ELEANOR KIRK ON UNHEALTHFUL DRESS.
By Eleanor Kirk
“Madam, I cannot take your case,” said a distinguished medical practitioner, the other day, to a fashionable invalid, after a careful diagnosis. “But why not take my case?” the lady asked in some surprise. “Because I have had my attendant weigh your garments while I was making the examination,” was the frank and most unusual response, “and I find that your skirts weigh fifteen pounds. You have brought on the disease from which you suffer by this manner of dressing, and I do not care to risk my reputation as a physician by treating a patient who will, in all probability, continue to carry such loads.” “This is the first time I ever knew a physician to tell a patient what she should wear,” said the visitor with heightened color. “How many pounds is it lawful to carry, if you please?” “You cannot carry over three pounds with safety; and even such a weight should be suspended from the shoulders.” “How long shall I be obliged to limit the weight of my clothes?” “As long as you live, madam, for you have so outraged every delicate and sensitive internal organ, so stretched the ligaments which would have been faithful had you treated them well, that you can never exceed this weight with safety.” “Do you think you can cure me if I obey you?” was the next question. “I can prevent the development of a tumor, which is now imminent, but all the medical science in creation cannot make you strong. But I can help you to help yourself to more health and comfort than you have known for many a year.” Now I heard this conversation, and it delighted my heart; and ever since I have been asking, Why do not physicians more generally tell the whole truth in such cases? They know the effect of tight lacing, and the drag of heavy skirts upon the hips and the spine. They know the cause of the frightful increase of ovarian tumors among American women. Why will they not all come to the rescue, like the grand gentleman above mentioned. There are some time-servers and fortune-hunters, who will not tell the truth, because of the fear of losing moneyed patients; and doubtless there are a few practitioners, in good standing, who delight in lapped ribs and protruding and diseased organs, because of filthy lucre. But the majority of our doctors are honest, humane men and women, who love the truth. Sons and daughters of Esculapius, please step to the front, and let us have “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you.”—Woman’s Work.