bowels, the coils of which pass freely over one another.
After even this brief sketch of our internal organism we are enabled better to appreciate the injury done by tight-lacing.
To begin from the outside, tight stays hinder the action of the skin of the parts they press upon by impeding the circulation; they weaken the muscles of these parts, especially those of the back, by preventing the amount of movement necessary to their healthy development. They act very much like splints, and we all know how weak the muscles feel after these have been removed. This accounts for the fact that a woman who has been accustomed to lace tightly, feels as if she "must fall to pieces" if she leaves off her stays. Next, they gradually press in the ribs, which in time become permanently deformed. (See Plate 2.) The ribs crush the lower part of the lungs, which are thus prevented from performing their due amount of work. Owing to their pressure the lower part of the chest cannot expand outwards, and it is also hindered from expanding downwards by the impeded action of the diaphragm. Thus, although an increase of work is thrown on the upper part of the lungs, breathing cannot be naturally performed, and from this many serious diseases may arise. A tendency to consumption is hereby encouraged, and, even without this tendency, blood-spitting may be caused by the pressure. But, besides interfering with the action of the lungs, this pressure, in limiting the space occupied by the other organs, hinders their natural
