Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
PRACTICAL POINTS.
RAD RESULTS FROM GRAPHING THE
FOOT IN A SMALL SHOE.
Tot IN, Foot sprend-Thc Wrong and
Right war Of Going Up-stairs--
IJebt-weight Dresses, &c.
correspondence of tho Richmond Dl,patch.I

fcorrespondence Of tho Richmond Di5patchJ
Bnoox1Yv. N. Y, March %. 1890.
There are slight conclusions and violent
conclusions. As | looked on NJ medical
examination few days ago Tor the purpose
of getting some valuable material for my
readers was amazed nj the summing up
of the nhvaician. The patient had been an
acute sufferer from nervous and sick
headaches and backache. She had had
many doctors. both here and abroad, and
had faithfully tried thei. prescriptions.
The Last one had told her TO walk four
milea day. TO drink no coffee, and to live
mostly ON SOUPS. The professional gentle
man who was looking into the case on the
occasion spoken of insisted, among other
things, upon the patients walking the
length of the drawing-room several times.
STARTLING VERDICT.
His verdict was that the headaches and
backaches were partly induced by concus-
sion of the spinal vertebr1, and this was
caused by throwing the Welsl. OF heavy
body upon the heels at every step the poor
creature had taken since she began to walk.
Now. this was a revelation TO me even, for
although had long been aware That the
correct fashion in standing was upon the
halls of the feet, and that in walking the
heels should be the last 10 strike the
ground, did not suppose that such tragic
consequences could result from an i'm
proper gait. The doctor then gave me the
patients boot TO compare with her foot.
"This lady's foot is not exceptional" nc
said. as he measured the sole Of the bare
foot with that Of the shoe. TAKE most any
foot and you will find that it is warped at
the sides in other words bent towards the
sole. making long wrinkles in the bottom
of the foot. The shoe is not too small for
the foot in itspresent unnatural condition,
but il is fully two sizes too small Tor the foot
as it ought to be.
CEIPPLING THEIR TETT.
"There are some fools among men," the
physician continued, who cripple their
feet in this fashion, but for the most part
the sole of n mans shoe is as broad as the
sole of his foot | believe there are at least
ten nervous, fdgoty women TO one fidgety
man, and the reason for this can be found
largely in the difference in dressing the
feet. The pressure on nerve in the little
toe IS sufficient TO induce a severe head
ache or q pain in some other part OF the
body. Now this lady's trouble has come
from her feet almost entirely. Nou SEQ she
has doctored for the liver and for maladies
peculiar TO her sex, and for chronic neu-
ralgia. and even for heart failure, and all
the time she has been injuring her spine by
awkwardly walking several miles a day in
shoes ever so much too small for her"
HARD PRESCRIPTION.
Now. this woman she'd bitter tears, and
| did not wonder ut IT. though the Doctor
was most encouraging IN his prophesies
for the future. He forbade her from walk
ing in shoes for whole month. She must
travel about in wOOllen slippers without
soles, 50 rs 10 flatten her feet. | wonder
how many of my readers would be willing
TO obey that order. AT the expiration Of
this time she is to have pair of boots
made which will he sure 70 allow her ieet
to spread ont properly upon the soles.
This is cOmmOn-sense, and ! was genuinely
glad TO see one Of our popular doctors
taking hold of the matter in such practi-
cal and helpful way. Not very long ago a
physician would have been peremptOrily
discharged had he limited ut tight shoes or
snug corsets. For this privilege our phyfl-
Grams may thank the wlde-Gwake, intelli-
gent, and determined women who have
labored increasingly to educate their sis
tiers in these physiological matters.
SHORT BREATH GOING UPSTAIRS.
I have received many communications |
asking If there il any way Of overcoming |
the breathlcssness produced by going up /
stairs. There is no way if one wears tight |
clothing, or heavy skirts dragging upon |
the hips, with perhaps, high-heeled shoes |
two or three sizes too small. Women can |
be said TO 90 upstairs generally head first. |
That is, their heads are much IN advance |
of their bodies. The chest Is drawn N, |
the shoulders raised, thus throwing every |
mortal organ ont Of place. To add % this |
are the elaborate petticoats which 20
wabbling about and are always stepped on, |
unless one gives ones mind and ono's |
hands wholly to the matter.
coRprcr GOING rTP-gTArre.
as Miss Mabel Jenness remarked in late |
lecture on The Gospel Of Grace, is lift |
ing the weight entirely with the chest, |
with each muscle vitalized and active, |
bearing its own load. Breathlessness IS !
partly fatigue and more because of tho |
cramped condition of the lungs, perhaps |
increased by tight clothing" Before going |
mp flight of stairs lift the chest, throw |
back the head, and initiate the lungs. Then |
go slowly. You may weigh 200 pounds, |
hut If you have on o divided skirt and |
undergarments, and dress |
skirt not too long that IS draped on q |
Princess foundation, you can soon learn |
TO 60 upstairs without the slightest IA !
tIgue. But if YOU stick your head out and |
draw your chest in. and wear swaddling |
clothes, you will puff and blow ana suffer. |
LIoHT-wEIGHT DEEssEs.
The most fashionable dresses this spring |
are of Light weight. This Is according 10 |
true hygienic principles. India silks in all |
colOrs and patterns figure consp,cuOusly |
for both homo and street dresses. The |
imitation lndias are very pretty, very |
cheap, and exceedingly popular. As these |
goods weigh next 10 nothing thew can be |
and artistically draped without |
danger. Remember that the prettiest COS |
tunes have a gown-form foundation. |
This does away with bands about the |
waist and makes it possible for every wo-
man to have rs graceful a carriage as nature |
intended. Waists and sleeves are very full |
and made in every conceivable and artistic |
fashion. With a proper gown-form pattern
d woman can make her own dresses, If she |
wishes TO economic, or does not care 10
wait for her dressmaker. Fashion does not
decree one style alone. Anything that is
tasteful is stylish at the present time.
Arbitrary methods are things Of the past, |
and let US hope that the same can be said |
before long of high-heeled toO-small shoes,
and tight corsets. and heavy petticoats.