Dress and care of the feet /

by John Lord Peck

A low shoe is still better than a high one for these difficult cases, as the lower it is the more freedom will be allowed to turn the foot one side in entering the toe.

Even where no trouble of this kind is anticipated, it is still advisable that the first trial be made with a laced shoe—whether high or low is not material—when, if entirely successful, a boot, or a Button gaiter may next be ventured; and to those who cannot feel sufficient faith in these statements to risk a failure on a pair of good shoes, we recommend that they have a pair made of the poorest and cheapest materials, and try them as an experiment.

The methods here given of straightening the toe, and the way of making the shoe and getting the foot into it, have been tried with fair success. Great toes that were badly deformed have been brought back so much as to give the appearance of well-formed feet, without creating any discomfort, and with positive ease and benefit to all the other toes. Of course, the less the distortion, and the less time it has existed, the easier to accomplish the purpose. There may be many cases which there would be little use in attempting to reform; but the great majority can probably be improved; and though a complete success may not be always attainable, the gain in appearance, to say nothing of comfort, ought to be sufficient inducement to make a trial of the plan.

In some cases an unpleasant feeling to the toe or joint may be occasioned by the change, as might be expected in any change of a similar kind, but it is likely to become less and less till it entirely disappears.

The greatest direct benefit, however, will doubtless be in the case of bunion or other soreness of the joint, where the straightening of the toe would give immediate relief, and furnish a motive to continue the new habit. The difficulty of effecting this in the common-shaped shoe is well known to those who have had occasion to try it. With the new form it will be comparatively easy.

Having the great toe corrected, and the smaller ones left free to correct themselves, being also influenced to do so by the curve on the outside of the shoe, there is the best reason to believe that by perseveringly continuing the position for a sufficient length of time, all the parts would return permanently to their natural form. In the worst cases this time might be several years; in others only as many months. The law that any limb or organ of the body will adapt itself to a change of position is one that cannot be questioned; the only doubt is as to the extent of the change which may be thus effected. When the foot has been years in growing into a bad shape, it cannot be expected to right itself immediately, though much may depend upon the thoroughness with which the remedy is applied.

Prevention, however, is said to be far better than cure. It certainly is in this matter, and, being so easy and simple, there can hardly be any good reason for its neglect.

As a means of developing some hints that may be of service in originating an article superior to any now worn, as well as a matter of curiosity, and to show some of the elegance formerly existing, we give a few representations of the foot-apparel worn in ancient and medieval times. It seems possible there may be some peculiarity about them that can be adopted and made of use for the future. We are indebted for them to Mr. J. S. Hall’s “Book of the Feet.”

Fig. 24. Ancient Egyptian.