BUNIONS. 165 



arnica should be taken internally. A tea-spoonful of the tincture should be put in an 

 eight-ounce bottle of water, and of this a tea-spoonful should be given every two or 

 three hours. Arnica succeeds admirably in allaying the pain caused by getting the 

 finger jammed in tin? door. The sooner it is used after the receipt of the injury, 

 the more likely is it to do good. There is never any advantage in waiting till the 

 discoloration of the skin makes its appearance. The part should be kept raised, 

 and should of course not be used. The arnica lotion, if employed at once, will do 

 much to ward ofF the occurrence of a black eye. For internal bruises, arnica is 

 a most excellent remedy, speedily neutralising the Ul-eflects of blows, falls, and other 

 mechanical injuries. In cases of shake, concussion, and shock, resulting from 

 railway accidents, it is also very serviceable. 



In the case of people subject to erysipelas, Hamamelis Vir</uti-'x may be used 

 instead of arnica, though usually it proves less efficacious. A tea-spoonful of the 

 tincture of hamamelis should be mixed with eight ounces of water, and of this three 

 tea-spoonfuls should be taken eveiy two or three hours. A hamamelis lotion may be 

 made by adding two tea-spoonfuls of the tincture to half a pint of water. It is to 

 be employed in the same way as the arnica lotion. This hamamelis lotion will do 

 much in removing the discoloration of a black eye. 



When after a bruise the pain and tenderness have subsided, it is a good plan to 

 apply a bandage to restore tone to the injured tissues. It often proves beneficial to 

 use a cold douche, followed by warm friction. 



BUNIONS. 



Bunions are nearly always the result of badly-fitting boots. Rightly to under- 

 stand their mode of production, it is necessary to revert for a moment to the natural 

 form of the foot, uninfluenced by the distortion produced by modern boots and shoes. 

 If you look at the foot of a London Arab, or any little shoeless urchin you may 

 come across, you will be surprised to find what a beautiful structure it is. You 

 will see that the big toe is in a straight line with the inner side of the foot. 

 There is a distinct interval between the big toe and the next, so that they do 

 not touch at all. There is a smaller though very appreciable interval between 

 the second and third toes, and you will notice that when the weight of the 

 body is thrown on the foot, the third and fourth toes are not in contact. 

 Now compare this with the foot of any one who has been accustomed to wear 

 tight-fitting boots all his life, and you will see what a difference there is. All the 

 toes are screwed up together like a bunch of carrots, the second or third toe is 

 sticking up over the others, whilst the little toe is pushed under, quite out of sight ; 

 the big toe is no longer in a straight line with the inner margin of the foot, but 

 forms a distinct angle with it. We have seen people's feet that have really been 

 quite painful to look at, from the distortion they have undergone. We are fond of 

 laughing at the Chinese for some of their customs, but we should do well to look at 

 home before becoming too critical. It is a curious circumstance that we, wise people 

 as \vo think ourselves, should consent to distort our feet and make ourselves 

 miserable with corns and bunions just to please other people; but we do. We 

 should never think of wearing tight uncomfortable boots, if it were not for " the 



