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Dickinson: Toleration of the Corset.
1047

patient's shoulder, gives the point for marking the out-curve of the upper back, and it is then moved down to enter on the paper the most prominent part of the buttock.

The note of pressures is next made, in the manner shown fur­ther on.

The patient steps away and slips off her corset, again squares herself to the wall, her feet as before, and two new marks are made on the paper, giving the shoulder and the buttock line.

It is at once seen that this particular corset, as worn by this patient, throws the shoulders 1 1/2 inch forward and the hips

Diagram-profile of trunk-location and degree of pressure.
Fig. 34.—Chart plotting 20 consecutive pressures, the red line showing the least harmful amount and location of pressure.

1 inch backward. Therefore the trunk is 2 1/2 inches out of balance, and there is ample cause for ache and strain. The body is looked over. The condition of the back muscles confirm the findings, and perhaps the back of the leg adds evidence of spasm from long continued faulty posture.

A second patient comes in. She is round shouldered; her viscera sags and she has constant backache. She brings, to be tested before wearing, the new corset we prescribed. Her posture without the corset is noted by the method given above. She puts on the corset according to the instructions of the corsetiére or the office nurse, fastens the garters and drapes the