The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-18
GbanshlIIs 1aiIp gournal.
Health of American Women.


Of health. longevity and disease are be-
ing collected, which are very valuable
and interesting. 1t is found that in acute
diseases, as fevers and those induced bv
sudden sctive causes, tie cases are al
most perfectly equally distributed be-
tween the two sexes. But in consump-
ton and other affections induced by the
evil habits Of dress and by perversions
of the laws OF health and prudence, the
cases are double in number among fe
males to what they among the males.
Here evidently is indicated in language
too plain to be misunderstood, the exist
ance of some special cause producing con-
sumption among females out of all rea
sunable pr portion; and which does not
act in the case Of fevers and many other
diseases. 1t NAV lie SAID that womans
more delicate organization renders her
more susceptible to tn attacks oil disease;
but il her organization is sensitive and
delicate 1t is also endowed with great
thing might be said in regard TO typhus
fever; but statistics disprove the hypothe-
sis; and moreover. men from their occu
pations are much more exposed to the
danger of consumption than women are
at least b. any necessity. But it is illog
ical to seek in the dark distance for
causes, when all sufficient ones lies
open be ore our eyes. Look at the dress
OF the women.
Enslaved by tvrranical fashions importd
from the central city Of immortality and
despotism. with bead dress that may
be well enough in temperate climate
for lady who never goes out but IN
carriage, or the uursery women in shad-
ed gardens, but crimnally absurd where
the sun burns with all but tropical
power. and where the intense cold pene-
trateS the skull and stops the action of
the brain; with their necks, and shame
t. their regard both for health and mod
esty more than what is entitled to be so
called, expose1 one moment to the heat
ed air OF the bail roOm, and another to |
blasts like those that froze the blood OF |
the stern Pilgrim Fathers; with arms
p'nioned to their sides, with shoulder 4
blades displaced and back bones twisted l
by steel bound corSets that compass the |
breast and contract the waist till it is |
wasp like, in defiance alike OF the laws |
of health aud physical beauty, as
glance at the classic models of Greece |
or the pictures of the middle ages would |
show them, beauty which consists not /
IN the artificial forms invented 10y man /
OF woman, but in the free and full deyel- |
opement Of that glorious organism which /
God has given as The tempe OF the soul;
with form contracted by fashions from
the gardens not OF Paradise, but OF 1
Paris; ioaded with skirts and silks that
trail through the varied filth of the
streets AMI sidewalks. that ruin their
husbands, and increase that ease in
walking for which the American women
are 50 renowned with shoes so thin that
a stout man would catch cold through
them at once; with general :h;nness OF
dress and recklessness ofexposure which
| need say no more of, for every man
that cares for the moGesty, health and
happiness OF hls countrywomen, gazes at
them with wonder and sorrow.
Why need we seek further to learn
how it is that American women, y ho are
frequently said to be the most beautiful
in the civilized world, are so frall and
delicate and die SO early! AS the moral
aw can never be violated without Jegra-
iatlon to the soul, the absolute certainty
) retribution here or hereafter, SO all VI
oiat'ons of the laws of physical health
'ause injury to the body, and bring with
them the inevitable penalties OF disease
And the American mothers are to some
,xtent responsible for these wasted lives,
lnd for the heart-rending sorrow that IS {
brought to many bereayed husband and !
,rphand Child. But in this free country
hey have not real independence enough
o preserve their daughters mOdeSty
md health, il some cast-off French fash
on lays upon them its irresistible laws.
md that az y tight jacket, with half !
kirt, which halt year ago was sign OF
eproach to any woman IN the streets of
Paris, must now be put upon the virtuous e
laushters of New England mothers.
he small waist is the beauty of a
Gasp and not of a woman; and the trail
ng IN the mud OF costly silks is more
ulted for spendthrifts than for the wives :
,f simple American citizens. ?