Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-07
FASHIONABLE DEATH.
Opium Eating and Corset Lacing.
From the Detroit Free Press, 18th.

From the Detroit Free Press, 18th.
Two street incidents occurred on Sat |
day which will serve to open the eyes
of that portion of the public living in
Ignorance of the fact that numbers of
our citizens are gradually drugging
themselves to death with opium, and
that tight lacing is more surely running
the health of every female who can be
driven by the whip of fashion While
very stylish looking lady was passing
down Michigan Grand avenue, on the
north side of the market, she suddenly
fell to the walk in a dead faint Sa~
eral ladies gathered around and ha1
her removed inside the market, wheo
asprinkle of camphor and water heone hi
her to, but only to faint again. One of
the ladies then unlocked the dress of
the unconscious victim, and found that
her corset strings had been drawn so
tight that the ribs had been well nigh
crushed in. A knife was brought into
requisition to cut the laces, and within
moment thereafter the lady was able
to stand up, and soon got into carriage
and proceeded homeward. Fashion has
decreed that women's waist must be
reduced to gun-barrel size, if possible
and this was fashionable lady, deter
mined to reduce her waist to the stand
ard size even if she laced the life out
of her body What induced her, or
what induces any lady to imagine that
they look more genteel, more refined or
more lovely with waist like broom
stick, instead of the one nature gave
them, is more than can be explained.
The strongest man in Detroit could not
live day with his body imprisoned be,
tween the jaws of a corset even if it
were but half laced, and how woman
stands the squeezing, lis mystery that
is only explained by one of the
! best physicians in the city, that half
/ his practice comes from the victims of
tight lacing, who have rush of blood to
| the head, cold feet and hands, fever,
palpitation of the heart, dyspepsia and
indigestion.
The other incident occurred at the
corner of Congress and Shelby SITS. A
man was observed staggering along the
walk, and just at the corner he fell
He was well dressed, gentleman in
appearance, and two or three pedes-
TRANS raised him up, thinking he had
fit. One suggested calling the police,
another wanted to bring surgeon,
/ but in two or three minutes the man
arose and explained that there was no
occasion for either, saying he would be
all right in few minutes. He was an
| opium eater, and had taken little too
large dose, producing giddiness
which made his gait resemble that of a
person intoxicated. He soon resumed
his way, and for few days he will be
careful and not take another overdose.
Why does he take any2 Ask scores of
others why they eat opium. They eat
it to drown trouble, to give them false
strength, to enjoy the pleasure of a
sem1-unconsclous state, where one lies
with half closed eyes, feeling a swaying,
swinging motion, as if gently pushed to
and fro IN hammock, seeing pleasant
visions, feeling a peace which nothing
can disturb while the effects of the drug
last What makes so many hollow eyes,
so many old faces on the shoulders of
young persons-so many lethargic and
drowsy looking men and women? Ask
the druggist. Every druggist has his
opium customers, every druggist knows
thaG an opium eaters life is limited
the day he acquires the habit. Death
does not come soon enough for some
Americans. They must wear paper
shoes, lag the brain with a weight OF
false hair, squeeze the feet into
shoes too small, thereby iniuring the
circulation of the blood, go without
shawls'when men need overcoats, lace
the ribs out of shape with corsets, pro
duce disease by the use of drugs, pois-
on the flesh with paint and enamels
Aud the trade of the undertaken is the
busiest one Of all.