The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-11-04
TAKE PROPER
CARE OF FEET
Neglect and Abuse is
Very Injurious
to Health
N E RV CENTERS

A certain well-known humorist
said recently: do you remember
the time when you had to be talked
into paying S. for pair of shoes?''
The subject is almost too tragic to
be humorous, and in an effort to find
shoes at a reasonable price one is
likely to fall into the costly error OF
getting shoes that do not fit we'll or
that are poorly finished in the inside
Ordinarily speaking, our feet that
we expect so much of are left mostly
to take care of themselves, and the
result is a flock of distortions and
growths causing lifelong discomfort
that, with a little care, might have
been avoided. A physician says that
the feet are great nerve centers, and
when they become irritated and hurt
the whole body suffers. Aching feet
leave their mark in the face in the
shape of innumerable wrinkles which
may become permanent long before
age would leave any trace.
Wearing one pair of shoes in the
morning and another in the after
noon rests the feet wonderfully, and
nothing is more grateful to tired feet
than the saltwater bath. Pumice
stone for calloused places, iodine for
bunions, and boric acid for tender
feet are suggested, as well as many
other cures and relief measures,
but fair prevention against all foot
trouble is foot bath every day or
twice day.. change of stockings
just as frequently, and a change Of
shoes at least once each day But
when all is said and done the greatest
ease and comfort comes from shoes
that are well made and that fit prop
erly. The price is really secondary
matter even where the pocketbook is
slender.
In the army there is saying that
soldier is just as strong as his feet.
If his feet are tender or sore, his
efficiency is far below normal. Pos
sibly more attention is paid to keep
ing the feet of the men in good con-
dition than to any other one phase
of their general health. This is said
to be one secret of the efficiency Of
the Germany army which is accom-
plished always. by large numbers of
shoemakers and foot experts, and
whose surgeons have special training
in the care of feet. A man with fiat
arches can not get into active service.
The change in comfort when person
is properly fitted with shoes and
stockings, and any little foot troubles
corrected or removed, is beyond
words to express.
The care of the feet is one of the
many good things which farm women
especially can learn from the boys
who have returned. WelI-fitting
stockings are the first need They
should not have seams that chafe or
press against the joints. Stockings
will wear twice as long if changed
frequently, and women who are on
their feet many hours each day will
get rest and relief simply by chang
ing the stockings from one foot to
the other once during the day, and
it will pay many times over in COM
fort for the few minutes it takes to
do this.
Shoes that are neither too tight
nor too large, with comfortable toes,
and above all, with sensible heels,
should be worn while working, and if
the heels wear on one side or run
over they should be repaired, lest
they throw the body out of proper
position. 1t is said that a good deal
of spinal trouble and backache have
come from wearing shoes that are
run down at the heels.
A western farm woman writes that
it costs but a small sum to fit up a
simple cobbler's outfit for the farm
home. About all that is needed is
shoemakers iron last, an awl, a
leather knife, shoemaker's hammer,
assorted nails, and some of the sole
and heel pieces that cost but little
at the shoemakers or the variety
stores. Rubber heels are easily put
on and save the constant Earring on
the spine, that may result in head
aches and tired backs.
For ingrowing nails this correspon-
dent says to pare the nail straight
across and put a tiny roll of absorb
emit cotton under it, pressing it down |
under edges of the nail at the sides.
She adds: my young sister has
beautiful hands, we'll manicured, soft |
and white, but she wears French |
heels and pointed toes and is fire.
quently cross and irritable because |
her feet, on which she spends no time |
Or care, ache and burn. l am teach
ing my own growing daughter to care
Tor her feet as we'll as her hands |
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