The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-02
Scning-Machincs as Ifenltn-ASents.

BY A. K. GARDNER, NJ. D.,
Professor OF the Diseases of Females In the late
New York McJica! College.
How curious it is that every plan, scheme
az in.trumcnt designed to benefit mankind
laIi>t 20 through regular course of denial
%,;rIciion, and persecution.
This has been true since the introduction
"i Christianity caused 4 riot in Ephesus be
,3t>e their "cratl was in danger to be set al
iou.it "-sinrc the introduction of ma.
'hinc.y into the mint of Paris raised al
.",tIts-s since the introduction of steam
r.ca.dril's in New York was followed by i
'grI'ui"mt asscmhlagc of workmcn (who sup
Nroi their living WAS TO be thereby taken
way from thcm) and the destruction OF these
tiniirIEcntS.
Sowing machines, hailed by many as
.HHugi,r,iiny white females from most de-
-r.i,uE slavery, bare gone through the
l..l-,'> al Il denial Of their usefulness on
a''"uul of cutting the thread, aud of doing
lo"r work generally; of bringing ultimate
starvation 10 The poor workngWonan, &c.
'!hc >rwny-,nlcline has survived all such
Irnli>l. drnunrt,iions, and has got to another
i"ri"d. They are denounced us unhealthy
:" female workers. causing them, by reason
"! their peculiar sexual organization, various
t'I;Itcd and tmacliucd diseases.
Thc,r stttrineu,s originated with the ma
,lilr-.nakcrS themselves. but who, ut the
..Gno time stated that ihcir own particular
ns., hines, being differently made and "''ua-
r,,t9 Hghtcr." were free from these ol.jec.
,ions But the number Of ght-running m,.
chimes is n"w So great, from modification
and SimlA.!" ,:'"n. that some new issue is re-
qurCd. ;.Ei. .fuS est db h0Stc dOcfl1. and now
The 81, /, that all machines arc unhealthy,
and tic EIiSc issue is raised that it is from
luir:trciion in The application Of the motive
t''""l; and the object of those who make
ih.. I->uc is TO Introduce some new trcadlc-
r!uiumpiTt.
!, Was sufficient Mt first to make the SIM
u" -iaicirrnt that the treadls was producing
'.;"Ilr" ,!:SaSc, for the great amount of fe-
ll .ir complaints (the causes OF which L have
.s"where considcrcD at present oGserva-
Ne led many thoughtlessly to consider the
>"w'hr-lnochine az the cause. Finding them
disputed. the next aim was to fortify the
''fcncnt by what is called professional
"iHni"n. But the professional "opiniOn }"
was :" r@r et prctern nih'l" statement made
WITH 'hr authoritative accomplice of an M i.
". .i2Ttiure, but from persons who either
"er" unable to form any scientific opinion re-
NhcNng the subject, or who had not given
any Alcntion 10 the case. bIcn deceived
Themselves. Not uufrequcntly, indeed, the
ni"arTti men who were SO loud in their out
cry a21'nst these machines were those who
sought rather publicity, and free advertise
'''iit Tor themselves as a specially in the di-
l'c''on, or to yaunt some specific in some
rteht lncdirinc of their own introduction.
ne value of such volunteer evidence may
wen he questioned.
me causes OF disease are always difficult
" discover, and sometimes imprudeDt
"ni'ea. who had not used sewing machine
" months, in spirit vi enthusiasm, or
1hniuited by some sudden necessity, give
themselves uninterruptcdly to It's llse for a
Slngle day or for single week. Had they
Worked thus ut washing, ironing, wedding
The garden, hand-sewine. nursing the sick,
or walking In the mountains during summer
"searslons-!n short, had thoy enthusiastj.