"COLLEGE SLOUCH" PROVED BY ORTHOPEDIC TESTS

Statistics gathered by Dr. D. T. Brown, published in the current Illustrated, show that of the 746 men in the Freshman Class, a little more than four-fifths are using their body in a markedly relaxed position; three-fifths have no knowledge of how to use their bodies properly or how to stand up straight, and nearly two out of every ten have feet which would prevent them from serving their country in time of war.

Records were made of each student by a reducing camera which focussed the image on tracing paper. Two tracings were made of each student, one in his ordinary standing position and one in his idea of the correct position. The results of the foot and the regular physical examinations were placed upon the paper. The tracings were then graded from the point of view of posture.

A student was considered in good posture if he came up to the standard which was in general judged by the following rules: Weight on the balls of the feet, abdomen in, chest up and chin in. An "A" grade was given to those that answered all the requirements and a "B" to those that failed in one. Those who failed in two were graded "C" and those who failed in all "D".

The results showed that of 746 students examined 50 were in Class A, 90 in Class B, 413 in Class C and 193 in Class D.

These figures mean that four out of five stood in a bad posture and that the college slump, instead of being bad, is very much of a reality.

When the 746 students were told to stand as straight as possible, 94 remained in Class A, 182 in Class B, 283 in Class C and 187 in Class D.

In regard to the question, "Does this slumped position or relaxed posture carry with it a potential of sickness?" it was found in general that the C and D classes showed a greater variety and higher percentage of sickness than Classes A and B.

The examinations showed that 82 per cent. have feet that would probably stand the strain of a course of military training; 15.5 per cent. have feet that would not stand such work.