The pelvis and chest are naturally well guarded from intrusion by the ribs and pelvic bones. But just at the point where belts are adjusted there is no protecting wall. Thus these parts are easily deformed, consequently digestion becomes imperfect, the circulation obstructed, the respiration restricted, and what is worse than all, the viscera crowd down upon the womb, the citadel of life.
Thus, by abuse, the maternal organism fails of fulfilling the divine charge committed to it by the Creator. The wonder is that intelligent, educated woman has ordinarily no thought of her relation to posterity, and her responsibility to offspring.
Exercises adapted to develop the muscles of the trunk and abdomen, giving breathing power and room for all the viscera will be found very satisfactory in their results, to women who will arrange their clothing suitably.
The restraint placed upon young girls, according to the usages of society, at the time when they most need exercise and muscular development, is not only mistaken wisdom, but a cruel physical wrong. They must be ladylike! So, perforce, they must not jump nor skip; they must not run up stairs two steps at a time, like a boy. No romping allowed! The physical freedom which is everywhere accorded to a boy, and by which he, all unconsciously fits himself for manhood, is forbidden the girl.
So she grows up without strength of nerve or muscle, and readily becomes a victim to all the ills that woman is heir to.
A very little care and planning devoted to this subject would bring to women both health and happiness. Like Rose, in Miss Alcott’s delightful story, a naturally frail girl may be developed into a hearty and vigorous young woman, and this too without unduly subjecting her to the mortification of singularity.
Neither is it necessary, in order to preserve health, that her thorough education should be neglected. The hue and cry that has been raised against the higher education of woman, on the ground of her physical incapacity to endure severe mental training, is not well founded.
The fact is that girls and women can bear study, but they can not bear compressed viscera, tortured stomachs and a misplaced uterus. The impure air, almost universal in schoolrooms, has much to answer for in the alleged incapacity of girls for mental wear and tear. Given pure air, the Delsarte training, loose and light clothing and unimpaired digestion, and our girls will in due time prove to the world that, notwithstanding a vigorous pursuit of study, “a girl is just as good as a boy.”
Out-door games and amusements are becoming more and more fashionable. Among these lawn tennis, croquet, archery, rowing, bean-bags and tri-cycling are popular and healthful in their tendency.
Next to errors in dress and deficient exercise, errors in diet may be responsible for painful menstruation. How can this be? Once, on inquiring of a class of young ladies the cause of this trouble, I received various replies; as skating, jumping rope, climbing stairs, improper clothing, etc.