The Wilmingtonian., 1884-08-30

back? The wonder would rather be if they
made no such complaints.
Another effect of the corset is permanent
tly to distort the ribs and spine. In the
accompanying cut figure represents the
natural form and relative situation of these
bones of the hcalty Greek figure, from
which the Venus of Milo and other lovely
statues were modelled. Figure 4 represents
the same modernized by the art of the
dressn,aker, as it is seen in the case Of
millions of our suffering fellow country
women. There is no exGggeration here,
either way Figure is .tact which is
demonstrated in every school Of anatomy in
the land
OF the result Of the c6rsets system, speak
ing as woman rather than professional
writer Mrs lIaweis says
80 those who know anything about
anatomy, the impossibility of the organs
retaining their natural pace, and performing
| eilectually their natural function when the
ribs are pressed in upon them, will at once
| be clear. All space in the body is utilized
andrequired by health; and though whilst the
pressure affects the flesh and fat only, no
harm results, directly the homes are touched
| the vital organs suffer. One cat easily dis
| cover whether ones compression moves to
| the bones, by measuring the width across
the ribs, with and without the straps. And
the face betrays tho condition Of the inside.
| Who can forgive tile unhealthy check and
red nose induced by such practice. Who
can forget the disease which has como or is
| coming? What sensible man OF woman
can pity tho fool who faints, perhaps in the
| midst Of a dance or conversation, from the
| nnbeaTable pressure on the heart, caused by
straps and girdle-or if they pity do not
blush for her. The Roman dame was wiser
in her generation; the bands she employed
| prevented sloyenly appearance, and afford
ed support without impairng health OF the
supple beauty of the body
The brief medical comment on the justice
of Mrs. Haweis's preference for the dress of
Greek and Roman women is that these
women were the mothers of the finest men
and women in tho world, physically and
intellectually. In tho Sandwich Islands tile
native women who wear dress of similar
order (the hololSu) are able to resume active
life two days after the, TO them, brief pains of
maternity. They can walk twenty miles
without fatigue, and the whole terrible cat;-
que Of secret suiterings horne by the fash
iouable womaukind Of America is to them
an unknown quantity.
Let us now examine from medical
standpoint the evils beeotten of modern
fashionable costume, remembering that the
women of savage and sumi civilized nations
are almost absolutely free from such trou-
bios. All we have to agre1 upon is that the
Organs compressed by the corset must be
pushed upwards OF dowuwards. They must
find room somewhere, at. the expense OF
adjacent organs We have then five sets of
effects produced by the direct agency of the
corset
(l). Hadd sya.ptoms. Headache, fulness,
vertigo, singing in the ears flushing of the
face, redness Of the nose, tiugling pains in
The scalp
! (2). Chest synPt0mS.- Shortness Of breath,
palpita'ion Of The heart, syneope d fainting.
49,. Gastric synptoms;-D Dyspepsia, consti-
pacion, tatrlency, sluggishness of the liver.
! t4). Uterine sympt0Ms:- Too numerous
and common to need description, but the
direct cause Of miseries which debar many
women from following even domestic ayoca-
tions.
90. Nervous symptoms and disorders of the
ycnous circulation. Slomach-cough from
irritation OF the pueumogaStrc nerve; hys-
terra; yaricose veins.