EFFECTS OF TIGHT LACING. 299 



a doubt but the aeration of the blood is defective ; and 

 hence the necessity of the quick and unnatural inspira- 

 tions, in order to maintain the circulation, which would 

 cease the moment the air ceased to act upon it. These 

 devotees, besides betraying their sufferings by a quick- 

 ened respiration, shew also by the livid color of the lips, 

 that the blood is not sufficiently decarbonized; or is not 

 completely changed from the dark venous, to the light 

 arterial. (See p. 157.) 



It cannot be supposed by those who will reflect upon 

 the subject, that the laws of the animal economy can be 

 thus disregarded, for any considerable length of time, 

 without inducing the most disastrous consequences to 

 the general health and constitution. Every one knows 

 that air is the pabulum of life, and that a free, pure at- 

 mosphere, is absolutely necessary for vital and muscular 

 energy. Whoever, therefore, interrupts the free ingress 

 of air to the lungs, besides the injury which will follow 

 to the organs themselves, does the same, in effect, as to 

 create a vitiated atmosphere for her own use ; since in 

 both cases, a full supply of oxygen is equally wanting, 

 and in both, the consequences are the same. 



Those, therefore, who create by stays, corsets, or oth- 

 erwise, such a continued pressure on the lungs as to in- 

 terfere with their regular and appropriate functions, 

 may expect sooner or later, to suffer either sudden death 

 by apoplexy, disability by palsy, or at least, a gradual 

 decay of the constitution, attended witji fetid breath, 

 affections of the lungs, liver, or other viscera, and which 

 will terminate in the prostration, and final extinction of 

 all the powers of life. 



Pulmonary Consumption in consequence of pressure 

 on the Lungs. It is most probable, that when a degree 

 of pressure is made on the lungs sufficient to bring the 

 fine tissue of vessels, of which they are composed, into 

 such a state of collapse, as to prevent the ingress of air, 

 and the circulation of the vital fluid, that the portions so 

 pressed suffer a slight degree of inflammation, in con- 

 sequence of which, they adhere into masses, more or less 

 solid, thus closing them entirely, and preventing ever af- 

 terwards, though the pressure may be removed, the full 



