Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-06-10
HIGH HEELS.

uG cuitUF Vi tHC utiducIpnlu nge
has made visitation to one of the many
hospitals of that city, and amorg the
many reflections caused by witnessing
human suffering. he furnishes the fol-
lowing on high heels, which we recon-
mend to the attention of parents:
I" Men, women and children, lifeless
under the effects of chlorotorm, or some
OF her agent of similar character; hu.
man bodies carried from place to place
on stretchers; the noiseless, bat not
bloodless, work of the operators the
writhing Of subjects when returning
consciousness makes them sensible of
what has been done, are all parts of a
scene which, if once witnessed. will
never be forgotten. But all this is
necessary, as a means of relieving suf-
ferers from pain, and restoring them to
the use of all their natural functions
Science, skill and care have reduced
the suferings of those compelled to I'M
dergo surgical operations TO the lowest
possible point. But enough remains to
trishten people from paths, the end of
which is the operating table and the
surgeons knife One of these paths
which just now is filled with victims, is
the wearing of high heeled boots by
ladies' and children. The practice is
openly condemned by learned surgeons,
and DR.. William III. Pancoast remarked
the other day, after performing a pain
full operation on an interesting little
girl whose feet had been ruined by
wrongly constructed shoes, this is the
beginning Of u large harvest of such
cases." And what else can be expected?
Mothers walk the streets with heels
on their boots from two and half to
three aud halt inches high, ard not
more than an inch in diameter, and
their dau. hters follow the same bad and
barbarous practice. In many cases,
severe sprains Of the ankle are aufcred
But these are not the worst frni,s of
he high hee! torture The toes are
forced against the fore part of the boot.
and soon begin to assume unnatural
positions. In many cases they are
actually dislocated In others the great
toes pass under the foot, the tendons
harden in that position. and lameness is
contracted, for which there is no cure
but the knife When the injury does
not fake this form, it assumes other
aspects almost as horrible aud distress,
ing. There are thousands of young
girls tip toeing it along our streets to-
day who in few years will be cripples
If their parents do not interfere aud
remove the cause. We shall have a
race of women almost rs helpless, as far
as walking is concerned, as those of
China. We condemn the practice of
confning the feet of Chinese children
in wooden shoes. aud yet that practice
is no more injurious to the feet than
forcing them into small boot with an
Alpine heel. This is matter of grave
and serious import, and hence we press
il upon the mothers and fathers OF the
land. If they would not feed the sur.
gical hospitals, and have groups of
manned daughters in their homes, they
must commence crusade upon high
heels No father should have high.
heeled boots in his house any more
than he would keep vicious dog in
the parlor When skilful surgeons like
DIR. Pancoast, from the operating room,
raise their voices against high heeled
boots. it is quite time for old and Young
ladies to pause and listen At this
period, they can choose between high
heels and the operating knife. In q
short time, it may be the latter or per-
manent lameness."