On Brains—And Feet

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

On Brains — And Feet

"Doctor's Orders"

I SUPPOSE more curates and schoolmasters have nervous breakdowns than any other class of men. Being well educated and willing, countless jobs are put on their shoulders; they are too good-natured to refuse. Those precious spare hours, so useful for recuperation, are encroached upon and whittled away. The poor donkey plods patiently along tlio road while the sturdy fellow-travel-lers exclaim: "Oh, what a dear donkey! Let us put our bags on his back." The donkey, being an ass, allows it, and the inevitable result is a breakdown. The kind-hearted folk who work hard seven days a week, for many more than eight hours a day, always find their way into my consulting room sooner or later. In a praiseworthy desire to prevent that catastrophe, I write these few winjred words. The schoolmaster would be. wall advised to pro away to hie brother's for three days, Friday. Saturday and Sunday, and stay in bed tlio whole time. If my diagnosis is correct, his tired brain will s,leep most of the time. His headecho will disappear like magic. His diet should be light. His brother will keep off troublesome visitors. Rest is what the weary nerves implore you to give them. Beware of the well-meaning friend who wants to rush the patient off to a series of music-halls, dinners and dances '"to cheer him. up"; much more likely to nail him up. Fortune-telling by the Feet I'lace your damp naked foot on the oilcloth, lift it up carefully, and then gaze at the impression left as though you were Robinson Crusoe. You can tell your fortune by your feet —at least part of it. If the arch of your foot is eound, it will be your good fortune to enjoy walking and dancing in comfort; if the arch lias fallen and the foot is flattened it may ache after standing. Turn your eyes once again on the damp spot left by your foot. There is a blob in front for the toes and a blob behind for the heel. They do not alter. Your fortune is told by the band that unites the two blobs. In the natural foot the band is narrow; only the outer edge touches the ground; the inner side of the foot forming the arch ie raised off the ground. As the arch of the foot sinks the band becomes broader until, when the arch has completely gone, the band is as broad as the foot. Hospital porters nearly always have flat feet: they are flabby men, inclined to corpulency, and they have to carry heavy patients on stretchers. Some find great comfort from steel supports inside their and these should be tried—4hey often relieve the aching. The long-iegged youth of 16 or 17 may .suffer from flat-foot i all his strength goes in growing; he k probably anae-

By---A Family Doctor

mic, and he works long hour-= in a stuffy town. The treatment in his case will bo directed to building up his strength; better food and more of it (lie will not object), more fresh air and general hygiene. As his strength improves his feot will regain their normal sh.ipe. but they must not be allowed to go too far. Footprints of a Venus I saw eome photographs of a play in London in which a charming actress a|>|K>erod on the stage with bare feet. That is shocking to a man of my temperament, but on a spcond furtive glance at the photograph 1 found they were very nice feet. Each foot had five dear little toes all neatly arranged in, a regular row from the one that wont to market to the one that went squeak, squeak all the way home. Hoping that my wife was not looking, I cut out the portrait of the actress—that is to say, only her feet, you understand—and I pasted the pretty picture on the wall of the surgery. Do not talk to me of limpid eyes, tip-tilted noses, shell-like ears; tell me of active and nimble feet. If you wish me to remember you, send me a snapshot of your feet. A foot should be a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. Surely you will admit that a baby's foot is one of the prettiest sights in the world. Tf you are a mere man, possibly a contemptible bacholor, you will score a success with the nurse and the young mother if you ask to see the baby's feet. One day I must collect all the poems that mention feet in terms of praise. I wish one of you would do it for me. I remember Atalanta, who was so nimble on her feet that she outran all her lovers who competed for her hand by challenging her to a running match. The only man who beat her cheated by throwing her three golden apples which she stooped to pick up. What beautiful feet must Atalanta's have been! And how we have degenerated since the days of Ancient Greece! We seek to improve the breed of cattle, of racehorsee, of Large Black pigs, but have we improved the breed of men ? We eeem to take no pride in our feet; they ought to be kept spotlessly clean, but, alas! they are not. Soap and water frequently used would cure many of the ills of our "understandings." Please look at your children's feet to-night; do not forget. Are you quite sure thoir boots are big enough; are the toes cramped; are there any corns; ie the big toe pressed out of shape; can you see a commencing bunion; are there any hammertoes; does the child complain of pain t