The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-04-03
Influence Of Sewing Machines on
the Health and Morals Of Women.

the Health and Morals Of Women.
We have received from the publisher
Mr. Henry G. Lea, Of Philadelphia the los
number of Rankings halfyearly abstrac
of the medical sciences. The selections 0
articles on the different branches Of medi
cal science, is remarkably good. In prac
tical medicine, surgery, Obstetrics ant
mete,ia aneoica, the best contributions tt
the English and Continental journals ar,
reproduced, whilst the reviews. photograph
ical notices, &c are of more than ordinar,
interest. A very striking article, by NJ
Guibont, of Paris, on the ainauence 0
sewing machines on the health and moral.
Of work-women," is published in this mum
Der. The fact that these ingenious labor
saving contrivances have come into sucl
general use in this country, invests this ar
ticle with uncommon interest, and we re
produce its leading features for the consid
Grafton Of our readers. The editor say;
that any one who witnessed the wonder
fal activity Of that ingenious continuance
the sewing machine, worked by an inteili
gent seamstrcss, would scarcely imagine
| that it is calculated in some degree to en-
danger the morals of work women This
appears to be the case from report of NJ
Guibont to the Medical Society Of Hospi,
tails. He produces cases to illustrate his
theory.-He says; /" A month ago two
women, entirely unknown to each other
and employed in different factories, applied
to me for advice on the same day. The
first was pale, lymphatic woman, much
bent and emaciated, and suffering from Sc.
we're epigactic pain, dyspepsia, incessant
leucorrhGa and a marked state of general
debility.
She attributed all her symptoms to the
effects of the sewing machine. Before her
admission into the factory, when she was
in the habit of using it, she was strong,
fresh colered, in vigorous health, and had
never suffered with disease of any kind.
Since seven or eight months she had OBJ
served q gradual decay in her health,
strength and appearance, and the diseases
above mentioned had set in and were grow
ing worse daily. She also stated that
whilst the moral effect Of the work had
been very perceptibly felt by her, it was not
so with her companions, and that many of
them had experienced the most disagreea-
bic symptoms in this respect"
The same author speaks of another pa
tient. who was a strong, dark haired wo-
man, of sanguine temperament. She work
ed a sewing machine in large factory, and
had enjoyed perfect health up to the period
of her admission in the establishment,
where she remained about twelve months,
and was obliged to leave on account Of the
fatigue and pains caused by the nature of
her occupation. She alluded to the moral
effect of the work on herself, and said that
Of FIVE hundred women employed in the
house at least two hundred experienced the
same effects that she had done that the
work women were constantly changing,
and were unable to perseyere at the trade
any length oftime. They entered the house
in good health, but all Left it thin and de-
bilitated.
More recently, DR.. Down, physician to
an asylum for idiots in England, has made
some observations confrmatory ofM. Gui-
bont's conclusions. His attention had
been attracted by the constant recurrence
of cases characterized by pallor lassitude,
pain in the back, leucorrhea, ETC., attended
by the moral symptoms mentioned by
Guibont. Upon inquiry he learned that
these cases occurred amongst the women
who worked habitually at the sewing ma
chine.
Many Of the physicians of our own city
have lately met with cases presenting all
Of the physical and moral symptoms men
toned by the authors above quoted, and
concur in attributing them to working on
sewing machines. The constant action of
the lower extremities, and the see-saw mo-
ton Of the entire body wear them out, and
cause pains in the back and stomach md
the symptoms mentioned above. It is
highly desirable, if sewing ma
chimes are to be continued in use, tkat me-
chanical skill contrive some other motive
power than the feet Of the women who use
them.