Prof. O. S. Fowler, ever a staunch and fearless advocate for health and temperance, only emphasizes what all sensible persons must believe: “_Tight lacing_ is the chief cause of infantile mortality. That it inflicts the very worst forms of physical ruin on woman and offspring is self-evident. No evil equals that of curtailing this maternal supply of breath; nor does anything do this as effectually as tight lacing. If it were merely a female folly, or if its ravages were confined to its perpetrators, it might be allowed to pass unrebuked; but it strikes a _deadly blow_ at the very life of the race. By girting in the lungs, stomach, heart and diaphragm, it cripples every one of the life-manufacturing functions, impairs the circulation, prevents muscular action, and lays siege to the child-bearing citadel itself. By the want of abundant maternal vitality, air, exercise and digestion, is this practice murderous to both. It often destroys germinal life before or soon after birth, by most effectually cramping, inflaming and weakening the vital apparatus and stopping the flow of life at its fountain-head. It slowly but surely takes the lives of tens of thousands, and so effectually weakens and diseases millions more, as ultimately to cause their untimely death. No tongue can tell, no finite mind conceive the misery it has produced, nor the number of deaths directly or indirectly of young women, bearing mothers, and weakly infants it has occasioned; besides the millions on millions it has caused to drag out a short but wretched existence. If this murderous practice continues another generation, it will bury all the middle and upper classes of women and children, and leave propagation to the coarse-grained but healthy lower classes. Most alarmingly has it already deteriorated our very race in physical strength, power and constitution, energy and talents. Let those who had rather bury than raise their children marry tight lacers. “Moralists, Christians, reformers, philosophers and philanthropists of all sects and grades, come, let us unite in presenting a frowning front to this race-ruining practice, and bachelors insist on _natural waists or no wives_, and frown down a practice your patronage imposes! Woman will cease to lace just when you cease to require it.” Would it not gladden the heart of Prof. Fowler to see the present wide-spread movement among women for _correct dress_, and also to know that the number is on the increase of those who understand and realize their obligations to posterity. The true mother is everywhere to be found. CHAPTER VIII. HYGIENE IN PREGNANCY--BATHING.