1 



V 



CLOTHING THE EXTREMITIES 



custom of wearing some protection for the 

 foot was undoubtedly adopted by primitive 

 man very early in the period of his history. 

 It is probable that this custom did not originate en- 

 tirely through a desire to find some protection for the 

 soles of his feet against injurious objects, but rather 

 as a protection against cold. It is known that among 

 any race of men which goes barefoot constantly from 

 infancy the cuticle of the sole of the foot becomes so 

 thick and callous as to have almost the consistency of 

 horn, and a power of resistance almost as great as that 

 of the hoofs of animals. Among certain South Ameri- 

 can Indians, living in the regions of lava beds, this 

 thick callosity of the soles is so developed that they 

 walk with impunity over fields of broken lava-glass. 



Certainly in such regions some artificial protection 

 of the foot is needed if it is needed anywhere. And 

 yet these Indians, although familiar with leather, 

 never use it as a protection for their feet. This seems 

 to bear out the theory that primitive man did not begin 

 wearing shoes as a protection against injury, but as 

 a protection against cold. For the natives of all tropi- 

 cal climates are almost invariably barefooted races 

 regardless of the nature of their surroundings. 



It is probable, therefore, that the custom of wearing 



