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CHAP. VI.] and hardly looking either to the right or to the left. This is, however, a most unnatural state of affairs, and as such is to be condemned. Upon all who are responsible for the lives and well-being of children I would urge the maxim which Thompson formulates in the following lines :—
 * " Health is the vital principle of bliss,
 * And exercise of health."

All unnatural positions, such as stooping, poking the head forward, standing on one leg, leaning towards one side, or holding the head on one side, should be discouraged, as they are likely to produce deformity. When, as is usually the case, the positions are adopted owing to local weakness, which renders them more comfortable than others, the little sufferer should be persuaded to lie on its back for several hours in the day, until it has grown stronger and the tendency has been overcome. Cases of deformity arise commonly in this way in ricketty children; but in strong children bad positions are often adopted from a mere trick, perhaps acquired by imitation, which has been overlooked by parents and nurse, and may equally lead to deformity. Those who have the charge of children should be constantly on the watch for the first symptoms of bad habits, and, when discovered, they should at once set about to combat them; for it is easy to prevent the acquirement of bad habits, but very difficult to cure them when they have gained a footing.

If one limb or organ is weaker than the others,