that the result of our inquiries caused us to leave with very different opinions to what we had before entertained with respect to that portion of ladies' attire called the Corset. Madame Caplin commenced her explanation by proving that she is thoroughly acquainted with anatomy, and that her principles are founded upon scientific knowledge, her starting-point being the outline of the human body, with all its beautiful perfections, then adapting those principles to each case by ingeniously constructing her Corsets so as to give support to the trunk without confinement to the thorax. Madame Caplin then went on to state the necessity of Corsets adapted on these principles, which protect the yielding parts of the body from the weight of the underclothing, and pointed out the evils arising from the bands and strings of the underclothing, each forming a point of pressure, while a well constructed Corset affords support on the power of surface and proves a protection to the body. She, moreover, convinced us that there are many unjust prejudices existing against the use of Corsets, and detailed many cases wherein Corsets are absolutely necessary, if constructed as above named. For instance, where the weight of the body is carried forward, the chest is contracted, the ribs are lowered, and the abdomen is thrown out of its natural position; the muscles of the back likewise become weak and elongated to accommodate the stooping. In a case like this, let us see the effect of a Corset anatomically constructed; it will support the back, keep the body in an erect position, restore the centre of gravity by raising the ribs, expanding the chest, thereby allowing the free inflation of the lungs, and thus restore the figure to its normal state. She also explained that if Corsets prove the means of restoring the equilibrium of the body, they must also be a preventive means, if applied in time; and amongst other things mentioned the erroneous opinion that Corsets are generally the cause of deformity, which is accredited for the want of investigation; as deformity is frequently found to arise from weakness, which may be produced by the rapid growth of a child, or the
