Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-07-13
HIGH HEELS AND LAME
BACKS.
A SIMPLE CURE FOR A FASHIONABLE DIS
oDER-soME PEcULIARITIEs OF THE
FEMININE MIND.


A New York reporter, crossing the
Fulton ferry some days ago, was made
an unwilling listener to some fem
mine condolences on backache. As all
women and the greater part OF their
men folks are directly or indirectly in.
terested in the subject, the reporter
visited a man of science who was nam
ed by one of the young ladies as hav.
ing cured her trouble.
"Oh, yes" said the doctor "back.
ache is very common among women
more than two.thirds OF them suffer
from it. But there is one kind of this
trouble, caused BY prevailing fashion,
which women ought not to allow them
selves to suffer f,.sa."
"Ao you SPECIALIST for fashionable
backache ?"
Tho doctor laughed. 81 will tell you
all about 1t, said he "Throe years ago
a fashionable young lady called upon
me, saying that her back was very
lame, and had been so for considera-
bic time. The pain had lately so greatly
increased that she had become fright.
ened about herself, She had been
obliged to shorten her promenades, so
she said, was almost incapable Of dane
ing, and her life was gradually becom.
ing burden. She had "tried every.
thing and taken medicine all the time,
but-and then she broke down in such
way that | began to suspect hysteria.
"She looked tired, and her face bore
an expression of pain and dependency
which was not compatible with her
years--she was about twenty.three-
nor her evidences Of constitutional
force, which judged to be strong. l
confess ! was at loss TO account for
her trouble, and close questioning gave
me no indications for treatment. at
last prescribed q tonic-on general
principles-and asked her TO call in
about Il week. When she appeared
again, glance sufiiced to show that she
was no better, and / was much puzzled
as | saw her walk up and down the
office in nervous excitement, eXclaim-
ing that she would never get well, she
knew she wouldn't, etc As looked,
q certain popularity in her walk led
me to think that there might be some
spinal trouble, and / commenced a
cross. examination, which she brought
to a sudden close by saying "Why,
doctor, several OF my friends are sui
fering just as am, but they are not
yet so worn out with the pain we can
not all have spinal complaints, can we2"
al thought it impossible, of course"
continued the doctor, "and the inter
view ended by me asking her TO call
again on the next day and bring one
of her friends with her, when | would
make another effort to discover the
real cause of the trouble. / had, in
fact, made up my mind that some
popularity in dress was at the root of
the difficulty. The ladies called and
had hardly traversed the Office when |
observed in patient number two the
same idiosyncrasy in walking which |
had seen in the first patient. | was
not long in discovering that the real
difficulty lay in the high and tapering
heels of my patients CATERS. Closer
examination revealed the fact that
there was difference in the height of
the boot heels of the ladies, and ! found
that my first patient, who was the
great sufferer, was the one who pos.
sessed the higher heels. There was
nothing to do but to prescribe slippers
and woolen stockings for week, to
be followed by the wearing Of shoes
having low, broad heels"
"And it was this treatment that
cured the baekaoheY"
"All signs of lameness disappeared
within eleven days, and my first pa
tient of this kind, together with many
who have followed her, regained their
health and strength. There are many
physiological reasons why undue eleva-
ton OF the heel must cause trouble. 1t
will suffice TO say that it serves to
throw forward the contents Of the alb
dominal cavity, and the muscles, nerves
and cords more or less connected with
or surrounding the back are subjected
TO unusual strain in resisting the for
ward impulse, Of course, in such
cases, lame back is not of itself dis.
case, but only the indication of deep
seated trouble, which is sometimes
difficult to deal with. Ladies should
be warned that this fashion in heels is
certain TO bring them sooner or later
great trouble. If they must adhere to
the prevailing style, they should take
caro- to wear slippers on every possible
occasion which the sacred duties they
owe to fashion may permit That a
person may as well be out OF tho world
as ont of the fashion is a law more in
oxorable in the minds of many women
than those of nature or Of health"