32 TIGHT LACING, 



developed, making the walk still more painful and less 

 graceful. 



11. The Evils of Tight Lacing can only be properly un- 

 derstood after we have studied the use and working of the 

 heart and lungs (Chap. XVI.). With our hands we can 

 press in our lower ribs and narrow the chest-cavity; but 



FIG. i2. Skeleton of the chest of a woman, twenty-three years of age, deformed 

 by tight lacing. Compare with the natural skeleton, Fig. 5. 



as soon as we cease the pressure, the ribs spring back 

 to their place. If, however, a tight corset be worn for 

 weeks or months, the ribs gradually yield to it and 

 change their shape. The result is a deformed chest- 

 skeleton (Fig. 12). The lower ribs press on the liver, 



ii. How does tight lacing alter the ribs ? What organs are injured 

 in consequence ? 



