Dress and care of the feet /

by John Lord Peck

“Wide, soft shoes should be worn. Such means are not only requisite for a radical cure, but they alone often effect it. Though the radical cure is thus easy, few obtain it, because their perseverance ceases, as soon as they experience the wished-for relief.

“When business or other circumstances prevent the patient from adopting this plan, and oblige him to stand or walk a good deal, still it is possible to remove all pressure from the corn. For this purpose from eight to twelve pieces of linen, smeared with an emollient ointment, and having an aperture cut in the middle exactly adapted to the corn, are to be laid over each other, and so applied to the foot that the corn is to lie in the opening in such a manner that it can not be touched by the shoe or stocking. When the plaster has been applied some weeks the corn commonly disappears without other means. Should the corn be on the sole of the foot, it is only necessary to put in the shoe a felt sole wherein a whole has been cut, corresponding to the situation, size, and figure of the induration.

“A corn may also be certainly, permanently, and speedily eradicated by the following method, especially when the plaster and felt with a hole in it are employed at the same time. The corn is to be rubbed twice a day with an emollient ointment, such as that of marshmallows, or with the volatile liniment, which is still better; and in the interim it is to be covered with a softening plaster. Every morning and evening the foot is to be put, for half an hour, in warm water, and while there the corn is to be well rubbed with soap. Afterwards all the soft, white, pulpy matter outside of the corn is to be scraped off with a blunt knife; but the scraping must be left off the moment the patient begins to complain of pain from it. The same treatment is to be persisted in without interruption until the corn is totally extirpated, which is generally effected in eight or twelve days. If left off sooner the corn grows again.”

The “Hydropathic Encyclopædia” recommends a more summary mode of dealing.

“These well-known toe-tormenters are produced by tight shoes or boots. The first principle of cure is to give the feet a respectable ‘area of freedom;’ and the second is, to soak them in warm water and shave off the horny substance, and then touch them with the nitric or nitro-muriatic acid. When the corn is inflamed or highly irritable, the tepid foot-bath should be employed to remove this condition before the acid is applied. The aqua-regia—nitro-muriatic acid—is the ordinary secret remedy of the ‘corn-curers.’ When the corn is fully formed, or ripe, a membrane separates it from the true skin, so that it can be taken off without injuring that surface; and this circumstance enables professional chiropodists to ‘elevate the grain’ on the point of a penknife, after an application of the acid.”

Another mode, similar in character, is taken from a late work by Dr. Ira Warren.

“Corns should be shaved down close, after being soaked in warm water and soap, and then covered with a piece of wash-leather or buck-skin, on which lead plaster is spread, a hole being cut in the leather the size of the corn. They may be softened so as to be easily scooped out by rubbing glycerine on them. Manganic acid destroys warts and corns rapidly.”

Still another, and one very easy to practice, is from Dr. Calvin Cutter’s “Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene.”

“To remove these painful excrescences, take a thick piece of soft leather, somewhat larger than the corn; in the centre punch a hole of the size of the summit of the corn; spread the leather with adhesive plaster, and apply it around the corn. The hole in the leather may be filled with a paste made of soda and soap on going to bed. In the morning remove it, and wash with warm water. Repeat this for several successive nights, and the corn will be removed. The only precaution is, not to repeat the application so as to cause pain.”

It is altogether probable that the last treatment here advised for hard corns would be equally effective for soft ones, if we could contrive to cover up the surrounding parts with a plaster so as to admit of its application. The other remedies are, to keep continually cutting away at them with the knife, or burn them out thoroughly with caustic.