TKANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 705 



nccurately the changes of volume in, and the amount of blood propelled by, the 

 heart in a given time under varying conditions. Experimenting upon the dog, they 

 found that even slight compression of the abdomen caused an increase in volume 

 of the heart, and that with this a greatly increased amount of blood passed through 

 the heart in a given time, the increase being often thirty or even forty per cent, 

 more in some cases. These phenomena can be explained without difficulty. The 

 abdominal vessels are capable of containing all, and more than all, the blood in the 

 organism. Slight compression of the abdomen will, without disturbing the arterial 

 supply, drive out from the abdominal veins and venous capillaries a large amount 

 of blood ; and this blood so driven out will, as long as the compression continues, 

 be of use for the other regions of the body — for the brain, muscles, &c. 



Now the functional activity of any organ depends directly upon its blood-supply. 

 "With increase in the arterial blood-supply of any part, other things being equal, the 

 activity and power of work of that part increases. It is to be noted further that 

 the abdominal walls in front and at the sides are formed of soft, and more or less 

 elastic, tissues. In health pressure is, by means of the muscles contained in these 

 walls, exerted upon the abdominal contents, and can be therefore put upon the 

 abdominal veins and venous capillaries. This physiological compression of the 

 abdominal contents is rendered more powerful by the use of a waist-belt. Here, 

 then, we have an explanation of the extensive use of some form or other of 

 waist-belt by all nations who have passed beyond the stage of absolute bar- 

 barity. 



The waist-belt is of use and has constantly been used in cases of sudden and 

 great exertion, and in those cases where, through want of tone of the abdominal 

 wall, it becomes necessary to counteract the tendency to a useless storing up of 

 blood in the abdomen ; and, lastly, and most frequently, by those in perfect health, 

 by bringing more blood into the service of the brain and muscles to conduce to an 

 increase of mental and muscular activity. Thus, for instance, is to be explained, 

 on the iirst ground, the employment of tight belts by gymnasts and modern athletes. 

 This use has been recognised from the earliest times. Thus in 2 Kings xviii. 

 46 (and elsewhere), where Elijah is said to 'gird up his loins,' the word for 

 girding up is, we are informed by Professor Robertson Smith, best rendered /br^j^er 

 constrin.iit — tightly constricted. Similarly the Greek expression for an active 

 man — fi/'^oji/of, well-girt — arose from a like conception. The Romans had a cor- 

 responding phrase, and eventually among all these nations — as among the Arabs 

 of the present day — a loose girdle or belt when in public places was looked upon 

 as a sign of want of vigour, and, indeed, of dissolute habits. 



If the history of girdle-wearing by women be inquired into it will be found 

 that the women of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and indeed of all the more or 

 less civilised races, employed habitually one or two, or even three, girdles placed 

 higher up or lower down on the body (not necessarily worn simultaneously). 



AVe are therefore brought to conclude that among women some form of waist- 

 belt has been found advantageous. The modern corset is an article of apparel 

 w^hich may be said to be evolved from two separate belts — the waist-belt proper 

 and the band over the lower ribs, the oTpocfuov of the Greeks, employed to preserve 

 the figui'e. These in the course of time have become combined, and now are worn 

 not only by the well-to-do, but by the poorest in every European country. 

 Moderate constriction does no harm ; extreme constriction is not only absurd but 

 dangerous, inasmuch as instead of promoting exercise and activity it does the 

 reverse, and, while causing pressure upon the veins, aS'ects the arteries also, and 

 disturbs the blood-supply of the abdomen and lower extremities as well. The 

 pressure upon the abdomen should be capable of alteration according to circum- 

 stances, and should be slight after meals, when digestion is going forward and a 

 full abdominal circulation is required. 



The authors are emphatically not advocates of tight-lacing, nor is their paper 

 written in order to urge the universal use of belts and stays. Their desire has 

 been to point out that the widely-spread habit of wearing some form or other of 

 waist-band, which may almost be termed an instinct, has a physiological basis, and 

 is not of purely aesthetic origin ; and, further, that there are periods at which, 



1888. a z 



