Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-04-19
THE FooT's ANATOMY.
why n shoaid tis Considered In the Sc.
lection of shoes.


A skillful anatomist says that II we |
wore shoes day and night our feet |
would become permanently and hope.
lessly diseased. but the airing and |
change they get while we sleep keep |
them in tolerahle condition.
.srhe human foot is merely hand
modified for base OF structure 10 sup
port the body" IL is longer and thicker
and narrower than the hand. Its solid
parts are firmer that the corresponding
parts of the hand; the movable parts
less movable than those of the hand.
The foot has two arches; one from
front to rear composed Of eight bones,
and another from side to side
composed OF four These arches, on ac-
count of the carriages interposed
between the segmcnts that compose
them. are flexible and give elasticity 10
the step and gracefulness TO the gait
The largest bone in thc long arch OF
the foot Is the heel bone. and To this Is
attached the largest tendon in the body.
In this tendon the three muscles which
| compose the calf Of the leg and which
are of the greatest value to US In the
\ act Of walking unite.
\ The more nearly the shoe approaches
the form Of the foot the easier II will be
20 walk in. High heels are nothing but
an injury. not 10 the foot alone, but to
the whole body. They iex the three
muscles in the calf Of the leg that give
greatness of the body, throw the weight
u the body on 10 the ball Of the foot,
throw the knees forward, and put the
a 1. hta ~
xcl understood by lovers Of field sports
md athletics, whose shoes have hardly
my heels NJ all.
The earliest form OF foot cover was
he simple sandal. secured 10 the foot by
thongs. and often by a button. coming
between the first and second toes. The
material used for shoes and sandals Is
various, chiefly the skins OF animals
Wooden shoes are much worn in Europe
, md are becoming common Ia this coun
Lry. The Japanese wear sandals O
,traw. and South Americans, In som'
ocalities, sandals Of plated hemp. Tit
.arly creeks went barefoot or wore sim
ole sandals; the Romans wore lsnsktns
similar 10 the moccasins of the American
indians.
,hould understand the anatomy OF th'
foot as well as the art OF making shoes
q and he should be able to II each shoe I
the foot that is To wear IT, but probahl
not one shoemaker in million ever dis
y ,ertcd a human foot with "a view
learning how shoes should be made.
: We never think 81 working with ot
l. hands when they are gloved and all "
I ask of a glove is that IL neatly fit tn
n hand when at rest But we never thin
= Il walking any distance in unshod fee
md what We want of shoes is not cove
% ng only, but aid in locomOtion. Man
~ A shoe Is comfortable enough when or
~ X sitting still that becomes cNcrueiatin
r. when one walks in it. Room Is not give
Is Tor the play Of the various muscles
" the foot. the arches are pressed out
hape. the circulation il obstructed, an
=? he exercise 81 walking, which shou
Up ~ delightful. becomes intOlcrable, al
ii. he gait which should be graceful al
o. asy becomes limping and awkward,
le Judging from the number of mi
q, ,haped feet one sees when travelling I
Oh he horsc-cars and crossing the territ
y, where the feet of wuyfarers are expos
rs . view there is great deal Of sullerii
~ lat il not much talked about, ami
TO robably considered incurahle But
or night all or nearly all have been III
or .ented but for ili-itting shoes, And
n treat deal Of this suffering might be {
ok aped If misshapen feet were proVid
or With shoes fitted To them and conform
. their present necessities. y. \. A