Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-25
ARE LITTLE TOES sUPERFLUOUs'
ny Frederic ]. IIeskin.

Washington, July 25e--fs the little
toe q superfluous part OF anatomy IKE
the appendlx7 European society WON
on seem TO think so, and they nave
both support and opposition from
science.
Society women abroad are said TO be
having their little toes cut off IN order
10 wear narrow shoes, and women In
this country are asking curiouely
what the result will be. There Is an
old fairy etory In which the vlllainess
cut Off n part OF her heel to wear the
clipper meant for the airy falfy
heroine. She got the clipper on put
she hohbled so that II was obvious
that Il was not 1T. American WON
on are asking whether the narrow
shoes will ut these European women
| go that they viii have the poiee that
comes from a normal foot comfortably
ehod, or whether the missing toe VIII
| leave them rather wobbly, Ike the
character in the fairy tale.
A Government doctor who prefers
10 he namelees expressed the unofficial
| opinion. He believes that the Joss OF
one toe would not seriously hamper
locomotion In an individual who do
not demand too much 1t her feet. II
other words, the very languid woman
who need exert herself only TO &c
from her drawing room to her limou
sine might have her little toe Gu
# without feeling any particular Joss
, But few women Of this energeth
age save their feet 20 this extent. Tn
woman in society. supposedly q seden
J iary type. often has % stand and lool
uleaeant for long stretches Of time
Sports and dancing which play =
p large part IN tho social whlrl demau
foot comfort II any pleasure is 10 b
derived from them This doctor think
g that where pOjse and balance are i'm
q portant. as in most sports, the eb
p sence II the Hltie toe would prove
, handicap. For ordinary walking Their
A., would probably he no discomfort, a
least for n time. when they are en-
, casad in tight shoes. tho toes do No
function ne they do when "A. pers''
-. walks harefooted, and grips the groun
with them.
. Trouble Nay Come Later.
4 However. he thinks that later ther
may be trouble, through weakenin
Il of tho arches. especially ~ tho trant
I verse arch A. the base Of the toes Fl
. ports say that tho weight OF tho io'
u 10 properlv distributed whom a balant
p is preserved between the three poin
BE- Of the triangle made by the foot. 1T
Y heel ls ono Of the points and the on
n ore are at tho haen ~ the fret or
IS nth toes good deal ~ tho troun
n with arches Is attributed 30 the foot
70 boinV allowed 70 bond inward TT
weight ~ the body is then on the 81
IS side f Tho foot and the pressure
r too great there FOR the arches. Tn
ID ! roll over inward. and become painf'
II n the fifth toe - removed there Won
ia ha more difficulty in maintaining T.
r.. proper weight distribution. the doct
,, thinks. and tho foot would tend 20 he
al i'm with resulting weakness and ever
ualIy discomfort.
10 \ teacher of ballet dancing agrs
@ with this opinion. E;oth hold that
., outer toes are important for bslan
: When you grip the floor with
" outside Of the foot the weight "a pro
erlv distributed and tho arches .
raised as they should be. the bal
~ dancer saws. # you try this when y
are not wearing a shoe you can
his point easily. Then let the z
3" bend IN and see the arch sink and
foot lose It's proper alignment.
Ballet dancers are taught in m
first lessons 70 throw their vel
toward the outside Of the foot. II
have 20 put extra force into
muscles to keep them taut beca
they are standing with their toes
in a position which naturally causes
IN foot 70 bend IN. Because Of tho exam
Of the dancers many persons y
ord with their toes ont thinking 10 n
he a proper way to hold the feet. T
red neglect, however, 20 exert the q
IN pull on their muscles 10 distribute
has balance properly. Tight shoes
irn tend 70 make n person toe out.
tai Toeing out Is regarded In gen
an by experts as a cause Of corns. buni
ingrowing nails, and arch trout
They urge that every one should
the in as Indians and barefoot wall
ont do.
an The theory that all Of the toes
= a needed for balance Is opposed b
tos. British woman who claims that
ancient Greeks. our ideals Of phys
perfection. balanced on the inssd,
oil tho foot. mainly on the great toe.
aus submits pictures Of statues illustra
ltI- this point. Other dancers intere
in the same subject have submit
evidence that the Greeks balances
H- FIVE toes. throwing the weight tov
low. -