Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-31
High-heeled Shoes.

'Back-a:he,' says prominent New
York physician. 'is very common
among women more than two thirds Of
them suffer from it. But there is one
kind of this trouble, caused by pre-
yailing fashion, which women ought
not to allow themselves to suffer
from.
"A few years ago a fashionable young
lady called upon me, saying that her
back was very lame and had been so fer
a considerable time the pain had lats-
ly been so greatly increased that she
had become frightened absut herself.
She had been obliged to shSrten her
promenades, so she said, was almest
incapable of dancing, anu her life wac
gradually becoming burden. She had
tried everything and taken medicine
all the time, but-and then she broke
down IN such way that began to
suspect hysteria.
She locked tired, and her face bore
an expression Of PAIN and despondency
which WAS net compatible with her
years-shc was 23-nor her evidence
of constitutional force. which 1 judged
to be strong. I confess was alta loss
10 account for her trouble, and close
questioning gave me no indication for
treatment. l at last prescribed tonic
on general priRcip les-and asked her
to call In about a week. When she
reappeared again, glance suficed to
show that she was no better, and | was
much puzzled as saw her walk up and
down the office 10 nervous excitement
exclaimine that she would never gel
we'll. she kuew she wouldn't, etc. As
1 looked, certain popularity in her
walk led me TO think that there might
be sone spinal trouble, and commen'
ced a discrimination, which she
brought 10 a sudden close by saying
why, doctor, several Of my friends are
suffering just as am, but they are not
vet 50 worn out with the pain VI,
cannot all have spinal complaints, can
we?
L thought il impossible, of course,
and the interview ended by my asking
her 10 call on the next day. and bring
one Of her friends With her, when ]
would make another effort to discover
the real cause of trouble. / had, in
fact, made up my mind that some
popularity in dress was at the rOet oi
the difficulty. The ladies called, and
had hardly traversed the Office before
observed in patient No the same idio-
syncrasy iu walking that l had seen in
the first patient. L was not long in
discoVesing that the real difficulty lay in
the high and taperIng heels of my pa
tents CATERS. Closer examination
revealed the fact that there was a DIFF
ference in the height If the bsos heels
of the two ladie,, and l found that my
first patient, who was the greater sut-
ferer, was the one whose CATERS pos
sessed the higher heels. There was
nothing to do but to prescrib slippers
and WOODEN stockings for a week, to be
followed by the wearing of shoes having
low bread heels.
All signs of lamepess disappeared
within eleven days, aud my first patient
oil this kind, together with many who
have followed her, rsgaired their health
snd strength. There are many phy:lo.
logical reasons why undue elevation of
the heel must cause trouble. 1t will
suffice to say that it tends to throw for
ward the contents of the abdominal
cavity. and the muscles, nerves and
cords, more or less connected With, or
surrounding the back, are subjected 10
unusual stralu in resisting the forward
impalse. or course, in such cases.
lame back is not disease, bnt only the
Indication OF deep-seated trouble,
which is sometimes difficult to deal
with. Ladies should bs warnsd that
this fashion in heels is certain to bring
them sooner or later-great trouble.