Do you ask me, how does all this bear upon the subject of pregnancy? I answer, that if in ordinary states of health, clothing should be of such a character as at all times to allow of the most free and unrestrained movement of every part of the system, how much more important and imperative is this consideration with those in pregnancy. And, accordingly, as is well remarked by Dr. Eberle, “The custom of wearing tightly-laced corsets during gestation, cannot be too severely censured. It must be evident to the plainest understanding, that serious injury to the health of both mother and child must often result from a continued and forcible compression of the abdomen, while nature is at work in gradually enlarging it for the accommodation and development of the fetus. By this unnatural practice, the circulation of the blood throughout the abdomen is impeded: a circumstance which, together with the mechanical compression of the abdominal organs, is peculiarly calculated to give rise to functional disorder of the stomach and liver, as well as the hemorrhoids, uterine hemorrhage, and abortion. The regular nourishment of the fetus, also, is generally impeded in this way: a fact which is frequently verified in the remarkably delicate and emaciated condition of infants born of mothers who have practiced this fashionable folly during gestation. It may be observed, that since the custom of wearing tight-laced corsets has become general among females, certain forms of uterine disease are much more frequent than they were sixteen or eighteen years ago.” Hence, as has been judiciously remarked, “it ought to be the first duty of the young wife, who has reason to believe pregnancy to have commenced, to take special care so to arrange her dress as to admit of the utmost freedom of respiration, and to prevent even the slightest compression of the chest or abdomen.”
If I could write as impressively as I feel earnestly on this subject, how would I warn you, my friends, against the evils of too tight and illy-adapted clothing in pregnancy. How often have I pitied the newly-married woman, who seems really to be under an unavoidable necessity of conforming to fashion—so much are we all of us under the world’s influence—that her health and bodily comfort have been deteriorated and greatly interfered with. How often, too, have I wished that the day might hasten in which there would be a wide and general dissemination of light on this subject, so that people might not only know the truth, but be able to practice it. That such a day is not far distant, I do most confidently hope.
LETTER X.
MANAGEMENT IN PREGNANCY.
Of Solar light—Its Effects on Life and Health—Air and Exercise—Rules of Management.
Among the life agents, solar light is one of the most important.
Anciently the sun was considered as a deity. In most countries it was called the “Supreme Being,” the “Father of Light,” “Jupiter,” “Jehovah,” the “Creator of all living matter,” the “residence of the Most High.”
All nations, in all periods of time, have been impressed with the magnificence and power of the great center of the solar system.
That the sun’s light has a powerful influence on the living body, every one will readily admit. Knowing the reviving influence of a moderate degree of solar heat, the ancients had terraces on their house-tops, called solaria, in which, to use their own expression, they took a solar air-bath.
According to physiological experiments, it has been shown, that if tadpoles be nourished with proper food, and at the same time exposed to the constantly renewed contact of air, so that their respiration may be fully carried on while they remain in their fish-like condition, and, at the same time, be entirely deprived of light, their growth continues, but their metamorphosis into the condition of air-breathing animals is arrested, and they remain in the condition of a large tadpole.
The rapidity with which water-flies, insects, etc., of pools, undergo their transformation, is found to be much influenced by the amount of light to which they are exposed.