White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-02-13
AA
Health,
Il PUBLIC HEALTH rs PUBLIC WEALTH
II COMPILED BY THE
H PUBLIC health LEAGUE
II or WA s f1JNGTON
HAPPY FEET

Are you treating your feet properly
and making them happy? If so, you
are being repaid many times over in
better health, bodily ease and COM
fort. If not, then your real efficiency
and undoubtedly your popularity, are
at stake. Painful feet have long been
recognized as a prolific cause of dis
!, ability. Uncle Sans first care WAS
of the doughboy's feet; the elemen-
tary training of the would-be Pavlowa
consists of building up the muscles
of the feet to develop the foundation
for grace, poise and strength. In
most cities policemen are not accepted
II they have flat-feet.
1t is frequently from foot trouble
begun in early childhood that we get
weak ankles, corns, bunions, and flat
feet, weak arches, etc. Childrens feet
should be carefully shod, with shoes
that fit snugly about the heel, sup
port the instep firmly, have straight
inner edges and allow plenty of room
| for the toes. Their feet should be
examined at regular periods to cor
rect any incipient trouble. Stand your
child on table and If you cannot see
light under the arch Of the foot, weak
feet are indicated. This Is usually
accompanied by an awkward walk
and tendency to tire easily Parents
should protect their children from
foot deformities by insisting upon
suitable shoes.
Perhaps the most common cause of
painful feet Is arch strain, to which
the term broken arches" Is some
times incorrectly applied. Nothing
is broken but there is strain on the
weakened muscles and ligaments. II
Is a mistake to treat weakened arches
with the ordinary arch support, which
simply gives temporary relief, max
ing the already weakened muscles
weaker. They should, instead, b.
strengthened by special exercise.
Painful heel is sometimes due to
strain Of the ligaments or it may be
an inflammation of the covering of
the bone. Great care should be taken
to get shoe that fits the heel as well
as the toe. Adhesive tape placed
over the tender place, or just above OF
below it, may be helpful
Bunions are due to the wearing Of
shoes that do not fit; usually that are
too small. They are partial dlsloca
ton OF the great toe, from pressure
Eventually the toe joint becomes en-.
larged and inflamed, and the sack on
the joint also becomes inflamed To
effect real cure, operative removal
of the joint Is necessary.
Cleanliness and dryness are abs)
lutely essential to foot comfort. For
perspiring feet, astringent lotions are
usually efficient il their use is con
tinued A weak solution of alum, zinc
sulphate, or permanganate Of potash,
followed by busting Of boracic acid
powder, applied several times daily,
will be beneficial. The boracic acid
should be also busted freely into the
stockings and shoes.
Corns and callouses are really an
effort OF nature against pressure. The
pressure must be removed to effect a
cure, Of course.
Your physician will tell you that
the average foot is deformed foot,
and that the average shoe is an
abomination.
When advanced and serious foot.
weaknesses exist, this is matter for
an orthopedic surgeon and special
types of shoes may be required