DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 565 



to congestion of the pelvic organs; and the violent 

 efforts necessary to expel the hardened contents of the 

 bowels, force the womb and ovaries out of position, 

 straining the ligaments and other structures by which 

 they are held in position, and causing intense conges- 

 tion by the prolonged straining efforts. 



4. Excessive Use of Drugs.— This must also be 

 set down as a frequent cause of disease in women, 

 though not always of local disorders. After-dinner 

 pills, liver regulators, laxatives, etc., frequently oper- 

 ate in an injurious manner upon the pelvic viscera. 



5. Errors in Dress.— Tight-lacing, the wearing of 

 heavy skirts about the waist, neglect to properly clothe 

 the limbs, the wearing of high-heeled shoes,— these 

 and other errors in dress common among American 

 women, are responsible for a large share of the weak 

 backs and other evidences of local disease of which 

 women complain. 



The importance of woman's dress has excited so 

 much interest of late that it might not be out of place to 

 give to its consideration at this point, a larger amount 

 of space than under ordinary circumstances would be 

 admissible. A writer in the North American Revieiv 

 took up the cudgel in defense of what the majority of 

 intelligent physicians consider to be the most objec- 

 tionable features of fashionable dress. As the profes- 

 sion and reputation of the writer referred to are such 

 that much harm may be done by the sophistical argu- 

 ments which he presents upon the subject, it may be 

 profitable to devote a little time to their consideration, 

 though their real weight is so slight that if they had 

 been produced by an obscure individual, they would 

 certainly not be worthy a moment's consideration. 

 This champion of fashion writes as follows: 



