Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-30

A few facts about the origin of soft
corns that may help some persons pre-
venting their growth. This trouble is
frequently caused by neglect-thct is, the
feet are not bathed frequently enough.
Then, too, more than any other part of
the body, they are shut away from ven
tilation, and while, this. in measure,
protects them from dust it also is harm
full, for all pores of the body must at
some time have air. and when deprived
of it they become unhealthy. When there
is friction, as on the feet. from hosiery
and leather, the skin is rubbed trifie
and thickens, and when this happens be-
tween the toes soft cOrns are promptly
formed. 1t is not only in thi- way, how
ever, that they come.
Carelessness in drying. after washing,
is the beginning of many soft corns. The
skin left moist thickens, and not being
removed by the towel stays in the crew
ices, hardens, pressure comes from the
shoes and the result is a painful swelling
that is known as a soft corn.
One should give special attention to this
part of the drying. Turkish towel
should never be used on the feet They
require the softest and thinnest Of linen
to soreness or cracking between the toes.
it is an excellent idea to rub on cold
cream or vaseline, which does away with
any friction. woman who was amlcteo
with soft cOrns for years adopted the 1oi-
lowing treatment and 1t proved salts
factory: go
Every night she has a foot bath. with
water sOftened by bOrax After this the
drying is done most thoroughly with old
linen kept Tor the purpose, and no men Is
z tir,rr n
cold cream into the palm of one hand, she
rubs it all over the foot. especially be-
tween the toes. This is wiped with dry
CLOTH and then powder is busted on thick
ly with puff. taking care to cover that
part of the flesh which comes close to-
gether So entirely is the cream absorbed
that none comes off on the sheets.
In the morning more cream is put be-
tween the toes, more powder, and then
the stockings are drawn on.
This particular woman has suffered ex-
cruciatingly with hard corns. but none Is
troublesome now. for the simplest rea-
son. The hard ones are kept cut close,
and the cream and powder permit hosiery
TO rub over without friction, SO tnat tnere
is never irritation. :,
This is a simple treatment that all
might follow. Cold cream may be very
cheaply made by melting together one
ounce each of white wax and spermacetl
by putting them into a basin set into hot
water. AS they liquify, and before be-
coming hot, two ounces of sweet almond
oil are added and. removing the cup from
the bath, two ounces of rose water are
beaten in slowly. This should be kept in
a glass or porcelain jar and is excellent
for different purposes.
Massage for Soft Corns.
Treatment of soft corns differs funda-
mentally from that for hard ones. mas
much as the latter cannot be cut. They
must be removed or kept down. and the
simplest way Of doing this Is to rub them
hard with the tips of the fingers after
soaking the foot for ten minutes in hot,
soapy water. This bath sOftens the skin,
and the corn comes away something after
the nature of a blister. Frequently these
small spots make one excessively uncOm-
Portable and at such a time a soothing
application is desirable. Painting with
tncture of iodine is supposed to do good.
but my observation gives me the opinion
that many times it is useless More likely
to ease is a lotion of dram each of
glycerin, carbolic acid and tincture of
iodine. If the spot Is sore TO the touch
the carbolic acid must be reduced in guam
'tity, and the glycerin proportionately in
creased This may be used night and
morning and also through the day. IL de-
sired
At all times pressure against the sore
must be relieved, a thing that will be &C
complished If the cod cream and powder
treatment already advocated is followed.
ton wet with carbonized vasaline may be
put into the crack. and every night the
foot must be bathed and the sore dried