Consideration of the child's clothing should begin in infancy. It should be of such a character as to allow the utmost freedom of move ment of the trunk and extremities and not to interfere by pressure with the development of muscles and bones. For this reason binding up the infant in swathing bands has very properly been abandoned. The underwear should he soft and dry, to prevent irritation of the deli cate skin. The principle should be borne, in mind that through child hood there must never be a hindrance to free movement, or pressure upon muscles, bones, or internal organs. The cut and style of the baby garments may be left to the seamstress.
For older children, generally speaking, light washable materials are preferable to dark woollen ones, as being more hygienic. Moreover, the clothing of the child should be suited to the season and the weather. Thus in summer, light weight, light colored materials should be chosen, with as much of the body (neck. shoulders, and arms) uncovered as possible, so that the air and sunlight may have free access to the skin. It is not advisable to dress the child too warmly in winter, lest free perspiration be induced while it is exercising in the open air, which so readily leads to colds. Healthy children do not require scarfs or mufflers around the neck. Broad-brimmed straw hats are the best protections against the intense rays of the sun.
Certain articles of clothing demand especial attention on the part of the physician, in order that particular deformities and injuries to organs may be prevented, and that correct position and carriage of the child may be maintained.
The younger the individual, the more readily are the feet affected by improper foot gear. Proper shoes are of prime importance. These should follow the form of the foot, should be broad enough to give plenty of room to each toe, and should have a low, broad heel to insure a firm hold for the foot. Inasmuch as taste and fashion make it possible to become accustomed to certain shapes, it is to be hoped that in time the fashion-madness which finds its ideal in narrow, pointed shoes wherein the toes are crowded together, will finally capitulate to common sense, especially when the people are made aware, through repeated advice in matters hygienic, of the harm which may result from wearing improper shoes. But the shoes alone are not always to be blamed for causing deformities of the feet, with consequent disturbance of the func tions of the lower extremities and peculiarities in gait, for an unsuita ble stocking is capable of causing similar harm by interfering with the development of the toes. A separate pocket should be provided in the stocking for the great toe, in order to prevent its displacement toward the median line of the foot.
High collars or neck-pieces, especially when worn tight around the neck, are to be avoided, as they are likely to cut off or interfere with the circulation of the large superficial veins of the neck, through which the blood must return from the head. _A. number of unpleasant symp toms are apt to appear after a time, such as dizziness, headache, congestion of the head, and general irritability, which arc without apparent cause and are very puzzling to the physician unless he has observed the offending neck-piece.
The round garter encircling the upper part of the leg acts, in a similar manner, as a tourni quet for the veins of the lower extremities, and, when worn from early childhood, may produce varicose veins and promote the for mation of ulcers of the foot.
The corset is the greatest and most serious menace to the health of the female sex. Owing to the dictates of fashion, which declare a waist beautiful only when encircled by a corset as by an armor, there develop after a time those injuries and anomalies of which the constricted chest (Schnarthorax) is characteristic. Here, above all, are to be con sidered the effects of pressure upon the abdominal organs, particularly upon the liver, and the displacement of the abdomial organs (gastrop tosis, enteroptosis), with all their remote sequela., such as dilatation of the digestive organs, chlorosis in all grades. poor development, and ner vous symptoms of all kinds. The earlier tight lacing is practiced and the more the shape of the thorax is removed from the normal, the more certain is the prolapse of the stomach, the less the opportunity for the blood-making system to escape disturbance, and the more persistent and difficult to cure are the consequent symptoms of disease. Children who do not wear corsets but who wear skirt bands which are too tight may develop manifestations similar to those which occur from wearing tight corsets. It is part of general prophylaxis to preserve the natural form of the thorax in the young and to guard them from the evils induced by the wearing of corsets. But in order to get along without a corset. which lends support to the entire upper part of the female figure, in cluding beasts and back, it is necessary that the girl's body should be strengthened by good nourishment, plenty of fresh air, and particu larly by exercise, such as gymnastics, tennis, rowing, etc., so that the muscles may be strong enough to furnish the requisite support without artificial aid. This end is fully attained, in my experience, when the development of the muscles of the chest and back is begun early. In stead of corsets, the girls ought to wear underwaists which have buttons to which the skirt and drawers can be fastened, thus dividing the weight of the clothes between the hips and shoulders. This manner of dress does not permit the wearing of heavy underclothing, The same result has also been attained by the so-called "reform" clothing, which often replaces the skirt by trousers. Whenever this kind of clothing is used and it is found that there is pressure upon the two floating ribs (which in women is particularly harmful), it should he made clear that the band of the skirt must be worn loosely and that the garment itself should rest snugly upon, and take its support from, the crests of the ilia.