i7i reference to the Structure of the Human Foot. 405 



length by its altered motiorts, it loses in thickness. The slip- 

 ping of the foot out of the shoe, is in part prevented, in the 

 one case, by the ribbons attached to the sides, and tied round 

 the ankle of the wearer, and, in the other, by a strap inside the 

 shoe, near the heel, through which the strap from the trowsers 

 passes, and keeps the shoe firm on the heel. 



The wearing of such articles, however, is attended with 

 worse consequences then mere inconvenience ; the weight of 

 the body, being pressed on the delicate organization of the 

 foot, while its elastic properties are confined -in a covering of 

 a rigid texture, causes distortions and diseases of such a 

 troublesome and chronic nature, as to deprive the wearers of the 

 full use of their limbs. 



In short, the stiff soles prevent that firmness of footing ne- 

 cessary for standing. They injure the elasticity of the arch, and 

 cause a jolt at every step as if walking on stilts; or, as if the 

 bones of the leg were perpendicular over the heel, they increase 

 the effort to raise the os calcis in walking, and prevent the pos- 

 sibility of running on the toes. In leaping, the value of the 

 number of the parts of the toes is lost, and the danger is in- 

 creased when falling on the whole sole. 



In my own experience, I have known many ladies and gen- 

 tlemen who have had their feet injured from wearing shoes and 

 boots of the descriptions now referred to. Although such shoes 

 were long enough while the foot was not under pressure, yet, 

 when the weight of the body was placed on them, the joint of 

 the great toe was thrust back, and pressed on the metatarsus, — 

 the lubricating fluid was not supplied, the joint became in- 

 flamed, stiff, and enlarged, till at length suppuration com- 

 menced, as shewn in Fig. 5, from not adverting to the cause ; 

 the wearers endeavouring to relieve the enlargement by press- 

 ing the foot into the same small shoes, till they were impeded 

 in walking, and the joint became so distorted, as, in some cases, 

 to prevent them from using the joints of the toes, especially 

 those of the enlarged toe. With a view to avoid the pressure 

 on that p.'irt, they endeavoured to throw it on the other parts 

 of the foot, the heel, and smaller toes, thus causing themselves 

 to walk with pain and danger of falling, and with a rolling and 

 unsteady gait, and unfirm step, resembling those who have had 



