in business offices work rooms is there any attempt to impose the severe quiet and "discipline' which some of these antedilu- vian school teachers and principals delight to have in the schcoo room.
 Uncorrected defects of vision, particularly as- tigmatism and muscular imbalance, contribute toward the development of spinal curvature in md dGn dnAS idnd dno ofnn ' But probably the most important cause, from the standpoint of prevention, is the studied ne- glect rather ignorance of physical education in many schools that purport to be good schools. As though school worth any par ent's confidence could train boy or girl from the neck up and ignore the child's training
 Piano and violin practice after school is bad hygeine for the delicate child, especially when there is inferior physical training in school Voice culture is good for such a child, for it gives the advantage of training in posture and in breathing, which the low grade school fails to provide.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 This Lady Is Cold and Hot
 often wonder If you were blacksmith forced out of business by the coming of the Fords, or if you ever earned any kind of honest living If you sat in this office for just one eight hour day, with various windows open at top. ventiiator at bottom. transom open too and the radiator probably turned off entirely you would learn to spell draft with a capital ID. Yes, you would also begin to comprehend what resist anCe' means. IfOuDlc IS some 1OlkS take you seriously, and think if little draft is harmless of course you can't catch cold from a big One . yeritabe hurricane. don't see why you don't make a good job of it and advocate only win- dowless houses. Moving air may be all right for the blacksmith shop where you have a nice fire going close at hand but good Lord, man, there is a place for everything. Miss Skinny Shiver, our office Holy Fright).
 Answer-No, I was brought up in a sawmill where they have no doors But I don't mind telling you. Skinny that sympathze with you, honestly. and I think office workers are silly asses if they put up with actual discomfort from cold in order to have fresh air. How about putting screens of unbleached muslin in the windows and if anybody questions your method of ventilating the office. tell e you are following the advice of Ole Doc Brady
 Col Sellers Rcdiyivus
 What. prophylactically, does 1t profit man and spoons are distributed by greaseball with ably lousy anatomy ever and anon? Or coun- terInan grabbing a handful of forks and spoons from box which presently are inserted in the mouths of caters. It Is only luck if he happens to get hold of the handles of these. What do you think about obligatory sterilization of all restaurant dining tools and their subsequent wrapping in protective wrappers until used?
 Answer-That would be false assurance. have little faith in the value of such wrappers on anything. Rotten goods may be done up in beautiful wrappers Personally, I have no quams about eating with utensils that are just washed with hot water and served by persons h0 not ahvfouglu filthy.