256 MR. COOPER'S ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTION OF 



breadth, and above all, the extremely dense nature of the cellular tissue of the 

 foot, it is evident that progression must at all times be difficidt ; and even the 

 poising of the body when in the erect position, must require unusual exertion 

 of muscular power, which, considering the disadvantages with which these 

 muscles have to contend, is a matter of no small astonishment. 



From the heel to the great toe the foot is unusually short, not exceeding five 

 inches, and is said in some instances to measure even less than this ; and the 

 great toe itself, which in its natural and free state projects in a straight forward 

 direction, is bent with a peculiar abruptness upwards and backwards, whilst 

 the remaining toes, with the exception of the first phalanx of the second and 

 third, are doubled in beneath the sole of the foot, so as to leave scarcely any 

 breadth at this part of the foot, which in the unconstrained limb is commonly 

 the broadest ; and the striking shortness of the heel scarcely projecting beyond 

 the line of the leg, which itself descends upon the foot at a considerable ob- 

 liquity from behind forwards, imparts an appearance to the foot, as if it were 

 kept in a state of permanent extension. The upper surface of the foot is very 

 convex ; but its convexity is irregular and unnatural, presenting a sudden and 

 prominent projection just anterior to the external malleolus, and above the 

 outer extremity of a deep cleft which traverses the sole of the foot. But as it 

 is in the sole that the most remarkable alterations are produced, I shall give a 

 particular description of it first. 



Sole of the Foot. 



In describing the sole, we will suppose the foot to rest upon the heel, as it 

 would do were the individual placed horizontally upon the back. In this view 

 we observe the great toe bent backwards towards the leg, and immediately 

 beneath the articulation of its two phalanges the second toe is so twisted under 

 it that its extremity reaches to the inner edge of the foot ; its nail occupies 

 the centre of this position, having a considerable projection of integument 

 beyond it. Next, but still anterior to the ball of the great toe, are the two 

 extreme phalanges of the third toe ; they are placed more obliquely than the 

 phalanges of the second toe, and consequently do not reach so far inwards 

 across the foot. The nail of this toe is somewhat nearer its extremity, but more 

 completely on its anterior surface, so as nearly to touch the edge of the pre- 



