Pernicious Effect of Tight Lacing

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 20, 1906

Pernicious Effect of Tight Lacing

THE “Harmsworth Encyclopedia” has the following to say on this important subject: “While producing distortion and displacement of many organs, tight lacing is harmful chiefly from its pernicious compression of the thoracic viscera. The mobility of the lower ribs is diminished or abolished, and full inspiration becomes an impossibility. Such interference with the functions of respiration hinders the proper oxygenation of the blood, and results in malnutrition not only of the lungs, but of all the tissues and organs of the body. Increased pressure on the heart and on the abdominal blood-vessels has equally disastrous effects upon the circulation, and venous engorgement leads to sluggish and inefficient action of the abdominal viscera. The tissues then fall a ready prey to such diseases as tuberculosis, while, for want of free movement and exercise, the trunk muscles atrophy, so that hernias through the weakened abdominal walls frequently occur. By increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, tight lacing also produces or aggravates many displacements of the pelvic organs, and not uncommonly leads to miscarriage.” We hope this plain statement of facts will have some weight with the young women of this country, on whose physical condition the future welfare of the country so largely depends. The woman who wilfully indulges in tight lacing is untrue to herself, untrue to her husband if she is married, and untrue to her country, for she is playing fast and loose with its most sacred interests.—Selected.