Solomon Ben David vs Nicholas Andry
“…one must not neglect the body and let it become deformed, this would be against the intention of the Creator; this is the basic principle of orthopaedics […] this book is aimed exclusively at fathers and mothers and all people bringing up children who must try to prevent and correct any deformed part of the child body” – Nicholas Andry (L’Orthopédie 1741)*
The “crooked tree” symbol is attributed to Nicholas Andry. He reasoned that just as a crooked tree is made to grow straight when it’s growth is directed so a crooked bone/deformity can be straightened when it’s growth is directed. What started primarily as a medical speciality to correct childhood deformities has since then progressed to address all musculoskeletal issues from pediatric to geriatric age groups. Since then this crooked tree has become the logo of numerous orthopedic societies and institutions.
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
Proverbs 22:6 NLT – Solomon Ben David
Here we see an distinctive resemblance in the thought process of both King Solomon and Nicholas Andry. Did Andry take a leaf out of the former’s book and applied it too literally? Both wanted to harness the mallebility of childhood for a better future (sans crookedness).
The verb translated “direct or train” (חנך – chanak) means, first, “to put something into the mouth,” “to give to be tasted,” as nurses give to infants food which they have masticated in order to prepare it for their nurslings; thence it comes to signify “to give elementary instruction,” “to imbue,” “to train.” The Hebrew literally is, Initiate a child in accordance with his way. In the Hebrew Bible this word chanak appears 5 times and rest of the 4 times it’s translated as “dedicate” in English.
A very good example of what happens when the parent takes initiative to train and direct is seen in the following 3 verses depicting the life of Samuel:
1 Samuel 1:28 (Prayer of a mother)
“Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”
1 Samuel 2:26 (Straight growth of the child)
“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.”
1 Samuel 12:2,3 (Lifelong benefits of early initiation)
“And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.”
“Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est.” So much depends upon the habit in tender years.
This hold true both for Orthopedics and for life.
*Andry N (1741) L‘orthopédie ou l’art de prevenir et de corriger dans les enfants les difformités du corps. A Paris, chez la Veuve Alix et chez Lambert et Durand, 1st ed.
joyancejames 