346 FASHION IN DEFORMITY xx 



many far worse. The two figured (Fig. 30), one (C) from a 

 labouring man, the other (A and B) from a working woman, 

 both patients at a London hospital, are very ordinary examples 

 of the European artificial deformity of the foot, and afford good 

 subjects for comparison with the Chinese foot (Fig. 28). It 

 not unfrequently happens that the dislocation of the great toe 

 is carried so far that it becomes placed almost at a right angle 

 to the long axis of the foot, lying across the roots of the other 

 toes. 



In walking and especially running, the action of the foot 

 is as follows : The heel is first lifted from the ground, and 

 the weight of the body gradually transferred through the 

 middle to the anterior end of the foot, and the final push 

 or impulse given with the great toe. It is necessary then 

 that these parts should all be in a straight line with one 

 another. Any deflection, especially of the great toe, from 

 its proper direction, or any weakening of its bones, ligaments, 

 or muscles, must be detrimental to the proper use of the foot 

 in progression. Against this it will perhaps be urged that 

 there are many fairly good walkers and runners among us 

 whose great toes have been considerably changed from the 

 normal position in consequence of wearing pointed boots 

 while young. This may be perfectly true, but it is also well 

 known that several persons, as the late Miss Biffin, and an 

 artist familiar to all frequenters of the Antwerp picture 

 gallery, have acquired considerable facility in the use of 

 the brush, though possessing neither hands nor arms, the one 

 painting only from the shoulder, and the other with the feet. 

 The compensating power of nature is very wonderful, and when 

 one part is absent or crippled, other means are found of doing 

 its work, but always at a disadvantage as compared with those 

 best fitted for the duty. 



The loss of elasticity and motion in the joints of the foot, 

 as well as the wrong direction acquired by the great toe, are 

 in most persons seriously detrimental to free and easy pro- 

 gression, and can only be compensated for by a great ex- 

 penditure of muscular power in other parts of the body, 

 applied in a disadvantageous manner. The labouring men of 

 this country, who from their childhood wear heavy, stiff, and 



