However well formed the upper half of the torso may be, its health and beauty of form are dependent upon the abdominal walls. Let us select ten thousand men and women, of eaqual numbers if you will, and take a preliminary view of their general shape.

None may be called out of health, and all would expect to pass successfully an examination on a life insurance application.

Ask any one of these ten thousand persons to take a full breath and let it out speedily, and the defective chest will appear at once by its drop. Again ask one to sit, and the chest will fall of itself, causing the abdomen to bulge forward slightly.

Ask anyone to stand and raise the chest, and the shoulders will be elevated instead.

Let any number sit and read, write, or converse, and the chest will drop down on the abdomen, causing a tendency to flat upper fronts and round shoulders, besides producing ill health by reason of cramping and deforming the organs.