Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-07-19


The most scrupulous cleanliness is
needed for the health and beauty of
the feet, and so a daily bath and a
comfortable supply of stockings are
required. The best results are OBJ
tanned by putting on a fresh pair OF
stockings every day, and in case of
profuse perspiration they should be
changed at least twice day. If the
stockings are washed out immediate
ly upon being taken off, six pairs
would make an adequate summer sup
ply. Silk is undoubtedly the best
stocking material for hot weather, this
being cooler to the feet than cotton
and permitting the shoes to slip on
more easily. GauZe cotton Is the next
best thing In point of softness to the
foot, and three pairs of quite fine stock
tngs in this material can be had for
one dollar. Lisle, even in the finest
qualities, is to a certain degree rasp-
ing to the foot, causing often, besides,
most disagreeable burning.
Women in the smart set go to the
pedicure for the removal Of corns and
callouses, but these Affections can be
treated at home and there are special
baths for softening the horny places
and for resting all the feet. One is
made with ordinary washing soda
about a half cupful to gallon of wa
ter-this being for softening the cal
1ouses preparatory to their removal
with a knife or file or pumicestone,
for all of these tools are used. A bath
with a pound of sea salt will harden
and strengthen the feet. Camphor is
useful for massaging. thus reducing
swelling. while massaging the feet
and ankles every night with olive oil,
will, as the beauty saying Is. keep
them young. All care lavished upon
the feet tends to keep them in good
condition, even If the work consists
only of dainty polishing of the toe
nails. When these are neglected they
harden and coarsen, sometimes chang
ing their nature and shape entirely.
Before ministering to tormenting
corns, bunions and callouses the feet
must always be soaked in a softening
bath, after which they should be
scrupulously dried at every point
particularly between the toes-and
then powdered. A good and cooling
foot powder, by the way, is one of the
greatest comforts one can have in
summer, and there is scarcely drug
store that does not keep several
brands Of it. A foot powder which
spring hands and which is very con-
venient for gloves, is made after this
formula:
Picnic acid. ......,...................1o grams
Starch Observation-Disclosures. .2OO grams
Tiorentine orris ...................l59 grams
Essence of violet ................. grams
Dissolve the acid in alcohol; add
the violet essence, then the starch and
orris root.
A special powder for perspiring feet
is made Of one ounce of alum. two
ounces Of powdered orris root and five
ounces of rice powder. Where the
perspiration has an unpleasant odor
however, q powder with lycopodium is
better than any other, and such sorts
are kept at all drug stores of any size
this condition being recognized as
something of a disease.
After the bath, attend to the corns
or callouses at once, trimming the
nails only as often as is needed. They
should be cut square across and left
a little longer than the flesh. If there
are soft corns, several foot baths a
day are needed, also larger shoes, and
in extreme cases it may be necessary
to place bits Of absorbent cotton wet
with some healing lotion or salve be-
tween the toes. For relief from blis-
ters the excessive pain of corns and
other callosities. this simple pomade
is highly recommended:
Melted mutton tallow ...........1k ounces
Mugwort. freshly gathered and
bruised ........................... drains
Mix thoroughly and rub the whole
foot with it, massaging it well into
the skin.
4 good bunion lotion Is made of two
drains each of carbolic acid, glycerin
and tincture of iodine.
Flatfoot is a condition much recog-
niaed just now, and in severe cases
1t is as deforming as lemeness. 1t is
not always recognizable at first, only
the pain and difficulty in walking be-
ing perceptible; but after while the
arch of the foot breaks down and then
the beauty Of it is gone. So when
feeling definite pain in the instep
1t is wise to wear strong-soled shoes
with a stiff spring in the instep, as
these will counteract the weak ten
dency Of the arch. Inner soles with
high arches are also sold for the pur-
pose, while doctors recommended foot
exercises for Strengthening the mus
cIes of the arch and its supports.
But. to go back to the mere COM
fort of summer time, the simple things
one may do to have more ease with
,x,ho e.