i: 33 J 



OJ the Parallel Shoe. 



A foot which has never been shod, in general 

 rests upon the ground in such a manner, that 

 every part of it supports its due proportion of the 

 weight of the body ; and it is of as much con- 

 sequence to preserve this natural tread, as it is 

 to o-uard the structure of the foot from immediate 

 injury : for if a larger proportion of weight be 

 thrown upon a part of the foot, than it has 

 been accustomed to bear, it will necessarily suffer 

 from overpressure ; and a long continuance of 

 this will not only injure the foot itself, but will 

 communicate more or less of false bearing to 

 the joints, v/ill strain the bands which' tie the 

 ends of the bones together, and destroy that just 

 balance of power which naturally exists betwixt 

 the different sets of muscles, intended to move 

 the limb in different directions. 



Now it has been shewn, that the thick-heeled 

 shoe throws the pressure of the weight too much 

 on the fore part of the foot ; and that the thin- 

 heeled shoe causes it to act too much upon the 

 back part of the foot. And as both these ex- 

 tremes have very frequently proved prejudicial, 



D 



