The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-24
OUR HEALTH COLUMN.

TIE cholera originated in Hindostan In
1917, on the banks of the Ganges. After
lingering In Hindostan for several years, it
swept across the Bay of Bengal to Siam,
Malacca, Cochin, aud from thence to
China. From the western shores Of Hin
dostan it passed into Arabia, Persia, Tur-
key, Asia aud Egypt. From Persia,
raging along the shores of the Caspian sea,
Il reached the Russian domnions in Asia,
and being conveyed by the Russian troops
into Europe, it visited three-fourths OF that
continent, and has, from the commence
ment, swept off upwards Of COCO 900 OF
souls. 1t made its appearance 10 Canada
in 1882, aud was very fatal. From thence,
it passed on to Boston, New York, Balti-
more, Norfolk, Richmond, Petersburg,
Washington, &C., &c. The cholera COM
menced in New York on the 4th of July,
1892, and up to the 25th of the same
month, there had been 2,993 cases and
1,211 deaths. 1t commenced in Richmond
on the 7th of September, 1882. From
the 7th of September to the 9Th of Octo-
Der, there we're from five to six hundred
deaths, at which time it disappeared.
The above are notes taken In 1882 by
an old citizen. Preventative: cleanliness
and temperance.
Dress AND CARE OF THE FEET showing their
Natural Shape and, Construction their pre-
sent Dsformed Condition; and how hatsfoot,
distorted toes, and other defects are to be pre-
vented or corrected, etc. With illustrations.
Samuel R. Wells, publisher, No. 3ss Broad
way, New York.
A neatly bound, handsomely printed
volume, having for its object the correction
of the many abuses imposed upon these
very useful members.
10 these days of tight shoes, and the
perpetual changes in form of these articles
of apparel to meet the requirements of
fashion, no portion Of the body is more
uniformly neglected than the feet, and this
is true not of any particular class of per-
sons, but of all classes in general. The
practice of the Chinese of forcing their fe-
male children's feet into forms, in order to
make them small, is held up to every child
as an example of barbarism, and yet there
is very little difference between the COM
presses which tightly surround the pedal
extremities Of the Celestials and the absurd
foot-coverings now worn by almost every
American woman.
The poet who apostrophized the feet of
his adored as little mice peeping out from
under her robes, would hardly have ven
tured to invoke his muse on such subject
had be had chance to see the objects of
his verse in their natural state. He would
have been told by his fair one that those
bewildering boots SO daintily embroidered
were simple instruments of torture, equal
to, if not worse than, the "bo3" used by
the terrible tribunal Of Venice, forcing the
unfortunate foot into the most unnatural
position; that the dainty heel, with atip
no larger than ten-cent piece set almost
in the middle of the shoe had the effect of
throwing the foot forward and leaving the
whole weight of the body to be borne by
the toes, causing the extremities to assume
an appearance anything but natural or
beautiful.
Few persons are born with deferned
feet, and yet a perfect foot in an adult is
almost rarity. Nature gives every one
an arched instep and fat toes. and it is
only by the use of the hard leather cover
ings now In use that the fiat sole and de-
pressed instep have become so common.--
The desire to give the foot taper appear
ance is at the base of many of the common
deformities. The toes should lie directly
forward In line with the foot's length
and all should touch the ground SO as to
bear their equal share of the weight The
old masters recognized this fact, and in
their most beautiful statues and paintings
no one ever sees the great toe pointing out
ward, or the others in cramped or I'M
natural position.
There is slight but distinct gradual
widening OF the foot from the middle
region to the ends Of the toes, as the ex-
animation of any child's foot which has
not been twisted out Of shape will show.
The only form of shoe, therefore, which
is absolutely correct. is one which gives
the toes perfect freedom to move, and yet
how very few of the many styles of cover
ing fer the feet will admit Of this
CONSTIPATION AND BOWEL COMPLAINTS.
Strict attention to diet is Indispensable
in such case as this. Fruit should form
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