294 APPENDIX* 



erect position by the strong muscles of the back, called 

 the dorsal muscles ; and if these, by any means, are di- 

 minished in bulk, or vigor, the spine will inevitably be- 

 come distorted ; and as we have shown that tight lacing 

 produces the first effect, so it is equally certain that the 

 last will follow. Thus the very means which a great 

 proportion of the ladies of the present day, take to 

 give themselves little waists, and consequently, as they 

 conceive, inviting forms, become a deception, because 

 it is a wicked interference with the laws of nature ; and 

 instead of producing the desired effect, in many instan- 

 ces at least, actually transforms them into crooked, dis- 

 gusting objects ; and in the sequel we shall see other con- 

 sequences equally unfortunate from the same cause. 



A mother who begins to corset her child at the age of 

 ten or twelve years, intending to present to the world 

 a few years hence, the u works of her own hands," mod- 

 ified and moulded according to her skill and taste, often 

 finds that at the age of fourteen, or sixteen, she begins to 

 " eat chalk," look pale, and grow crooked. To reme- 

 dy the first, she detains her at home, lest she should ex- 

 pose herself by going into the air, especially if the sea- 

 son is cool ; but finding that under this treatment, she 

 becomes listless, and paler still, she consults the family 

 physician, who very judiciously prescribes iron, and oth- 

 er tonics, according to art. 



The crook of the spine, the mother undertakes to man- 

 age by her own skill, not letting the doctor know that 

 any thing is wrong in that respect ; but only that the 

 girl is growing tall so fast, that she has hardly strength 

 to keep herself straight so that the most important part 

 of the case is kept out of sight, and not prescribed for. 



The kind parent begins by procuring a more substan- 

 tial support for the back of her daughter, in the form of 

 new stays, and which are made to order, with directions 

 to insert an extra quantity of whale bone, and steel ; 

 and perhaps this instrument of torture is padded at cer- 

 tain points, so as to press with special force on that part 

 of the spine which is most distorted, with the good in- 

 tention of forcing it to its proper place. The means of 

 cure being thus provided, they are put in their proper 

 place, and the cords drawn with a force, in some degree 



