The Washington herald., 1915-11-13

ANOplTlkHIF 4'to-l
The scarcity Of perfect feet among
highly civilized people is daily growing
more noticeable. 4 foot may be properly
proportfoned. yet its beauty and useful
ness marred by the hideous eNcrcscences
OF one kind or another that result from
ill-fitting footwear, and-what is not gen.
orally appreciated-carelessn in walk
ing or standing. Slipshod methods of
using the feet are as pernicious as slip
shod footwear.
The care Of the feet should begin at
birth. The impression generally prevail
ing that newborn infants are fiatfooted
is incorrect. Recent researches have
proved that the bones are so arranged as
to form an arch which is even higher in
proportion to its length than that found
in adult feet The fiat appearance is
caused by the presence in the sole of the
foot OF a very large amount Of fatty it's
sue. This pad of fat is designed to sup
port the arch until the muscles are
strong enough to hold it by themselves:
in other words, Il acts as kind OF ply
Biological fatfoot plate. As soon as the
muscles can protect the arch. the fat is
slowly absorbed, and by the fourth or
nth year the foot begins to present the
same appearance as that of an adult. In
some children this bed of fatty tissue is
wanting. and the construction Of the foot
may be such that the arch is completely
obliterated. thus constituting case Of
true congenia! fiatfoOt.
The Feet of Children.
l.. young children the feet are some
times very weak and the arch is easily
broken down. 1t Is. therefore. a great
mistake to encourage children to walk
before they are fully able to. Physicians
also condemn long walks for little tots.
holding that they receive sufficient eNer-
else at legitimate play at which the feet
are not overtaxed. For this reason. chill
dren should not be instructed in the art
of dancing before the sixth year-and
then only under the most careful super
vision OF one whose chief aim should be
the proper development of the feet with
the ultimate result Of making them the
useful, graceful members Of the body
which nature intended.
Hygienically. the feet require far more
attention than they ever receive. They
should be bathed at least twice daily.
and their general condition very care
fully looked after with the appropriate
treatment such as lotions, tonics, etc,
to meet their wants from day to day.
Hosiery should be chosen with as much
thought as is bestowed upon shoes, and
should be changed. at the very least.
once a day. II Is extremely poor economy
to wear the same continuously. Not only
are the feet grateful for frequent
charges into clean hose and cool shoes
Of the best workmanship. but the life of
foot apparel is considerably prolonged by
this means.
In some feet the arch is naturally so
high that a common sense shoe is I'M
comfortable in that II does not give the
needed support to the instep: but no
foot however eXquisitely nodded II may
be. can conform with comfort to the ex-
aggeratedly high heels so greatly be-
loved by some women. Constant press
ure OF the toes in cramped quarters cul-
tivates corns, as well as those hideous
blemishes bunions and other deformities.
Furthermore. some women experience
fatigue to the point OF exhaustion while
standing for hours in exaggeratedly high
heeIed slippers.
COrns and BuniOns.
Corns should never be permitted to de-
velop, but. once having made their ap-
pearance. II is wiser to consult a chirop-
odist than to depend upon ones own ef-
forts to cure them. Trimming corns only
stimulates their growth; II home treat
ment is preferred. there are many RENE
dies at ones command. One Of the best
Is compound salicylated collodion. This
Is painted on the corn daily for three or
four nights, followed then by a very
hot foot bath, after which the corn can
usually be lifted outfit not, the treat
ment is repeated
Soft corns are, as q rule more pain
full than hard ones. Tannin sprinkled
between the toes has been recommended
as a cure-also separating the toes with
strips of soft channels skin. A pledget of
cotton smesred with zinc ointment often
affords speedy relief.
Salicylic soap plaster Is often bene-
ncial in cases of bunions. 1t may re-