Witches’ Broom is a malformation that typically affects the natural structure of trees, causing them to become misshapen, like the human condition scoliosis. Both conditions deviate from the ‘norm’.
The scoliotic spine, a biomechanical deformity, grows into an S-like shape. These works arose from personal reflections of my own experience of spinal fusion surgery and an exploration of archival material on the anatomy of the spine.
Photography, historical texts, artefacts relating to past treatments, and a three-dimensional piece (a model of my back subtracted from a block of wood using a 3D twin camera scanner and a CNC router) are combined.
X-Ray of artist's back with adolescent idiopathic (of which eighty per-cent of cases affect females and have no definite cause) scoliotic curve of ninety degrees (2007).
Galen’s method of scoliosis treatment on a device similar to the Hippocratic scamnum, C. 5thCentury BCE. Hippocrates and Galen, two ancient Greek physicians, were the first in recorded history to describe and treat scoliosis. The term was used in a wider sense to describe both natural and traumatic curvatures of the spine. Their approaches involved physical manipulation of the spine in the opposite direction of the curvature and were forerunners of the rack, an instrument of torture.
Medieval Byzantine Ladder. Treatments for spinal curvatures during the medieval period were influenced by mechanical/forceful solutions of the ancient Greeks. With the aim of pulling the spine back into a straightened position with minimal damage to the spinal cord, the patient would be shaken with their hands tied to their body and ankles to a ladder.
Frontispiece of Nicolas Andry’s Orthopaedia (1741). A crooked sapling tied to a straight stake; a metaphor for correcting deformities in children.The scoliotic tree has become an international symbol for orthopaedics and scoliosis. Andry’s naming of Orthopaedia came from the Greek words Orthos (straight/free from deformity) and Pais (children).
Frontispiece of Nicolas Andry’s Orthopaedia (1741). A crooked sapling tied to a straight stake; a metaphor for correcting deformities in children.The scoliotic tree has become an international symbol for orthopaedics and scoliosis. Andry’s naming of Orthopaedia came from the Greek words Orthos (straight/free from deformity) and Pais (children).
Eighteenth Century Minerva Jacket designed by Levacher. The spine was held in a corrected, aligned position without traction being exerted onto it.
Lewis Albert Sayre’s Spinal Disease and Spinal Curvature: Their Treatment by Suspension and the use of the Plaster of Paris Bandage (1877). Sayre introduced the technique of suspending the patient and wrapping the body. ‘The patient, whilst wearing the plaster of Paris jacket, should practice self-suspension every day once or twice, and from three to five minutes at a time, by slowly climbing the rope until the toes just touch the floor. […] If the hands be allowed to descend below the level of the head, there will be a risk of too much strain being thrown upon the ligaments of the neck, and of consequent serious damage. […] The patient appears much less anaemic, and the skin presents a ruddier and more natural tint.’
Lewis Albert Sayre’s Spinal Disease and Spinal Curvature: Their Treatment by Suspension and the use of the Plaster of Paris Bandage (1877). Sayre introduced the technique of suspending the patient and wrapping the body. ‘The patient, whilst wearing the plaster of Paris jacket, should practice self-suspension every day once or twice, and from three to five minutes at a time, by slowly climbing the rope until the toes just touch the floor. […] If the hands be allowed to descend below the level of the head, there will be a risk of too much strain being thrown upon the ligaments of the neck, and of consequent serious damage. […] The patient appears much less anaemic, and the skin presents a ruddier and more natural tint.’
‘Forcible Correction’ in Samuel Kleinberg’s Scoliosis: Rotary Lateral Curvature of the Spine(1926) ‘A muslin bandage […] is then passed about the chest at the site of maximum deformity, with the ends projecting on the left side. […] The assistant standing to the left of the patient pulls this band as much as the patient’s tolerance will permit. The shoulders and pelvis being fixed, this band when pulled will materially reduce the deformity in practically all but the very severe cases.’
Milwaukee brace, C. 1964/twentieth century. This is only one example of many braces invented to treat scoliosis. This type of treatment continues today, commonly in the US. Here a full torso brace extends from the pelvis to the base of the skull. Three bars are attached to a pelvic girdle made of leather or plastic and a neck ring. The efficacy of bracing is debatable. Braces halt, rather than rectify curves. Studies have shown that social factors may also make these types of braces ineffective.
Exercises in Early Scoliosis or Curable Curvatures of the Spine, Percy G. Lewis (1895). ‘The Practice of gymnastics, properly carried out, is the natural cure of scoliosis. The muscles are weak, and should therefore be strengthened by suitable exercises.’ [...]‘Exercises for Untwisting: Patient standing. Starting with the arms straight and horizontal, and inclined as far as possible to the right, both arms are rapidly moved against resistance as far as possible to the left and by rotating the spine to the left, they can be carried still further.’
Harrington rods, mid twentieth century. Surgical interventions for scoliosis began in the early twentieth century and gained popularity in the 1950s when Paul Harrington invented stainless steel Harrington rods with a ratcheting mechanism to correct the curvature. This led to a rapid development in hardware development for spine surgeries.
Correction of idiopathic scoliosis with titanium rods (2007). Anterior and posterior spinal fusion surgery of vertebrae T4 to L2. Since the development of X-Rays in 1901, doctors have been able to see inside the body and diagnose without dissection.
Mechanical corrective apparatus is still an integral part of treating scoliosis. By utilising a digital sculpting process and a photographic re-interpretation of a scoliotic tree, I have considered how we came to the contemporary medical understanding of the condition.
Witches’ Broom is an offering to all who have experienced scoliosis. It also questions what is “normal”.
“We are shaped the way we are, not all straight to your purpose, but to ours.” (Susan Griffin)
Artefacts found on the Wellcome Collection's online and physical libraries.
Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK) is a useful charity offering support for people and families affected by scoliosis:
Exhibited as part of the MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography final show 'Everything Was Forever' in November 2019.