i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
5o3 
OTJR FEET AND OUR SHOES. 
J UDGING from the predominant shape of 
shoes worn among us one would suppose 
that very little was known about the foot; 
since a fine boot or shoe so distorts the 
foot from its natural shape that its beauty 
as a foot is gone, and there is often left, in 
its stead, misery in a very concentrated 
form. We often see the picture of the 
human body, with the words,“I am fearfully 
and wonderfully made” below it; we read 
of the “Man Wonderful in the House 
Beautiful,” and we marvel at the beauty 
and harmony of the parts in the human 
body. How perfectly the joints fit together, 
with an adjustment adapted to all the 
varying motions of the body. How beautiful 
is the structure of the bones, with the tiny 
blood-vessels ramifying in every direction, 
and the delicate covering or periosteum 
enfolding them ; they are as much alive as 
any part of us. An All-wise Architect has 
distributed them throughout our bodies in 
such a manner as best to fulfill the require¬ 
ments of the body. 
This being granted, let us look at the 
structure of the foot. There are seven 
bones which form the heel and the arch of 
• the foot, called the tarsus ; then there are 
five more just in front of these, called the 
metatarsus. The toes contain 14 bones ; 
the great toe two, and each of the others 
three, all most perfectly fitted together, 
with muscles and tendons so attached as 
to allow perfect freedom of motion in every 
part; but though in art the human foot .is 
considered beautiful, with its natural 
curve, its individual toes, and its fine arch, 
it is only tolerated in every-day life (ex¬ 
cept in case of infants), after it has been 
molded in a fashionable shoe. Nearly the 
whole weight of the body is supported by 
the arch of the foot; but this whole weight 
is thrown forward when the foot rests upon 
high heels, placing the body in the same 
position it would be in when descending a 
steep hill or roof. All architects when 
erecting a building of whatever dimen¬ 
sions, lay the foundation true and plumD: 
What a strain would be upon every part 
of the structure, were some law proclaimed 
requiring a great wedge to be inserted be¬ 
neath one side of the whole building! 
Every beam and rafter would groan in the 
false position 1 and yet in the “ House 
Beautiful,” which the greatest of all arch¬ 
itects has planned, we destroy the harmony 
of all its parts by wearing heels on our 
shoes, thus shifting the center of gravity 
from its natural position and necessarily 
throwing the body into an unnatural poise. 
The whole body must suffer the conse¬ 
quences ; the little sympathetic nerves are 
ever on the alert to telegraph news to the 
brain. It is claimed by good authority 
that high heels are undoubtedly one cause 
of the round shoulders so common among 
women and girls; and the lame or weak 
backs, and the tired feet, are more often 
due to the straiu upon the body caused by 
the heels on our shoes, than we have any 
idea of. 
Mothers put stiff, ill-fitting, high-heeled 
shoes on their children’s feet, ignorant of 
the permanent injury they are thus likely 
to cause; and though the little ones wail 
against the infliction, bear it they must. 
No wonder it almost brings them an idea 
of heaven when they are permitted to go 
barefooted. The muscles and nerves then 
recover their normai power; the foot re¬ 
gains its natural shape; and it is largely 
lor this reason that it seems to cause such 
unusual discomfort when one who has 
been accustomed to going barefooted, is 
required to put on boots or shoes. “ It is 
mainly due to the special development of 
the great toe in a line with the long axis of 
the loot that man is enabled to exercise 
the attribute, in all ages regarded as a 
noble one, of standing erect.” It is im¬ 
portant that the shoe sole should allow the 
great toe to occupy its natural position; 
but the modern shoe is made without re¬ 
gard to the rights of individual toes ; on 
the contrary, it is made as if the great toe 
were in the middle with graduated smaller 
ones on each side. This bending of the 
great toe so far from its normal position 
tends to enlarge the joint, and frequently 
bunions are the result, while the smaller 
toes suffer from corns and painful callos¬ 
ities of various kinds, on account of the ill- 
fitting shoe. The pressure of the shoe 
upon the loot retards the circulation of the 
blood, and this, together with the inaction 
caused by the cramped position, weakens 
the nerves and muscles so that walking, 
*• that exercise wnich, more than any other, 
brings every portion of the system into 
healthful activity,” is most exhausting for 
a woman. No one can enjoy this delight¬ 
ful, healthful exercise ia a aarrow-twd, 
high-heeled shoe, in which the muscles 
have no freedom of action when the great 
toe is bent at an angle of 45 degrees, and 
the little toe and its neighbors spend their 
energies in trying to curl themselves into 
the least possible space. Many of the 
diseases classed under the head of general 
debility would pass away if only proper 
shoes were worn and walking were a fash¬ 
ionable exercise. 
James Dowie, a practical as well as 
theoretical Scotch shoe-maker, was so enthu¬ 
siastic that he Studied the foot under skill¬ 
ful anatomists and sent his journeymen to 
a course of lectures on the feet. He enum¬ 
erates the principal evils to be that shoes 
are worn too short; that they are too narrow 
at the toes, and in the sole, and that the 
sole does not conform to the inner curve of 
the foot, and Is too stiff and unyielding, 
while the heel is too high, leaving little 
to be commended in them. Dame Fashion 
has decreed, in the latest styles, that the 
sole shall turn up at the toe—one more evil 
to contend with, for when the sole turns up 
at the toe it prevents the free action of the 
flexor muscles, in drawing the toes to the 
ground in walking. One who can most per¬ 
fectly fit our eyes with glasses, necessarily 
knows something of the physiology of the 
eye. One who cares for our teeth must un¬ 
derstand their structure, and should not 
those who put forth the decrees and lay 
down the laws concerning what we shall 
wear and how we shall wear it, understand 
something of the physiology of the human 
body? Should not the dress-maker have an 
understanding of anatomy, physiology and 
hygiene, that she may appreciate the needs 
of the body? And ought not the shoe-maker 
to understand the structure of the feet ? 
Then would he know what the feet require. 
Speak to almost any shoe-maker against the 
high heel, the narrow toe, the unlikeness 
of the foot to the shoe it must wear, and he 
will set you down as peculiar, to say the 
least. But it is well said that it is a fruit¬ 
less enterprise to attempt to overrule 
fashion. We have been accustomed to nar¬ 
row, high-heeled,symmetrically soled shoes, 
and though we suffer for it every day of our 
lives, we persist in wearing them. We join 
with the sculptor in the admiration of the 
human foot, and why a shoe to fit it should 
be an abomination to cultivated people is a 
mystery. Why the ideal of beauty among 
enlightened civilized people should be the 
small waist and little foot is equally an 
unsolvable problem. We have grown up 
with the idea that each foot is a separate, 
single,symmetrical organ in itself, with the 
great-toe in the middle. But we really have 
a right foot and a left foot, as much as we 
have a right hand and a left hand, and the 
shoes should correspond with this differ¬ 
ence, as our gloves do. When we look at 
our bare feet, it seems almost like barbarism 
to put them into the modern fine shoes. 
I saw a pair of Queen Elizabeth’s slippers 
in the Tower in London, with heels so high 
they must have given her the appearance of 
standing in a perpetual bow, but surely we 
have had time to outgrow the vanities 
which occupied her mind, and are now 
capable of standing on a broader foundation. 
MRS. W. A. KELLERMAN. 
THE CARE OF HOUSEHOLD SUP¬ 
PLIES. 
S. A. LITTLE. 
UR groceries have been bought at 
wholesale for many years, and the 
plans devised for caring for them may be 
of interest to some who desire to try the 
economy advised by Mr. Terry in The 
Rural for May 31. 
Cod fish is picked up and bones and skin 
removed, then it is packed in old fruit cans 
with paper neatly pasted on the top when 
the original covers of the cans are missing. 
Raisins are stemmed and thrown into a 
large pan, then covered with boiling water. 
This kills all insect eggs in case they may 
exist. After five minutes the water is 
cooled so the hands can bear it, the fruit is 
washed, drained on sieves and dried quickly 
either in a fruit drier or a hot oven. It is 
then packed in fruit cans while hot. 
Tea and ground coffee are packed in tin 
cans of the kind used for maple syrup. A 
tunnel will be required to fill them, but 
except for that the small hole is an advan¬ 
tage. Spices are put in baking powder 
boxes and a strip of paper is pasted around 
them to hold the covers firmly. All pack¬ 
ages are carefully labeled to prevent mis¬ 
takes. When mackerel or other fish in 
brine is bought, care must be taken to keep 
the brine over the fish. An earthen plate 
laid over the fish, kept in place by a clean 
stone, answers the purpose nicely. 
The sack of dairy salt is hung from a 
rafter in the garret, a moderate supply 
being kept in the cellar in a butter jar. 
Unused butter packages are also kept in 
the garret, where they remain dry and 
sweet until wanted for use. 
I never buy citron, as I like that which I 
prepare myself quite as well. I take out 
what I need from a can of citron preserve, 
drain it carefully for several hours, then cut 
it into thin slices and use as though it were 
dried. Possibly the rule for preserving 
citron may be of use. Cut the melon in 
thin slices, peel and remove the seeds and 
boil in clear water till nearly tender. Make 
a syrup, using one pound of granulated 
sugar for one pound of melon, boil and 
skim. Slice five or six lemons for each 10 
pounds of the preserve, and remove all 
seeds. Drain the melon carefully and put 
it with the lemon into the hot syrup and 
boil until clear.Tben can in self-sealing cans. 
I sometimes add a few raisins to a part of 
the preserve; it is improved in flavor to 
most tastes, but the appearance is rather 
injured by their presence. 
BRUISES, BUMPS, AND BANDAGES. 
HEN baby pinches his finger, feel 
as sorry as you will, but don’t for¬ 
get to drop some little trifle in a basin of 
blood-warm water, and let him reach his 
hand to grasp the treasure. Draw his at¬ 
tention from self, and the warm water will 
do the rest. The water alone would ap¬ 
pear to him a medicine; make a play of the 
treatment. 
* * * 
When the older ones bruise the finger¬ 
nails through careless handling of ham¬ 
mers, after a plunging of the injured mem¬ 
ber in warm water, bid them keep pinching 
and working the bruised flesh with the 
thumb and fore-finger of the other hand. 
This is to keep the blood from settling 
under the nail. The “ Doctor ” says ’twill 
prevent the loss of the nail, and though it 
seems a severe treatment, ’tis trifling when 
compared to the pain a loose nail causes. 
* * * 
Cover “ bumps ” with brown paper wet 
in cold water (paper retains moisture longer 
than cloth), and keep them wet till the 
swelling is reduced. Where the skin is 
puffed immediately after the blow occurs, 
the bandage should be pinned as tightly as 
possible over the swelling. 
* * * 
When awakened by the warning bark of 
that midnight marauder, croup, just re¬ 
member that common sweet lard is fully as 
efficacious as any other grease. Melt a 
spoonful over the lamp and give internally. 
Then thoroughly oil the child’s body, back 
and front, especially the palms and soles, 
and rub a little of the grease on his nose. 
(This last move is also a good one for any 
one troubled with stoppage of the nostrils). 
Wrap the little one well in warm flannel 
and put him back to bed. Never rouse a 
patient from a quiet, restful sleep to re¬ 
ceive medicine. Always give Mother Na¬ 
ture’s remedies the preference. 
* * * 
Are you an invalid who has been bedridden 
so long that the rim of the ear has become 
tender by constant pressing ? Fold a soft 
linen handkerchief as if to be used as a 
bandage. Then make a loose knot and lay 
it around the lobe of the ear. It is a little 
thing to do, but it affords great comfort. 
Often a warm brick at the feet or a hot- 
water bag, if you have one, will take the 
“ ache ” out of limbs cramped for want of 
use. If rubbing is resorted to, do not rub 
the top of the leg much. The pain is usually 
in the fleshy parts where muscles and ten¬ 
dons “most do congregate.” When the 
simple rubbing will not ease pain, apply a 
thin coating of cosmoline or vaseline; then 
a thin layer of cotton batting and over this 
a light bandage. A man who was suffering 
intense agony from inflammatory rheuma¬ 
tism, and who had not slept for a week, 
save in brief periods of semi-consciousness, 
was thoroughly rubbed with cosmoline 
and wrapped in old sheets on which fluffy 
cotton batting had been basted. The per¬ 
fect exclusion of air from the sensi¬ 
tive skin brought relief and he slept 
sweetly. I think one might tack batting 
to an old stocking leg to wear over a rheu¬ 
matic elbow or knee joint. Even a tem¬ 
porary release from pain is worth striving 
for. 
Now, I have started the ball a-rolliDg by 
“ telling a few things I know about nurs¬ 
ing,” as a Rural sister requested. If you 
care to hear from me again j ust call for 
THE DON. 
[Let no one fear to try the above excel¬ 
lent and practical suggestions, thinking 
they are froej a man, who may not know 
what he is talking about. The Don is a 
womafi like the rest of us, in spite of his (?) 
masculine pen-name.— EDS.] 
Macaroon Custard Pudding.—A de¬ 
licious company pudding for those who can 
obtain macaroons readily, is made this 
way: Take one tearcupful of sweet cream; 
add one-fourth pound of sugar, the beaten 
yelks of six eggs, one tea-spoonful of ex¬ 
tract of vanilla, and two ounces of gelatine, 
which has been previously dissolved in a 
little hot water. Spread three or four 
layers of sponge, or any preferred cake, 
with raspberry or strawberry preserves, 
and pour the above mixture over it. Cover 
the top with macaroons, and put in a hot 
oven in a covered dish. Eat cold with 
whipped cream. 
Mother used to make a salve which we 
laughingly called her “ cure-all,” from 
tallow, resin and bees-wax, just like graft¬ 
ing wax, except that it was made a little 
softer by using less resin, so as to spread 
nicely. It was good for every form of cut 
or bruise. A day or two ago, I saw 
powdered resin recommended for cuts, to 
prevent inflammation and soreness. If the 
virtue of the salve was in the resin, it is 
quite worth while to know it, as it can be 
powdered and put in an old pepper-box, 
and sifted on to the cut, nothing more be¬ 
ing necessary but to wrap a damp cloth 
around It. pennt wise. 
g$i!8iunatt*0tt;S 
Readers of The R. N.-Y. will please the 
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mentioning it when writing to advertisers. 
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