File:TheFamilyDoctorSept28 1889page73.png

Summary edit

CORSET DISCIPLINE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR,--I think your medical correspondent, "P.V.S." would somewhat modify the opinion he has expressed respecting the "injurious" effects of corset-wearing on growing boys, if he looks at the question from a different point of view. The class of persons dealt with are, ex hypothesi, belonging to the upper ranks of society, and do not need to earn their bread by manual labour. The cultivation of athletics cannot, therefore, be put in comparison with moral benefits, such as a habit of obedience and the restraint of an intractable and, where it gets the opportunity, a tyrannical, frame of mind. The whole future of the boy is at stake, and it is not of the least importance whether he is or not one of the Oxford eight or the All-England eleven. That mischief can be done by tight lacing is, of course, possible; but it is wonderful how few genuine cases have yet been produced. Let it be recollected that there are at least five kinds of corset wearing--1. loose: 2, comfortably tight: 3, pain-fully tight: 4, injuriously tight; 5, dangerously tight. Of these the interval, from a physiological point of view, is considerable between each stage and the next. So that injury can only result from the deliberate ignoring of Nature's warnings unmistakably given.

I quite agree with the idea of the glove discipline; but "six-button" gloves of any moderately light shade answer the purpose well; and it must be remembered that extreme particularity assumes a set of surroundings very difficult of attainment.

As for caning or birching the hands, there can be no doubt whatever of the injury thus liable to be done to a delicate and all-important member of the body. But the same objection does not apply to the old fashioned method now being revived, which (unless the infliction is of a downright savage character, partaking fnore of passion than of discipline) has never within the memory of man done the smallest possible injury to either boy or girl.--I am, Sir, your obedient servant, MEDICUS P.

Imperial Club, 3, Cursitor-street, W.C.,

Sept. 6, 1889.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR,--Please allow me to offer a few remarks in reply to "Old Fashioned," who regretted, a couple of weeks ago. that the old-fashioned stocks and backboard had gone out of use as a means of imparting good carriage to the rising generation. Possibly my information may also be of interest to those of your readers who, like myself and good wife, believe that lounging habits are ungraceful and injurious.

My daughters wear rep;ularly the old-fashioned implements of discipline, and, although their feelings have perhaps not been consulted, they by no means find their restraint a torture. There is a happy medium in the use of everything, and in this particular branch my wife, although exacting, is far from cruel.

Our eldest girl, aged nineteen, wears a backboard of very old pattern, originally made for her mother when at school in Bath. It consists of a flat plate of metal, somewhat pear-shaped. that extends from the nape of the neck downwards to the loins, and across from shoulder to shoulder--covering the back exactly, in fact, and hollowed to fit the figure snugly. This is strapped closely to the body by broad shoulder straps (comfortably padded, and arranged to buckle in the centre of the back out of the wearer's reach) and a broad leather waist-belt, also padded and buckled behind. The backplate is covered with blue leather, and when properly fixed is immovable upon the body, partially because the waist-belt is shaped to cover and closely embrace the hips. In the centre of the backplate is a small brass box somewhat like a watch, through which slides a vertical rod carrying at its upper end the "collar"--really the most useful part of the apparatus. Inside the brass box is a lock which fixes the vertical rod and collar at any desired height; and in front of the collar is another minute lock to prevent the chin being unlawfully released! All the locks and straps. I must say, have been renewed several time? but the backboard and collar are just as my wife wore them, and their beautifully chased or engraved bright portions are still perfect.

My second daughter wears an appliance similar to this, with the addition of two hooks or padded crutches, which come from the back under her armpits, and have smaller shoulder straps to keep the arms in position therein. This, I feel sure, makes the elevation of the chest more complete. and avoids the slight chafing caused by shoulder straps passing under the armpits.

The backboard worn by our youngest daughter is similar to the last in pattern, but the back is of polished wood (easily renewed as she grows), and the staff and collar are screwed at a fixed height to the wood direct. This does not allow her the freedom at her desk that her elder sisters gain by having their collars lowered, but by the time she is ready to be Image:TheFamilyDoctorSept28_1889page74.png

1. to "P. V. S."; from Medicus P.

2. to "Old Fashioned"; from Carl.

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