The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-04-29
THE HUMPED-UP SEX.
singular Abnormal Growths Observcd-A
Study In Morbid Anatomy.


Study In Morbid Anatomy.
We think the most careless man has
not failed to observe that women hive
become subject to n curious dcformity
within the last few years. The matter
Is delicate one to discuss, but really
the evil is getting to be so general that
public attention ought to be called to it
and methods of counteracting it ought
to be considered. We alludc to tho UGLY
and abnormal development just where
the dress begins to set out behind.
There is something strange about this
deformity, inasmuch as the victims of it
do not seem in any way ashamed of it,
nor does it appear to affect their gcner-
al health and spirits. Indeed there is
creature with smiling lips and sparkling
eyes tripping along as gayly and grace
fully as Diana on the borders of Euro
tas; and yet when she passes. you are
shocked to observe an immense hump
bObbing up and down on her back with
every movement. The dear afflicted
creatures chat with each other cheer
fully, 60 eoout their shopping with the
same conscientious punctuality Us of
old, and even appear to take pleasure in
the society of the male scX; but while
admiring their heroic endurance we
can not help sympathizing with their
misfortune and signing over their de-
parted grace OF form. With feminine
skill they hNvo contrivcd Il kind of cloak
which IS cut away ut the back and has
pieces hanging down at each side like
the flaps OF saddle, and in such IL gar
mcnt the hump puts on Il jaunty appear
ancc, and even suggests the possibility
that it had been developed to fit the new
fashioned cloak, but not infrcqucntly,
when an 0lu-faShiOncd cloak or circular
Is worn, the protubcrancc is thrust out
through the folds of the ovcrilowinp
cloth like rock among the riprlcs OF Il
stream. In such cases the effect, if not
grand, is ut least gloomy and peculiar.
If there be any truth in the modern
theory of evolution or in the old saving
that the back is fitted to the burden,
there may be some purpose in the dcvcl-
opmcnt of this curious hump. 1t would
certainly afford Il fine rcsting-placc for
market basket or Il carpet bag. and Il
baby might be set astridc of it with
great advantage; but, curiously enough,
the women who carry loads Of unv kind
in the street seem scarcely ever afflicted
with this dcformity, while those who up-
pear to be out for no other purpose than
to exhibit themselves are the most sadly
misshapcn.
What the character of the growth is We
have had no opportunities TO investigate,
but there has been not Il little discussion
on the subject among the scientists.
The opinion long prevailed that the
hump is mere fungoid growth, n cha
otlc and incongruous bulk, but there i.
now good reason to suppose that in ,
majority of cascs it is II highly compile:
organism built up about u rcgular.skclc
ton. and somewhat resembling in form
and action the iointcd mechanism of
lobstcr's tail. Possibly the hump of 1hi
character is later development and th
tungoid growth is mere survival; bu
at any rate its existence can not be dc
MED, as instances have been known ir
which the hump has been squeezed ou
Of shape in q crowded street-car and re.
manned twisted, distorted and limp as il
it were mere mass of shavings or old
newspapers. The fact that in such cas-.
es the woman has been known to stcr
out of the car UNCONSCIOUS of injury,
may be regarded rs positive proof that
! tho hump can not be very sensitive or
else that it can not be vitality connected
with the person to whom it is attached.
Professor Huxley after a series of care
full experiments declared that in twenty
five cases out of twcnty-six he found
that the protubcrance was not sensitive
to darning needle, and yet in every
instance he was convinced that it was
subject to the voiton of the wcarer. He
is of opinion that as we can know moth
ing clearly and cOmprchcnsivcly on the
subject, it is outside of the sphere of
scientific investigation, and that any
man who tries to find out why modern
women have this dcformity imposed up.
on them might better be engaged in
twisting ropes of sand.
But the prevailing opinion seems to
be that something ought to be done to
retard or modify the unsightly growth.
For our own part We confess that our
axicty is not confined altogether to the
evolution that has taken place. If q
single hump had been developed within
brief period, why may not another
hump be added to it in obedience to
some curious hump-producing tendency
in feminine nature? And as Il result,
may it not come TO pass that our women
will in time be backed like camcls? For
the production Of such mOnstrosities it
is clear that this is hustling world
| ROcTpSICJ. /DS|- Erj,J.pce