Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-09
PRACTICAL POINTS.
THE MATTER or EXERCISE AND
DRESSING Pv ELEANOR KIRK.
Ne lsvslids Habit Of LoIiirg--PIain Lam
guaxs. Caution. and Common sense--
A Hit ~ Some Doctsrs-Heavy
Dresses and Night-Reading.


Dresses and Night-Reading.
cosrsspcndencs Of the Richmond pispatch.l
BRooxLys, N. ". Fcbruarys s, 1890;
A dissemination TO exercise - often mis-
taken for disability. and il is not too much
20 saw that the reverse of this Is also true.
The naturally energetic and AMBITIOUS
woman il apt 70 confound the physical
weakness which calls for rest and re-
crmeent position with the iaziness "h,cn n
she abhors. and so forces herself 70 long
walks which have no other effect that TO
still further exhaust her. know from ex.
pcriencc that it is sometimes very difhcult
10 tell desire for rest from the absolute
pecessity. But have proved TO my salts
faction that my desire was IN most
cases q real need, and this l nave
done by forcing myself TO the cxer,
else from which ootn oooy anu
generally an added languor. and In two OF
three instances an illness Of several days.
AZ there have been a few times when the
vsik I dreaded produced an exactly oppo-
site effect. there is still doubt enough left
in regard to these conditions TO make 1t
sometimes very perplexing. Butin orderto
awe myself from the wear and tear OF the
nerves which invariably accompanies TINS
speculative mental condition, have learn
ed 10 humor the protesting voice. and l
Grmly believe that this Is the best way.
THE HABIT OF LoLLIYG.
Acain. I am quite convinced that there
must be something radically wrong about
The woman who never feels the desire tor
active exercise, though l am forced TO ad.
nit that the invalid habit of reclining ana
lollinc about is often as exactlng as weak
ness or disease. In fact this habit simu-
iates the real thing so perfectly that it is
very difficult TO discriminate between
them. Taking oil these things into considcc
GRAFTON we sec that there can DC no rules OF
exercise which shall fit every case. But
we do know that exercise is exceedingly
profitable 10 those who are able to take II.
Also. that those who are not able 10 walk
ebould endeayor 20 breathe Just as much
pure air "a possible and should be taken
ont of doors as frequently as circumstances
will permit. Just here l should ike to
make point which L think ought to be
prominently brought out and dwelt upon.
It is this: There are MANY women who
have become and are daily becoming
chronic invalids. They are simply weak
and disinclined to exertion OF any sort:
They do not suffer pain and are not Ill
enough to consult a physician.
PLAIN LANGUAGE.
This physical apathy generally means
disease of some kind, and the best means
should be immediately adopted to ffd tho
cause. Another point. The women who
suffer from the diseases peculiar to the
sex, and which l am so indignant about
that must stop right here to call them for
the most part unnecessary and dis,
graceful. should not take any OF
the exercises 1 have named. neither
should they stand nor walk any
more than Is absolutely necessary. Strip
of the corscts with all possible dispatch,
adopt skirts hight in weight and which do
not rest upon the hips. Use the warm sitz
bath once a day at least, and above all
things see that the bowels are Kept open.
DO not go TO any Of the old fogies who al
WAYS have their nitrate of silver bottles
ready for these unfortunates. l belieye
that improper cauterizatlon is responsible
for thousands Of invalids among my own
sex to-day.
CAUTION AND coNMoN-sENsE.
fancy hear the poor sufferer cry out,
"But what shall we do!" Eat sensibly,
dress as i have directed battle carefully,
prevent added Inflammation and displace-
ment by a generally recumbent position,
and il you know of physician who de-
serves the name apply without delay to
him or her. But two thirds OF these cases
can be cured by the sufferer if she will only
use the simple helps at hand and exercise
O little caution, good deal of common
sense, and az much more patience. Re
move the weight from these delicate
organs at once. That is the first step
toward health. aud my friends will find it
O long one. A splendid physician of this city
told rue not long ago that he believed
this local treatment, considered so In
by many physicians, the
related of physician who died
n few years ago. and who became no.
torious If not distinguished for the num-
Der Of his female patients, that he left
enough chronic invalids among the wealthy
classes to give dozen good-paying pa
tients to every doctor in New YORK: A lady
in this city who cured herself of a very
aggrayata ID and aggravating trouble is now
doing great deal of good to her sisters IN
similar predicaments by showing them
how to adapt their clothes to their weak
ness, what TO eat and what simple RENE
dies 10 use She had been cauteriZed
almost into the grave before she undertook
the management of her own case.
HEAVY DRESSES AND NIGHT-READING.
She begs her sisters not to be discour-
aged and above all things not to rush into
the hands Of careless or incompetent ply |
sicians This womans treet-dresses are |
made of the softest and lightest materials,
and have been told that two pounds will |
cover the weight of the garments worn at
home. The home-dresses are all of the real |
or imitation India silks, because these silks
weigh the least of anything that can be |
found and can be so artistically draped. |
Among other things which this practical |
rcformer inveighs against IL the practice |
in by many of these In
salids in reading after they have gone
10 bed for the night. Reading" she |
nays. is about the only amusement that
such patients have in the daytime, and
with the head carefully raised can be freely
INDUCED in. But when night comes they
should retire early into cool, well-venti-
lated. dark apartment, and make a business
of going to sleep" She thinks also that a
little crocheting or knitting is better for
the evening than the continued use of the
powers. After such occupation the
brain becomes passive, and sleep IS not so
difficult of attainment.
Somebody has lately remarked that
- sleep is one of the lost arts" and there IL
much truth in this. Women who suffer
from the ills which we have been consider
ing need great deal of sleep, and if they
will retire early and lie down in dark
room which is constantly well ventilated
they will find themselves wonderfully
helped. ELEANOR KIRK.