Pharaoh only demanded bricks without straw for a short time; but the fashionable lady asks to live without breathing for many years.” At the present day so much has been written against the improper use of corsets that some of the new generation do not wear stays at all: still many thousands do; and young girls delight to compress themselves until they attain that height of their ambition, a small waist-a de. formity which not only detracts from the pleasingness of their appearance, but also inevitably destroys their health. Many sudden deaths have occurred solely from tight-lacing; but in many more, nay in thousands of instances, such a state of universal disease is produced by this cause as ends, after long suffering, in premature death. To describe a tithe of these cases would be to fill a volume ; and, for the present, we must content ourselves with admonition, the more earnest because it is of vital importance to every woman to be perfectly well-formed, not only for her own sake, but also as it may greatly affect her offspring.

Every medical man agrees that stays or cor

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sets, if worn at all, should be fastened in front, and from the bottom instead of the top. They should be amply large, especially across the chest; soft, and without bones or shoulderstraps. The object of lacing them from the bottom instead of the top is, that by the former process there is apt to be a pressure of the organs downwards, displacing the viscera, and materially interfering with the process of digestion. And we must not forget that a red nose and flushed face are among the undesirable results of this destructive practice.

Another common error in dress is to allow a great weight to rest on the hips. No heavy petticoats should be fastened round the waist without a body or straps over the shoulders to throw the weight on them; but, indeed, lightness should be as much studied as warmth in selecting articles of dress. To walk or take other exercise in heavy clothes is to add enormously to the fatigue. Nor must it be forgotten that we catch cold more frequently from exposing our back than our chest to draughts. The lungs are attached to the spine, and are placed between the shoulders; hence the pain in that spot when they are affected. But from ignorance of this fact we protect our chests from cold, but think the shoulders of no consequence. Both parts ought to be covered with flannel.

It is well, however, not to acquire the habit of coddling, as, in a climate so changeable as ours, it is impossible wholly to escape draughts and damp. The best safeguard is to strengthenthe constitution as much as possible; and cold spunging is almost a certain preventive of cold catching.

FRESH Air is another necessary of life and health; and instances have not been wanting, even during the last few months, when sudden death has arisen from breathing polluted air. As soon as you rise from bed in the morning you

should throw off the whole of the bedclothes, and, after dressing, open the window at the top and bottom, as well as the door, in order that a thorough draught should air the sheets and bed. In very damp weather, however, a fire and the open doors will be better than having the window open too long. The

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nightdress, also, should be thoroughly aired after being taken off-never folded up directly, as is sometimes done. The same rule applies to linen taken off at night, to be put on again in the morning; every article should be hung up so as to be aired-never folded up. There is no necessity for untidiness if this rule is carried out; the room may look quite as orderly as if every article was folded, and the advantage to the health is incalculable.

Lastly, the greatest care should be taken to have abundance of air while sleeping; as much is needed as during the waking hours, and as no fresh air is admitted into the room by the casual opening of doors, it is doubly imperative to get all we can. To cover the mouth or any part of the face with the bed-clothes is an act of suicide; it prevents the necessary supply of air reaching the lungs, and inevitably produces disease. If great cold is felt, it is better to wear a warmer nightdress than to risk all the evils produced by impure air reaching the lungs. If the mouth is covered, the lungs can only inhale again the same poisonous air they have already rejected,

who would shrink, either in selfish fear or morbid sentiment, from administering to the relief of those she loved ? But as it is possible that some may be deterred from proffering their aid from mistrust of their own powers of usefulness, and as some also are doubtless so ignorant of the duties of a nurse as to be rather a hindrance than a help, I will just give a few directions concerning the most obvious duties of those who are engaged in attending an invalid.

But let me first remark, that those who would leave a suffering parent or friend to the care of a professional nurse, under the idea that her services would be more welcome because she is more skilful than themselves, little know or guess the blessings which they thus voluntarily forego; for who can estimate the increase of affection which will be lavished on the dutiful daughter who has been her father's faithful nurse during a long illness? Who can tell how the remembrance of a kind and loving sister, soothing and amusing him during a childish illness, may return to the heart of some prodigal brother, and recall him to his duty and his home? Who can