The semi-weekly miner., 1882-04-15
DEADLY WAYS on DRESSING.

INK SGAcVE
D1ADLY WAYS OF DRESSING.
4 Crusade Against Oorsets, Petit
coats, Tight Boots and
Twenty Button Gloves.
LonSoa Post.
A lecture on the present style Of dress
was delivered by Mr.. Frederick Treves
at Kensington on February 18th, under
the auspices Of the National Health 60
ctety. The lecturer observed that the
primary objects Of clothing to cover the
bOdy and maintain it at an equable
temperature have little or no concern in
some Of the dresses Of the period. In
the low evening dress the arms, neck
and upper part Of the chest, and back
are bare, while about the lower extremi-
ties is accumulated Z mass of raiment
that would garb dozen children. In
the ordinary dress Of women little re-
gard Is had for maintaining an equabla
temperature Of the body. The covering
Of the upper part Of the chest above the
that Of the dress only. The region Of
the corset is reasonably covered, while
about the hips many layers Of clothing
are n,assed. Thus the body may he d.
vided geographically into frigid,
temperate and q tOrrid zone. As re-
CARDS tight lacing, Mr.. Treves said II
the most beautiful female outline 10 that
Oft young normal well-developed wom-
an, then 4 narrow waist is hideOus. A
miniature waist is q defOrnlity under
any circumstances, and few defOrmities
are pleasing. The waist is an inflexiOn
at the body between the lowest rib AID
the hin lone. No normal woman 10
waistle.s, although it, cOnspicuOusness
depends somewhat on development.
Children have normally no waist, and
tight-lacetl child il gross and pitiable
defOrn,ity. The normal waist has a cir
cumference of about ~ or - inches; the
"elegant' waist should he - inches; the
waist measurement Of dressmakerS' lay
figures now varies from II inches to .
inches. Those who wish to improve
their figures by stays have before them
the conception of q 3)-inch waist Venus.
TO the outline Of this hour-glass shaped
goddess they aspire. The normal waist
is quite oval; the fashionable waist
quite round. Women with miniature
waists who maintain that such waists
are natural to them and arc Independent
of art, must have been bOrn tlefOrme(i.
No person enters this world with y
reatly-n,ade fashionable w:;ist. As re-
gartls health, the tapering waist Is effect
cd mainly by compression Of the five
lower ritss, these ribs being more nova
ble than all the rest. There is popular
delusion that there is plenty Of empty
space inside the body, and into this space
lacing. Tight-lacing means compress
sion not Of skin, muscle and bone, but
Of liver. stomach and lungs. Even u
slight amount Of restriction affects these
organs, and stays that are by no means
tight lessen the capacity Of the chest for
air. Post mOrtcns on light. lacers show
the liver deeply indented with the ribs
and more or less seriously displaced.
The stomach is also commonly affected,
as too, are The lungs. The diseases that
commonly result are chronic dyspepsia,
liver arrangements, disturbance Of nu-
triton, &c. Tight lacing, moreover rem
ders more or less useless the diaphragm
or principle muscle Of respiration. The
brt athing powers Of the narrow waisteti
are always seriously impaired, and hence
follows possibly the languor, the ina'il-
ity for excrtion, the tendency to faint,
&c. The circulation, moreover, il inter
feresl with, and certain cases Of death
are reported from apOp:exy in Young
women who have tight laced. Stays in
| juriOusly affect the muscles of the back.
These muscles become wasted because
their function, that ct supporting the
spine. is absorbed by the corset, and
they exhibit the usual changes Of mus
clcs that have bcen long dis,lsed. Thus
the hack is usually weakened by the use
of stays, and those women who nlnill-
tain that they cannot do without the sup
port Of stays, make use Of the argument
OF the Opium-eaters, who, after having
by Indulgence developed i craving for
| the drug, asserts that he cannot DO with
our it. L 'nller no circumstances do young:
girls require stays, and to the bulk OF
young women also the same
remark applies. A modified cor.
| set. composed merely Of some stun
material, and devoid o! all bands and
wilalel,Ones, &C., may Ike used ~ those
| who incline to stOutness, or Whose
busts are prominent, and hy women VINO
have l,ecil mothers. such 4 corset or
bodice would merely give that slight
amount Of support required for comfort
and appearance. Tie lecturer next r..
l lVff&sll IO SllOVS UISV J<OlS, NuN
pointed toes and high heels. liz
thought the amount Of clothing usually =
worn hy women was too great, aud that
the number Of lcttic'ats was often ex-
c.ssive. These garments have Cor their
primary object the protection Of the
lower extrc,l,ities, hut if additional
warmth is required for these parts sure
! IL the use Of an extra pCttict.at or so -
! ,.n+ tho most sensible way Of supplying
it. Not only do pctticoats add greatly
10 the weight Of dress to I've carried, but
they throw very injurious burden on
the hi,~ around i,ich they are attached. !.
Several ,e.tiroats suspended layer hy
layer about the waist cannot have other
than Injurious effect upon health. am!
the evil is especially obnoxious in you"';
girls. in whom the hips are narrow anu
IN whom :ir garments c;:nnot I've prop
crly supported without = considerable
amount Of construction "i the waist: II
these garments must bc worn. lct them
ie attached to 4 isxlice, or !et them le
| s,,.,u,n.l.al from tie shoulders bv /: mod