PREVENTION OF SPINAL DISTORTION. 313 



progeny like that shown by Fig. 137. In the first, the 

 parts which are essential to the nutrition and growth of 

 incipient respiratory beings, are so developed as to in- 

 sure a full supply of lactescent secretion ; while in the 

 second, the corresponding parts present a mere pre- 

 tense, a nullity, a source of starvation, rather than one of 

 sustenance, to the nascent beings, who are so unfortu- 

 nate as to be thrown upon such cotton wool resources 

 of existence. 



But what possible motive could have induced the fe- 

 males of the present age, and especially those of these 

 United States, (where ultraism in respect to this deform- 

 ity is carried to a much greater extent than in any other 

 country,) what, we ask, could have moved those among 

 us, who have the first care of the species, and who ought 

 to be our examples in moral rectitude and conservative 

 discretion, to have thus deprived themselves of the power 

 of fulfilling one of the very first of nature's laws ? 



Can it be for the purpose of making themselves more 

 agreeable, and more acceptable to the lords of creation ? 

 Then certainly their motives ought to meet with the 

 law of kindness, and the tortures through which they are 

 willing to pass in order to arrive at perfection the sym- 

 pathy and commiseration of those for whom such perils 

 are encountered. But whatever motives might have led 

 to a deformity so unnatural, it is certain that the Crea- 

 tor intended, that the " noblest work of his hands," should 

 possess the most perfect forms ; and therefore, except 

 to a depraved and vitiated taste, such forms will ever be 

 most admired, and most acceptable to those for whom 

 they were designed. 



It is true, that there are parts of our country where 

 the practice of excessive lacing, and therefore its degen- 

 erating consequences, do not exist ; and from whence we 

 are happy to know that many of the daughters of unso- 

 phisticated nature, are transplanted into our cities, there 

 to become the fostering angels of a renovated species. 

 And were it not that such resources still remain, the con- 

 sequences of fashion in all our cities, would have been by 

 far more degenerating than they are at present. Indeed 

 we cannot but believe, that were our large towns walled, 

 and their inhabitants under the necessity of depending 

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