Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-05-10
EP0OR HEALTH OF AMERICAN WOMEN.

fast becoming proverbial. \ gentleman
of intelligence once told me that the be
lief originated with the English, and is
without just foundation; but | am con
vinced, BY ocular demonstra ion. that the
tender and fragile nature of American
women IS not a myth
The want of physical exercise by Amer
lean girls, while growing up, is one cause
Of premature old age. Much of the in>
sanity that affects our land is attributed
by physicians to the want of bodily outs
door exercise in childhood and the preco
cious development of mind With the
ancients physical culture first received
attention then moral. then mental The
American girls have fairer, fresher APP
pearance from Is to Il wears of age than
foreigners, hut fade earlier
The loss of health and detection of spir-
its of single women in the middle and
higher classes of society arise mostly
from the want Of some regular occupa-
ton. some definite aim, some high and
cifNIIlHI lHENulI ~ q igclIfHt IL Is y lex
ander Walker who saws, I. would be
easy to show that disease, as we'll as de-
fcrmitv, is an inevitable result of the neg
lpct Of active duties"
The health of women who work in the
fields Is cenerol lv excellent-and WHY :?
because of their exercise in pure out
door air O that I could impress on my
country women in the higher walks Of life
the necessity of more exercise in the open
air. 1t will Gle women clearer thoughts
irmer principles. more patience, self. eli
ance, and stability of character. 1t vii
@ive vigor and freedom to both mind and
body. Especially would we recommend
this panacea to the consideration Of young
mothers. Since the hvdropathic system
has become fashionable, we think more
attention has been paid to the general
health Of the body. A prudent diet, out
door exercise, relaxation, and freedom
from the use of strong medicine, are tend
inc to restore strength and yigor to many
shattered constitutions
Most American men are so absorbed in
business that they have not time to re
lievn their wives ut all of domestic cares
and fail to give thcm cncoura cement and
friendly advice The want of cOn@eniali-
tv in the dispo itions Of husbands and
wives, and the customs Of social life, Of
ten produce discord in the home circle
that is detrimental to health. The readi-
ness of American women to make any cx-
"rtion for the good Of those they love is
hi@hly commendabIe; yet, in justice to
themselves, they should not make sacri-
fees that will involve their soundness of
mind or body
Another source of discomfort, and c7en
ofilI health, is occupying imperfcctlv ven
tilated rooms Especially is this the case
with the poorer classes of people
The general use of -four bread and con
Stipating food are fertile sources of indi-
gcstion with its train Of ailments. In ad
dition IS the excess Of food in which the
Americans indulge They eat even more
heartily than the English, and indulge
more than any other ci.ilized nation in
the use of warn, liquid, oily substances,
Another cause of the poor health Of
American women is the want of thorough
" educated and experienced female ply
Sicians, to whom they may explain their
diseases. and from whom they may receive
relief Quack medicines have also done
much to bring about the present low state
of health. They will account in many
eases for weak nerves, aching bones, and
shattered frames
\ lady of foreign birth spoke to me of
Americans being so nervous, and attrib-
ed it partly to the climate. She thought
it marvellous that Americans have such
cool forms as they do when they grow so
rapidly, but attributed it to their restless
ness, which prevented their being long in
one position. so that anv defect was not
likely to become fixed. Much of the i'll
health of shop girls is brought on by their
standing so long and constantly, and the
employer who viii not allow his store
women to sit down and rest when they
can. deserves to lose bis patronage.
Another cau=e of premature decay and
increase of disease is the adoption ofcer-
tain fashions Fashion has ever been a
tvrart and those who yield to her hehest>
must pay dearly for the homage. One
,orm Of disease. 50 common among ladies
for a feu years past, has been attributed
hv some Of cur hest physicians to the
wearing of too many and too heavy skirts
and some who saw the terrible effects re-
ioiced at a remedy in the introduction o.
Iirhter and sitter materials for skirts, as
crinoline and whalebone. \ more healthy
style for the make Of women'S appare
would be to have the skirts shorter, ana
the weight of the clothes to press more or
the shouldcrs-lesS on the waist and hips
I sdpuose that there are none who vii
read this. but have learned from hearsay
or observation perhaps experience :
something of the injurious effects OF tigh
Il,