t^9l 



come in contact with the ground at every step, 

 it certainly follows, that the heels will be pressed 

 farther asunder if they be then contracted, and 

 this circumstance wdll likewise prevent their 

 getting too near each other. But, although the 

 thin-heeled shoe does allow the fro2 to strike the 

 ground more frequendy than a thick-heeled one, 

 and consequently is so far better calculated to 

 answer the purposes just mentioned, yet its long 

 continued use is attended with an inconvenience 

 from which the thick-heeled shoe is exempt. 



For as bv the thinness of the heel the weight 

 is thrown too much on the back part of the leg, 

 it of course operates equally on the back part of 

 the foot, so that the heels and back part of the 

 frocT sustain more pressure than the toe and the 

 fore part of the frog ; and this disproportion of 

 weight causes the heels and the back part of the 

 froo- to shelve and slope, as it were, under the 

 foot, instead of growing nearly straight down-" 

 wards. And this shelving or sloping direction 

 of the heels under the foot takes place gradually 

 and rep-ularly, notwithstanding the toe be cut 

 down frequently. By this change in the line 

 of direction o[ the heels, the back part of the 

 limb is deprived of its natural support at the 

 time it most wants it, that is to sav, v/hen the 



