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form of the foot in obedience to fashion, is the well-known 

 case of the Chinese women, not entirely confined to the 

 highest classes, but in some districts pervading all grades of 

 society alike. The deformity is produced by applying tight 

 bandages round the feet of the girls when about five years 

 old. The bandages are specially manufactured, Miss Norwood 1 

 tells us, and are about two inches wide and two yards long 

 for the first year, five yards long for subsequent years. The 

 end of the strip is laid on the inside of the foot at the instep, 

 then carried over the toes, under the foot, and round the heel, 



FIG. 26. Section of natural foot with the bones, and a corresponding section 

 of a Chinese deformed foot. The outline of the latter is dotted, and the 

 bones shaded. 



the toes being thus drawn towards and across the sole, while 

 a bulge is produced in the instep, and a deep indentation in 

 the sole. Successive layers of bandage are wound round the 

 foot until the strip is all used, and the end is then sewn 

 tightly down. After a month the foot is put in hot water 

 to soak some time ; then the bandage is carefully unwound. 

 Notwithstanding the powdered alum and other appliances 

 that are used to prevent it, the surface of the foot is generally 

 found to be ulcerated, and much of the skin and sometimes 

 part of the flesh of the sole, and even one or two of the toes, 



1 American missionary at Swatow ; Times, 2nd September 1880. 



