The Washington herald., 1912-03-10
CLOTHES AND THEIR DEFECTS

I OF the muscles, weakening the joints,
causing a deterioration OF the entire
structure OF the foot. II the shoes are
too small, or OF improper shape we
have added the painful inconvenience Of
corns and bunions. The commonest and
most serious result of bad shoes Is fiat
foot The natural arch becomes fiattened
out, the instep is lowered. the relations
OF the joint surfaces are disturbed. there
| Is undue tension -on nerves and liga-
ments, certain muscles Of the leg. thigh.
and back are under constant overstrain
to correct the mechanical defect OF the
foot. the circulation Of the foot and
ankle is interfered with. and the person
thus affected is the subject OF p variety
of pains and DISABILITIES involving the
entire lower limbs and back.
OFTEN the i'll effects OF bad shoes are
long in arriving. Most young people win
say that their shoes are perfectly easy
and comfortable, and, indeed, II lie as
tonishing how the young animal adapts
! itself to unfavorable conditions. Later
in life the penalty is paid when the man
has to stand on his feet all day, or when
the woman approaches middle age; that
time when the joints begin to lose their
spring and the muscles their tone; when
she begins to take on weight. and the
feet that were able to support the winowy
figure OF youth give way under the ayoir-
dupois OF meturer years.
1t IS fair to assume that nature knew
what she was about when she made
the heel level with the ball Of the foot.
II We examine the mechanics OF stand
ing, we will see why this Is the case.
Let us imagine a beam standing on
its square end, and a plumb line dropped
from its center tcenter Of gravity; the
plummet would fall In the center OF the
square surface on which the beam stands
Cbase of support. II is a well known law
OF physics that in order for a body 10 be
in stable equilibrium, the center OF grav-
ity must be over the base OF support.
Now suppose we push a wedge under the
lower edge Of the beam.
The stability OF the equilibrium is di-
minished, and IL the wedge is pushed far
enough under to make the center Of
gravity get over a point outside the base
of support, the beam falls over. This is
precisely what happens when high heels
are placed under shoes. By bending the
body backward at the waist the person
who wears them moves the center of
weight back to keep 1t from being thrown
outside the base of support. This keeps
the back muscles in a state of constant
overcontraction, and causes backache,
II also twists the socket joint where
the lower end of the spine is set into the
bony hip girdle, and caues more back
ache. besides neuralgias, and even per-
manent deformity at this point. In addi-
ton. 1t throws a disproportionate amount
of the body weight down on the front
part of the feet, wedging II farther into
a tight shoe, increasing the tendency TO
fiat foot and to corns and bunions.
Another fault of high heels is that they
are made so that they do not set under
the heel, but further forward, pressing
on a different part Of the sole from that
intended and fitted by nature to bear
this weight Again. these heels are
tapered down so small that their area of
contact with the ground Cbase OF sup |
porO Is too small, making balance DIFF |
fcult- To prevent the ankles from turn |
ing outward, which would cause a fall |
or sprain, women turn them inward un-
so that II one gives way IN |
that direction, the weight will be caught /
on the foot OF the opposite side. There |
is not merely loss OF efficiency, and sac /
rifice OF comfort arising from wearing |
defective shoes, but In the course OF time |
great suffering. and, in many cases. ab- /
solute invalidism. We make children |
wear fiat heels, just as We make them |
take castor oil, when they need It. but |
adults, bowing to fashion and their own |
are not required to do what |
is best for them.
CTo be continuec)