Evening journal., 1921-12-28
Use FEET AS
EXTRA HANDS
With the Yellow Races
Foot is Organ of
Grasping
GREAT TOE is
LIKE A THUMB

foot IA not only an organ OF support
and progression but also Of prehen-
sion rgrasping. like the hand.
Mans foot. as an essential part OF
his locomotive apparatus, sustains
the weight OF his body while he
walks. its sole being well shaped for
adaptation TO the Inequalities Of the
ground In the attitudes Of sitting
and lying down Tie foot has an alto
gether accessory function, at least
in the white race. the instances
whete it serves for grasping objects
being quite exceptional
According to the French invesu-
gator Lannelongue, a point OF de-
parthrc for functional transforma-
ton Of the foot is found in its CEN
tury-old adaptation TO special.
usagos That It may better respond
to It's duties, the occidental foot is
inclosed in a rigid and narrow shoe
holding it mechanically in a form
that-prevents its functional develop
ment. In the Far East, on the con-
trary. the foot is sometimes naked,
sometimes covered only by forked
stocking. enabling tie Introduction
OF thong between the first and sec
ond toes Gas in Japan, sometimes
covered with a stocking in a shoe
or a large cloth slipper Gas in
China).
4 Position Like That of Apes
Lannelongue examines the func-
tional notifications that the foot
takes on according to the preceding
circumstances in the two principal
attitudes assumed by the human
body in the waking state - the
crouching and vertical attitudes.
TIE crouching attitude is very
frequent in India, Japan, Malaysia,
and even in China. II offers three
different positions. In one, the most
ordinary. the body sits on the heels,
in the second Il sits on the ground,
and in the third it sits on nothing
and remains in the air.
In each Of these attitudes the foot
is employed differently. Take the
case where TIE body sits on the
ground Tho lower limbs, generally
much bent are placed in front Of
the body, the knees form an angular
protuberance and furnish a resting
place for the arms This is the IA
vorits position for the Hindus, who
sometimes sleep in this sattitude,
and WITH the Malays and many ne
groes. This position approaches very
closely tLat habitually taken by
apes.
The authority quoted has been
seen Eat Toxic in a theatre box, a
young man OF 16 or II years sitting
with his feet grasping the railing as
..i6 they we're hands. the youth usine
his eight foot to scratch his lcfi
thigh and knee.
Great Toe Like Thumb
In -the second form OF squatting
the trunk rests directly on the heels.
This -is the familiar attitude OF tho
Japanese at meals and in general
when at home. The foot acquires
great suppleness and agility which
enable II to endure these attitudes
a long time. Furthermore. the great
mobility Of the toes. particularly
that of the great toe, FITS these organs
to various functions, from those that
merely balance the body TO those that
enable them to grasp objects within
their- reach.
Finally there is the squatting atti-
tude wherein the body rests on moth
ing at all but Is held In the air Sow
eral Inches above the heels This
Is rarer than the other two types
II would appear to be tirosom,
posture. although those who use Il
do net find IL so
In -relation TO the independence
and the mobility OF toes among orien
tails. hannelongue points out that th'
big toe is separated from the others
being able to execute a slight rotar,
movement. so that its upper sid
turnsa little downward. The rrea
toe hus becomes. like the thumb
and organ serving TO grasp objects
Even the little toe may also NOV
and rotate slightly. This has bee
noticed in women who manipulat
the paddle on sampans.
Row Boats With Feet
While walking tho natives use thel
feet ITO scrape together on IN
GROUND with dexterity and precisio
different objects leaves. or fruit
and they also pursue and catch mic,
alive II is, however. in certain spc
ciai occupations that the use OF IN
foot is important and renders IN
workman more skilful.
on-the rivers. streams or canals
transportation and postal faciiitie
depend on the sampans womer
a. we'll as men. operate them all da
and the prehensile foot renders thei
task tnuch easier. Every Chimes
postman, lying on his boat. steer
with .his hands and rows with hi
toes. = He holds the oar strongly b,
tween. the great toe and the other
and gives a vigorous motion TO IN
boat by the powerful action OF tn
leg muscles.
Wirh such people the foot is r
longer an exclusive organ serving
support the body. II may. accor,
ing 10 the kind OF life led by the o,y,
er. accommodate itself 10 other fun
tions and become an organ OF mr.
hension, like a mans hands
mouth, the efephant's trunk and n
monkeys tail, although II is infinite
less prehensile than these lar
organs.