Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-11-18
Miscellaneous.
FASHION AND DISEASE.

FASHION AND DISEASE.
The editor Of the Scalpel, in very inter.
esling article, in the August number Of that
exceIlen. work, on the crippled condition Of
the lungs, in woman, makes the following
sensible remarks, which We commend to
The serious attention Of every female:
"Only look at the position Of a fashiona.
bly, dressed woman, sitting in her rocking
chair, embtoidering; see the approximation
Of her arms, and the bent neck and body
The chest containing the lungs has to sustain
the whole weight Of the head and arms;
they hang upon it almos, like pieces of dead
flesh; the intes,ines are forced down upon
the womb, and the great blool-vessels that
supply The limbs are compressed. There is
the beautiful spine snperbly arched by the
Great Artist, with its exqusitely arranged
and graceful curves to bring tho centre OF
gravity between the feet, tho very line ol
b.auty,ts unmatched aud unequalled elastic
substance between each bone, 10 take off the
shock Of every step, the collar.bones TO
keep the arms apart. and to allow the lungs
full play, and to show the beauty of the
breast and throat, with beautiful and grand
muscles on the back to keep back the shoul.
ders-the whole woman-'a dream OF Eden
when the world was youns;;' and look, on.
" look at the best results Of fashionable So
ciety. Great Heaven! Spirits of Guido and
Raphael, do ye behold her! Shades of Hun
,er and Bell, do not yoarbones rattle inyour
graves at the spectacle? Such respiration
with the lungs poisoned and irrtaled BY the
atmosphere Of The parlor. and the rank and
sitting smell Of magnificent velvet car
net, filled with dust for the simple reason
that it cannot be swep, away; the light OF
heaven shut out BY blinds and curtains, will
s,iae three quarters Of the natural demand
for air, exercise and food. it will consesl the
hands and eye-lids. rob The colorless blood
vessels tha, nourish the window or pellrcid
cornea Of the eye and give it lis sparkling
lus,re. and the skin its fairness, nuke the
finger nails blue, take away the capacity and
muscular power 10 hold up the head and
keep the shoulders back. constipate the bow
els, BY robbing them Of their secrelons and
the constant motion impaired by full sup
ply uf air 10 their muscular coat, and make
the whole woman mere hall-vltallzed ma
chine, fit only TO give the sickly replies Of
mental insanity to the insulting twaddle she
expects to receive from the male Tool that
sits before her. This is the actual condition
Of almost every fashionable woman in the
city, and it is brought about mainly by want
Of exercise; she is unable to take il from Tie
construction of her dress. and the slavish I'D.
herence 10 fashion; indeed she does not
dream Of its necessity; she feels the wretch
ed Ie,harsy tina, presses win leaden weight
upon her soul she knows that the 8 lad earth
is .ull Of music, Of love and happiness; lleF
smolhered instincts tell her She ought 10
share them, but u mone,onous conventional
ism threatens her with 'Ostracism il she al'
low ray Of nature to warm the generous
IMPULSE into life Great God when look
upon the beautiful and fair faces ol my coull'
,ry.women as thry move before me like SO
many automatic under the iron despoilsm oil
that bluolless and sickIy thing called fashion,
INV soul is sick at the spectacle, and am
ulal TO escape into the forest where cat'
see lhe wild bird hymnns the praises o It's
Creator,an listen TO the unchecked mumu'
of the winds, aud the leuping OF the dancing
1ivulet; and when | return to the duties O.
life, | look from my window upon the I'lslt
spo, of vcrdule city prison allows me, aIIc
| hear the murmur Of the bee, and SEQ TIC
little hummins. slipping the nectar from
The honey.suckle, my heart yet leaps will
childish delight as the lovely little creature
swings upon the branches; return to m!
,,sk and | feel that il ! had the eIoquenct
and benevoleuce Of Christ, could spend m!
life in no better cause than attempting he
instruction in The laws Of her being, ant
showing her how beauty and truth, love AM
simplicity ufe insemnbly connected will
the sublime science Of liIe' If