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CORSETS FOR MEN

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR,-I think your correspondent Mr. Pratt will have to go further back in the page of history than the time of Francis 1. of France in order to find the origin of tight corsets. or even of the all-potent busk, which he so much objects to. A reference to your back numbers will settle this point; but I am not quite clear as to the fact of wearing stays constituting a man" an effeminate dandy." The example which he has chosen is singularly unfortunate. Bulwer Lytton was a fine all-round specimen of humanity, whether he wore stays or not; and if he ever could have had occasion to try conclusions with " dear, dirty Tennyson," I am not at all sure that he would have got the worst of it. As well might your correspondent sneer at Shakespeare or Julius Cæsar because they chose to wear earrings, and merely because in England it has ceased to be a national custom.

As for the supposed cruelty of subjecting children to the discipline of the corset, in the hands of proper persons it is the mildest and most easily graduated means of reformation ever introduced, and may well replace the present hypocritical and ineffectual systems.--I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

B. N. SERRE.

Queen Victoria-street, London, E C.,

Oct. 9, 1889.

BACKBOARDS AND COLLARS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

SIR.--I have perused the letter by "Carl" in last week's number (in reply to mine) with some interest and no little surprise, as I was not aware the backboards and collars he refers to were still in vogue. I did not advocate such strong measures, and think his treatment is rather too severe. Will he allow me to ask him one or two queries ?

First, in his otherwise elaborate description of the apparatus employed on his daughters he does not say what the " collar" consists of. Is it made of steel, too, and does it encircle the throat or the chin only ? If the latter, is the head fixed immovably when it is raised ? In that case it must be decidedly uncomfortable, if not injurious. Then, is not the use of the "long backboard" superfluous when the other appliances are worn ? I would also remark that to make young girls stand for two hours in stocks in the evening after a fatiguing day with their feet (as I imagine) in a straight line, and their arms extended full length, must be a serious strain on their muscles, and is much too severe. Would it not be better to let them sit for part of the time ? Lastly, I gather from his description that these metal backboards and straps are never removed all day, so that his unfortunate children never have the free use of their limbs. (Query--Do they wear them on Sundays ?) Besides being very unnatural, this must weaken the muscles of the back and neck very materially. I am curious to know what other appliances I, Carl's" wife uses on her children, but I can quite understand that " their feelings are not consulted." I wonder, indeed, they do not rebel sometimes, and it is evident they are not willing sufferers, or it would be unnecessary to have so many locks and straps as are referred to.

Trusting that" Carl " may be able to remove some of my apprehensions,--I am, &c.,

Oct. I, 1889. OLD FASHIONED.

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