The Washington herald., 1916-12-03

breaking down Of the transverse arch.
which lies directly back Of what is known
as the ball Of the foot This condition
Ia undoubtedly due to the wearing OF
hagh-heeled shoes. as is evidenced by the
large number OF women sufferers from
metatarsalgia. The wearing OF high
heeled shoes practically makes a heel of
the ball Of the foot-in fact when high
heels are worn, all OF the weight Of the
foot IL thrust upon the heads Of the
metatarsal bones. Nature throws out a
buffer In the form OF callous 20 relieve
the situation. but II the high heels are
persisted IN, metatarsalgiA will be the
accompaniment
Need for Massage.
The woman who is accustomed 70 high
heels and II a sufferer from metatarsalgia
wishing to be cured should not immediate
ly wear low-heel shoes, because the pain
Of the radical change will be too intense
the reason being that the muscles at the
back Of the leg have shortened from the
use Of the high heels. and when the heels
are suddenly lowered, the stretching OF
these muscles cause great pain in the calf
Of the leg. Massage by an expert and the
gradual lowering OF the heels. a quarter
OF an inch at q time. and the wearing OF
a metatarsal plate are all factors which
will tend to effect a cure.
Another very painful condition is known
as Morton's toe or Morton's neuralgia
resulting from the wearing Of a shoe
which is too narrow. thereby forcing one
or more Of the metatarsal bones out OF
alignment. The fourth metatarssl bone.
being the weakest. is the one that usually
suffers most, the result being that the
nerve and the pain on the outerside OF the
toe becomes eXcruciating.
person afflicted with Morton's toe il
likely TO be spasmodically attacked at any
time or In any place. The pain is so in
tense that frequently in order to find re-
lief the sufferer will take OF his shoe
whether he be on the street. during a
snowstorm, or at home in company.
In cases OF this kind. pads and broad
soles or shoe plates are found useful TO
maintain the arch OF the food and to thus
restore the foot 10 its normal condition.
Care of the Nails.
The next class OF cases which are re-
sponsible for great foot suffering are the
troubles which occur to the toe nails. 4
great many people have a habit when
they take of their shoes and stockings at
night to tear their nails in place Of cut
ting them with scissors or clippers. This
produces ragged edges on the remaining
nail surface. and as a consequence coTrs
and callouses form in the nail groove,
conditions which are very often mistaken
for ingrown nail. These conditions should
be treated Only by a qualified person-one
who is thoroughly familiar with disorders
Of the feet
or all the parts Of the body there Is
none so prone 70 infection as the foot.
Encased in footgear the greater part Of
the twenty-four hours. the skin Of the
foot fnds a fertile field for the prolifers-
ton Of hostile bacteria. The germs pro
IIferate in the moisture. and a slight
abrasion may resul; in infection. BY that
is meant that tho germs get into the
wound or abraded surface OF the skin
snd are carried into the circulation OF the
blood and result in what is known az
septIcemia or blood poisoning. To guard
against ingrown nails people who are
In the habit OF minIstering to their feet
should cut the nails straight across
Never dig them oUt and round them OF
at the corners II by any accident the
skin in or about the nail groove, or in
fact. any part Of the foot should be
broken, the application Of tincture OF
Iodine will act as q disinfeCtant and tend
TO prevent any serious consequences. Thv
cemeteries are full OF people who hav"
attended 10 their own feet and perhaps
| neglected a small wounS which they
caused in removing a corn or IN clipping
/ a nail