NARROW-TOED SOOTS. 31 



until they are squeezed into the toe of the boot; and on 

 them all the weight of the body is there carried. The 

 so-called " French heel," placed right under the arch of 

 the instep, makes that piece of Nature's mechanism per- 

 fectly useless. 



The results are an awkward, ungraceful gait; and un- 

 due fatigue, leading to omission of proper healthy exer- 

 cise, to the loss of many innocent pleasures, and often to 



FIG. ii. A, natural form of the sole of the foot; B, the same with the outline of 

 an ordinary fashionable boot; C, Z>, feet which have been made to grow out of form 

 by wearing such a boot. 



neglect of duties whose performance necessitates walk- 

 ing- 

 Continued wearing of narrow-toed boots, especially if 

 they have also high heels, leads to permanent distortion 

 of the foot. Its front part being forced into the toe of 

 the boot by the weight of the body, the toes are pushed 

 out of place, frequently pressed over one another 

 (Fig. n), and made useless; while corns and bunions are 



