Selected monographs.

Date:: 1888

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Selected monographs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

293/440 (page 275)

Finally^ the stays have been quoted from the most various quarters as an important factor in the production of move- able kiduey. Gruveilhier especially remarks; J'ai ren- contre plusieurs fois chez les femmes qui usent de corsets fortement serres, le rein droit dans la fosse iliaque du meme cote. Ce deplacement arrive^ lorsque par la pression exercee par le corset sur le foie, le rein est force de Fespece de lege qu'il occupe a la face inferieure de cet organe^ a peu pres comme un noyau entre les doigts qui le pressent.^' If we consider, however,, that many women who have moveable kidney have never worn stays and that only a few of those who wear stays get moveable kidney, it follows that this article of clothing, as such, is guiltless of the production of moveable kidney. Neither can the laced bodices (Schniir- leibcheu^) on which blame is laid by Miiller-Warnech be allowed to rank as causes. This author, as well as Bartels assumes that lacing of the bodice will directly compress tbe kidneys; but this assumption is incorrect, for the bony thorax, within which the kidneys lie, and round the lowest part of which the laces are braced, is far too rigid to pass on the pressure to the subjacent organs. The damage which the articles of apparel mentioned above do neverthe- less inflict consists far more in this, viz. that too tight lacing round the thorax prevents its expansion on inspira- tion and obliges the diaphragm to descend deeper by way of compensation and thus to depress the subjacent organs, the liver, spleen and kidneys. Again, the bodices (SchniirmiederM may produce an injurious effect directly on the kidney in •cases ia which the kidney has already become moveable and lies against the anterior abdominal wall. It is especially important to remember that, when once a kidney has become moveable, a number of other factors contributing to the further development of its mobility come into play, which so long as the kidney remains in position, have absolutely' no eftect m producmg its displacement. This is true, for ^ ISclmilrm 8chM^ are articles of clothing unknown in En... land. Ihcy are laced bodices of simple construction, and worn still very generally. Die lower orders wear them often outside their other garments ■feimilar bodices are worn outsxde by the Italian peasantry, and form part of the proper dress of Margaret in ' Faust.'—Teanslatoe.]