Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-09
CARE OF THE FEET.
Cause of and Remedies to Relieve
Their Tenderness.

The Americans are already expert
encin.. what has troubled every great
army from the earliest times. namely,
that boots are great ditnculty. Thls
Observation-Disclosures is no doubt connected
with the growth of micro-ofSanisms;
the warmth and moisture OF the foot
making the soldiers boot an almost
ideal incubator. while the organic sub
stances contained in the persplration
provide constant supply OF nutrient
medium for the development or bac-
teria. Much care and labor have been
expended in the investigation OF the
microbes which are connected With
sore. and incidentally with perspllinG
and offensive feet. There is much rea-
son to believe that the organisms en-
gagged are many and various. But in
any case there can be no DOUBT that
The hot, steamy foot is much more
likely than the firm. but dry loot to
become sore, partly from mechanical
causes connected with the sodden con-
dition of its protective covering of cpl
darmis. and partly from the fact that
in such cases the skin, the stockings
and the boots themselves become SO
highly charged with micro-organisms
that the slightest abrasion quickly
becomes a sore.
Acting on this hypothesis many an
tiseptics have been employed for the
purpose of breaking UP the microbic
link in the chain of events which so
often leads up to the production of
sore feet Salt and water. vinegar
and spirits of wine are old domestic
with perchloride of mercury, bathing
them with carbolic lotions. and espec-
tally the free use of boracic acid as a
busting powder, both for feet. for
stockings. and for boots, have all been
found of service The fusspulver of
the German army, which consists
chiefly of salicyic acid and chronic
acid has a double action. hardening
the epiderms and probably checking
perspiraton. as we'll as operating as d
germicide. With the same object. tan
noform. a compound of formaldehyde
with tannin. has lately been used. 1t
is a powder and has the advantage of
being without smell 1t may be used
pure or mixed with tae a puff, or
as an ointment with vaseline. but for
the purpose now in question. is best
used dry. The secretion dminishes
after the first application of the pow
der. and the macerated parts quickly
recover their natural condition. Prob
ably. however. the tannin is unneces-
sary. and Adler, Frey. and more re
Gently Gerdeck. have advocated the
use of simple formain tan aqueous so
luton of formic aldehyde.)
IN ,ff.., L..
the soles and the interdigital spaces
washed once or twice a day with a two
per cent. solution Of formalin. and has
the insides of the boot. especially the
sole. washed out With the same sou-
ton and carefully dried afterward. In
few days the Offensive odor disap-
pears. Gerdeck. however. uses the
strong undluted formaln. and he says
that when this has been applied to the
feet a few times they do not sweat
again for two or three weeks even
though wooden stockings he worn The
undiluted formain is To be pcnciled
over the feet three or four times. at
intervals OF about six hours. and Il few
drops of the fluid are to be dropped
into the boots TO disinfect them. 1t is
claimed that, used in this way, it not
only acts as preventive Of sore feet
but that even when blistering has oc-
CURED it hardens the softened tissues
and makes walking painless. Although
We cannot speak of this matter yet
from personal experience. there is much
in the action of formalin in many
branches of surgery To support the
claims here put forward That
''sweaty feet have much to do with
the general health no one who has OBJ
served these cases can deny. At the
same time there is no doubt that the
condition is in other cases coincident
with the best of health and that in
other cases after all constitutional
measures have had fair play the often
slVe condition remains. notWii hstand-
ing the Improvement in the health at
large 1t becomes a local affair. re-
quring some such local treatment as
we have indicated. and it should be
noted that although in civil life moist
offensive and tender feet are not pro
ductive of the disastrous consequences
that may attend their prevalence in an
army. they still are the cause of much
physical distress. much mental mis-
cry and much incapacity for work. and
that, unattractive though the subject
may seem, the medical man who can
relieve the condition will not only do
much good. but will gain much credit.
Exchange.
TkA EsIsIe ut n,,.s