Prof. O. S. Fowler, ever a staunch and fearless advocate for health and temperance, only emphasizes what all sensible persons must believe:
“Tight lacing is the chief cause of infantile mortality. That it inflicts the very worst forms of physical ruin on woman and offspring is self-evident. No evil equals that of curtailing this maternal supply of breath; nor does anything do this as effectually as tight lacing. If it were merely a female folly, or if its ravages were confined to its perpetrators, it might be allowed to pass unrebuked; but it strikes a deadly blow at the very life of the race. By girting in the lungs, stomach, heart and diaphragm, it cripples every one of the life-manufacturing functions, impairs the circulation, prevents muscular action, and lays siege to the child-bearing citadel itself. By the want of abundant maternal vitality, air, exercise and digestion, is this practice murderous to both. It often destroys germinal life before or soon after birth, by most effectually cramping, inflaming and weakening the vital apparatus and stopping the flow of life at its fountain-head. It slowly but surely takes the lives of tens of thousands, and so effectually weakens and diseases millions more, as ultimately to cause their untimely death. No tongue can tell, no finite mind conceive the misery it has produced, nor the number of deaths directly or indirectly of young women, bearing mothers, and weakly infants it has occasioned; besides the millions on millions it has caused to drag out a short but wretched existence. If this murderous practice continues another generation, it will bury all the middle and upper classes of women and children, and leave propagation to the coarse-grained but healthy lower classes. Most alarmingly has it already deteriorated our very race in physical strength, power and constitution, energy and talents. Let those who had rather bury than raise their children marry tight lacers.
“Moralists, Christians, reformers, philosophers and philanthropists of all sects and grades, come, let us unite in presenting a frowning front to this race-ruining practice, and bachelors insist on natural waists or no wives, and frown down a practice your patronage imposes! Woman will cease to lace just when you cease to require it.”
Would it not gladden the heart of Prof. Fowler to see the present wide-spread movement among women for correct dress, and also to know that the number is on the increase of those who understand and realize their obligations to posterity. The true mother is everywhere to be found.
CHAPTER VIII.
HYGIENE IN PREGNANCY—BATHING.
Frequent bathing in pregnancy is of the greatest importance. When the “water cure” fever first ran like wild-fire through the country, many were alarmed lest the child-bearing woman should do herself great harm. Although the cold water washing was carried to great excess, few cases came to light where any one was injured by it, while hundreds bear testimony that they were greatly benefited. Relief was obtained for the suffering both during pregnancy and at confinement. One step at least was taken in advance which never can be retraced. Previous to that time women were actually afraid of water. It might be well for others, but tradition and prejudice taught that if a pregnant woman bathed in cold water, she ran great risk, and if her hands even were put in cold water after confinement she would surely die.
The “water cure” people took the other extreme. The woman doused and swam the whole nine months, and fifteen minutes after her child was born, she would be lifted into a full or sitz-bath of cold water. The doctor and the good grandmother could not account for the fact that she survived, save by attributing it to some special providence. Forty years only have worked wondrous changes, and now all intelligent women know the luxury of the bath in this condition, and many recognize its therapeutic value.
The processes of nutrition and waste are more active in the pregnant woman than in any other. Her condition is more like that of a child, consequently she can bathe more frequently with advantage.
The sponge or towel bath, taken in the morning two or three times a week, is stimulating and invigorating. No more than two minutes is required for this bath. It should be taken immediately upon rising, while the temperature of the body is warm enough to insure thorough reaction. The colder one can use the water, the more sure the reaction. The first few mornings bathe the upper part of the body only. In a short time one can venture upon the whole surface. It should be followed by friction with a Turkish towel or coarse mitten, and if the person is not strong, with rubbing by an assistant. Then for five minutes take deep inspirations of fresh air, and the people are few who do not feel good after this ablution. It is par excellence the “ounce of preventive.” It is a “coat of mail” against colds, catarrhs and influenzas. To the pregnant woman it is life and vitality, and atones for a multitude of physical sins.
A man once wrote that, “by wearing magnetic appliances, ozone was developed in the blood.” Whether he knew what ozone was, or what condition the blood was in when ozone was in it, is not proven. If, however, it is possible to get a condition in which you feel that there is “ozone in the blood,” it is after one of these quick, cold, tonic, invigorating baths. My experience in prescribing it has proven that it is not debilitating, even when taken twice daily. Too many warm baths may, in time, reduce the physical standard. But simply wetting the surface, with hand, sponge or towel in cold water, or, what some prefer, dashing cold water quickly over the body, is a decided tonic. A little courage and perseverance is required to form the habit—once formed, few relinquish it. If no reaction follows, and the person remains cold, it should not be persevered in.