The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-22
GRORGB W. MCNFORD,
Secretary of the Commonwealth


R4T CossUxprIoN CAUSED By NEGLECT OF THg
FaRT-DANGBR op CCrTISG CORss.-hr. Editor: ;
The exquisite beauty of the mechanism OF the
hand It's influence upon the SOCIAL ana intellectual
the rs philosophers OF the age, Sir Charles Bell,
in his Bridgewater Treatise, and II equal talent
and pow er were devoted to the inquiry concerning
the construction of the foot, Is singular arrange
nent OF parts. its usss in the great economy of
nature-wa may Affirm that 1t would net afold
less subject Tor ingenious speculation. nor less
admiration Of Him who formed it. 1t would
quire little skill TO show that even our enjoyment
lthy I'M oil eot and our capabtity OF derivin
from creation around Us the best blessings, are
maialy dependent upon that Organization by
which our Iocom0ton is performed, our power
"cseri conrer,lm tuoriP' and To hold that uprigh
form which essentially distinguishes man trom
all living beings which the hand of nature has SO
pTofusely made.
The toes seldom jsct5 of much attention
to 10 we are too often conteat with common at
tentiOn to clean Illness, and TO the length OF the
nails all othor circumstances pass IN needed by,
until our Thoughts are compelled to be directed
towards them, in Consequence of feeling some
noyance or actual pain: such, indeed, is the
careteseness with which these important parts Ct
the human economy is considered, that even the
slightest a.lusion In society 10 the subject Of
corns, is considered by many we'll bred people
highly iudelicate. wei instructed young lady
would shrink back with. horror at any msntion
being made regarding attention to tbs feet. and
yet, TO what disease does it give birth? We may
trace one-hah Of the Consul pti0n of this couu-
try 10 inatteution to the fee, and it is not suf-
GENTLY impressed upon the nj cd, that when Con
sumption once arises from he neg iect of the feet
II 10 mater OF the utmost QIilcuity 10 cure II.
At the present day We fn1 a large portion of the
community, from the hghast to the lowest, sub
ject to severe suf- ring from the inatentiou OF
surgeons to the affections to which the feet are
subject. They have generally been considered
OF SO trivial nature as to be unworthy of their
serious inquiry, and have consequently been con-
signed to a class Of men whose supreme ignorance
has thrown obloquy upon those W 10 have bot the
wish and the power 10 alleviate the pain and pro-
Science NAV be sad to have da%aed the grees
of English physicians, Syden ham, expressio g his
anxiety to prevent consumption, deemed that
skilfui ANTAGONISTS should not disdain to devote
their attention to this neg ected portion of surg
cal art. Aud, however sneered at as beneath thu
dignity of science amply will the Inquirer bs re-
power ne will possess, in being = contributor to
the ease Il not happiness OF mankind
corns have not ccssionaily been found both of
the most hardened portions OF its integumeuts
even in their thick est and most sensitive parts
have been studded with those ungainly annoy
their avorte position-a large portion it is fire.
quentiy diseased. The outer joint of the great
too appears, also, 10 he frequently infested with
these eYcrescences. These are the mora ordinary
cases which present themselves to the practition-
er, aud are those which give great annoyance
without probably exciting that exeruciatng agony
which is felt when they appear in other places -
They are faIad under the nal of the great toe and
these are Pc sources OF muea irritation. Bat
which are he source Of extreme misery to those
who have TIE misfortune to suffer from them -
close to the nail, has been the fruitful cause Of
such morbid condition that the whole frame has
partaken OF it, and have had occasion TO relieve
an apparently broken down constitution by ms
so simple, yet effcacious to be look sd upon
rather as minister!ng angel than an ordi ma y
observer OF the effect which may spring from the
humblest means.
The roots OF the nails have been occasionally
the seats Of corns, which have produced a high
degree Of Inflammation and tumefcation. These
nave been ascribed to sccidents-nay, equity
diathess, while the original cause has been over
1nnl Ad hArA nsa M "a at Tod
their developmen The three small toes are
Unfortunately diseased. Some persons exhibit
peculiar idiosy ncrasy in this respect and in fam
lilies there will be found striking predIs position
to unhealthy state in this portion OF the integ
umepts OF the foot.
The soies of the feet and the heels often exhibit
excrescences, varying in the intensity Of the
symptoms they display-s"metlnes only those of
annoyance, in others Of actual pain. l will not
enter minutely into the appearances which have
been presented to me during my extensive prac-
tice The first idea which naturally suggests it,
self to those who are suffering ftom any kind of
pain. is instantaneous relief, and many are most
willing to allow the Iosls ct origo mali - to re-
main, and gain to become the fruitful offspring
of pain, rather than apply TO skillfu operator,
even though be caa lerma nentiy eradicate the
state of the feet, We must ofteptimes devote as
muc CHI attention to the means of paliiation as to
those Of cure, aud We shall find that often gain
as much reputation from the public. and estima-
ton in the eyes of our patients by afordiug the
| momentary ease, as by the ultimate cure Of the
disease.
ON the other hand, the confidence of the public
is much abused by class Of self educated and
sef-extolling practitioners, who pretend TO have
discovered infallible means of preventing disea-
pes such as We have described that innumerable
diieulties surround the osJest specifies for al
the public press is to be taken our guide :; but
among the ad vertisements will be found the bold
assertions OF some loud proclaimer OF his pow er,
and especially in the department to which ha We
devoted my time and attention. Plasters, ONT
ana aord @ are s
infallible. The maker OF these nostrums wraps
in becoming mystery his discovery; he obtains a
patent for it, signs his own autograph the
stamps there is necromancy, withcIaft and mar
veliuus power in everything he propounds. Ac-
known to fail: and what chance has he " 40 has
devoted his whole life to inq airy, but honestly to
confess that the deviations of nature. surpass his
expectations that her ways too often in ruta-
BILE and all that he do is to study to learn an
to try TO cure with protesting that every NAL
adv is subject to his superior skill.
Most urgently do l recommend those VI no are
afi cted with cOrns-however harmless they may
appear-however easily oved-never 10 have
recourse to the knife. They may be as. ured that,
though there may be a vast number Of instances
in which no bad consequence has attended upou
this operatiOn-ta man may jump into the water
and not 10 drown ed, l--yet there are 30 many and
such serious evils which have arisen from it,,
that 10 Que W ho has regard for his swn comfort
and safety should venture upon it. One sad ter
mination 0utweighs whole catalogue Of fortu-
nate sxtirpations strenuously recommend
those ~ no. suffering from corns, are anxious for
relief never to have recourse TO the pen knife, to
the razsr, or to the scissors, but to place them
selves ~ soon AZ poSslDl6 Qnu6r Inc management
of some one who has been long skilled in their
cure.
They will ind temporary and sometimes per-
manent railef, II the Affection be but c0mmenc ng
from plunging the foot into a hot pediluviuin
pouring in from time to time hot water and keep.
least an hour. The foos should then be assida.
ously raoaed for eQNai1 cradle length Of time
with dry, rough towel; The friction need not be
rather on the intc9ument INN ediately in contact
with it,. 10 the greater number Of instances this
callous substance; there viii be neither pain nor
lneasiuess left sleep will be unnterrupe ed by
any, disagrreesbis sensations; Although the corn
will remain, still relief is obtained without the
danger which cutting may produce 1t is impos-
sibie TO be completely rid OF corn, unless extir-
pated by skillfnl aud experienced operator.
have before observed, never sh ,afd the appa-
rently simple appearance of hard corn. or !'cla-
yus durus." lead to the use Of knife. by . pa
tient, for, although there may be nothing from
which res alt could be anttcipated-no external
characteristies which give the leas; indications
that evil Will be the consequence OF q meddle-
some practice-yet the most serious consequences
may result therefrom and when too late here
SOME " hat tedious in this matter-if have been
guilty of repetitions-I trust that may be ex
subject Of which conceive Of more Importance NC
almost, than any rules could lay down. II is q
maxim would have a starting taught 10 repeat
1t Is a sequence which should bs repeated in the
| ear Of every sufferer from corns--it 10 q voice
which che shsuld be esheea back on every occasion
warning, there should be any sufficiently ven.
turesome to negisc il, the danger be on his o
head, but the repentance will come TOO late.
The most appalling spasms, ulsions terribl lie
to behold. aud iockjaw, have attended on the
wonnding branch oil nerve by common pen
am not fond Of giving cases for am . e1rs' e
nnd that every empyrie who practices any branch
Of the medical profession fancies that the true
avenue to employment 10 to narrate extraordinary
cases, whether founded on fact or not, because he
fanciss that people viii see something In wha,
they read which may remind them Of their ow q
suffering ! will only sllade to the death Of Lord
Darniy by weuading . nerve on HIS great toe, and
also 10 the referred to In thu memoirs OF the
n,..h n kpun II hns 80