tions necessary to its healthy and proper development. But unfortunately it too often happens that the mother is as little acquainted with the first principles of physiology as the child, and the consequence is long suffering and affliction to both parties.
A minute study of the human frame shows us that the form of the female differs from that of the male on purpose that it may be adapted to the necessities of this interesting period. The breadth of the pelvis, the structure of the tissues, and a number of other phenomena, are all modified in her for the purpose of giving life and health to her progeny. Throughout the whole range of animated nature, there are no organisms so perfect and beautiful as those which, in their collected form, are adapted to this purpose; whilst their extreme delicacy renders them sensitive, and predisposes them to inflict severe pain on any who knowingly or otherwise do violence to them.
It is, however, a great mistake to suppose that there is anything dangerous or extremely painful in accomplishing the ends of nature. The natural elasticity which is given to all the organs concerned, the slow and beautiful process by which it proceeds, all prepare for the last and final effort. Immediately that this is effected, another set of organs come into action to supply the offspring with nutrition. The mammary glands begin to secrete a fluid which they have never yielded before, and the organs which have been distended during the previous nine months resume again their normal proportions, and it is to this ebb and flow of the vital force that we have adapted our Gestation Corset.
It will perhaps have occurred to the reader that the conditions which we have to meet in this matter have been neither few nor trifling. The great distension of the abdomen which must necessarily have taken place has severely tried the muscles which form its walls, and this evil is in too many cases aggravated by the use of corsets that, instead of supporting the body, add to the stress already upon it. The ordinary stays have an elastic steel busk, which, on being leaned upon, bends over the stomach and pushes down the contents of the abdomen, causing an additional burden upon a part already weakened. The result of this is a stretching of the whole envelope in such a manner as to endanger the figure for life, and lay the foundation for varicose veins, prolapsus uteri, and other complaints to which ladies are too often subject.
Our Gestation Corset, of which we here present an illustration, is
