DRESS IN RELATION TO HEALTH. 187 



could be heard when a stethoscope was applied over it ; but, when the 

 chest was set at liberty and the swelling was gently pressed downward, 

 it disappeared. In this instance, a portion of the right lung had actu- 

 ally been forced behind the collar-bone, out of the cavity of the chest 

 altogether, into the loose tissue of the neck. 



This was a very exceptional experience, no doubt one I have not 

 myself seen nor found record of in this country. At the same time, 

 I have seen very close approaches to it. I have several times known 

 the lungs to be pushed quite out of place and compressed toward the 

 upper part of the thorax, and I have known the heart extremely dis- 

 placed by the same pressure. 



That which mothers and the guardians of youth ought to know is, 

 not only the fact of displacement of organs under pressure, not only 

 the fact of the temporary derangement of the function of the organs, 

 but the further and more important fact of all, as affecting the future 

 life of the person most concerned, that under the pressure the organs 

 implicated can not grow so as to attain their full and complete devel- 

 opment within the period that marks the outline of growth. It is im- 

 possible, therefore, that those who are imprisoned in growth can attain 

 full development of body. The folly they pay for in youth extends 

 through middle age, and expedites the decline. 



The evils arising from compression of the chest, as above men- 

 tioned, are not confined altogether to the female sex. They are 

 brought about in boys and in men. It often becomes a habit in 

 schools and colleges for youths to employ a strap or other form of 

 belt for holding up their trousers ; one boy sets the example, and the 

 others think it right to follow ; so the practice becomes general, and 

 you find a tight line indicating pressure marked round the bodies of 

 these youths. Fortunately, in their case, as they emerge into life, and 

 before great mischief is done, they give up the strap and take to sup- 

 porting the clothes from the shoulders, by the brace, and so they escape 

 further injury ; but while it lasted the injury undoubtedly was severe. 



There is another and more permanent injury of this kind, however, 

 carried out by boys, even by men, which consists in wearing a belt for 

 the purpose of giving what is called support. Boys who are about to 

 run in races, or to leap, put on the belt and strap it tightly, in order, 

 as they say, to hold in their wind or breath. Workingmen who are 

 about to lift weights or carry heavy burdens put on a belt for the 

 same purpose, their declaration being that it gives support. Actually 

 there is not a figment of truth in this belief. It is the expression of a 

 fashion, and nothing more. The belt impedes respiration, compresses 

 the abdominal muscles, compresses the muscles of the back, subjecting 

 them to unnecessary friction, and actually impedes motion. No boy 

 would think of putting a belt tightly round the body of his pony 

 if he wished it to win a race or to leap a hurdle ; no workingman 

 would put a belt tightly round the body of a horse to make it pull 



