Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-13
COLD FEET.
by Improper Treatment and
Lack eff Attention,
eau

Improper treatment of the feet and
lack of attention to their needs is the
cause of many disorders and nervous
affections, remarked a physician the
other day to school teacher who had
applied to him to get relief for "cold
feet and headaches" ''Now, the per-
son who has cold feet is almost sure to
have headache" he continued, ''for
the fact that the feet are cold shows
that the circulation is weak. The
blood not circulating freely in the ex-
trem1ties crowds into the upper por-
tions of the body, and the pressure on
the blood vessels of the head, of
course, occasion headache. Feet that
are almost constantly cold tend to
cause congestion of the internal ors
gans. The blood vessels of these cold
feet become narrowed by the lack of
flow of the vital fluid to them, thus
perpetuating and increasing the diff
Guilty. Those who are troubled in this
way should take plenty of exercise ia
the open air and soak their feet in
warm water every night. This couns
teracts the tendency to congestion,
enlarges the vessels, and helps per-
naanently to relieve tho foot of theix
special tendency to coldnesss.
"Feet that perspire and emit bad
odor should be washed every night,
too. After they have been bathed a
2 per cent. solution of carbolic acid
should be applied. The stockings,
too, should be changed daily and the
boots should have inner soIes that can
be taken out each day and likewise
dipped in 2 per cent. solution of car
bOlic acid. The reason that this pro-
cess is necessary is that the bad odor is
due to microscopic organisms and the
acid kills them.
''Most feet can be kept soft and
healthy by soaking them in water as
hot as can be borne before retiring,
using ammonia and soap freely. They
should then be rubbed briskly with a
rough bath towel. and glycering, mix
| ed with an equal part of carbolic acid
II pc cent. strong, applied to them.
Mutton or beef tallow will do instead
of the glycerine.
another thing that helps keep the
feet cold is the conventional shoe.
Even if the shoes you wear are large
enough, which they very seldom are,
they would pull the muscles of the
feet awry, pinch up the bones ia one
place and let them spread out in an
other until they could have no natur-
al action, and, consequently, the Cir
culation is interfered with. Yes, yes,
| kAow," the physician added, testify,
as the young laky opened her mouth
in mild protest, ''that loose shoe
could be quite as uncomfortable as
tight one. I know the shoe ought to
fit as closely as the stocking, and
that loose~fitting shoe is products
i've of corns and discomfort as one
that pinches. But where it should be
tight, young lady. is around the
ankle, across the instep, around the
arch of the foot and the heel. But
the front half should have large
sole and loose upper. Then the
bones in that part of your foot Will
lave plenty of room for movement.
With the kind of shoes you are now
wearing these bones are all squeezed
together and the joints almost tele-
scoped. OF course your feet can't
help being cold. No; can't give
you any medicine for it. Get your
self a sensible pair of boots, take care
of your feet as I have advised you,
and you'll have no more trou ole.