CHIROPODY IN THE EAST.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXI, Issue 3160, 27 April 1931, Page 7

CHIROPODY IN THE EAST.

James's corns had been troubling him ever since he came to India, so it was with a yell of joy that he greeted one Abdul Haziz, who appeared on the verandah steps one Sunday morning.

Abdul wore a five-piece suit consisting of magenta turban, cream brocade waistcoat edged with gold braid, white shirt over baggy white trousers, and a pair of curly-toed shoes of orange leather. Slung over his shoulder on a strap he carried a small, black box upon which was painted in bold, white letters the legend, "Abdul Haziz, CornMarchant to Ladies and Gents., also Army's Messes, Bars-at-law and many Others." He salaamed witn tne jaunty confidence of one who never fails to click. "You got plenty corns, Sahib? *I take 'em away! They never come back!" he announced with a grin. "You read my chits, Sahib! Veree fine chits!" and producing a . plump wad of letters he handed them over to James.

We gathered round and read them over James's shoulder. They were certainly written on authentic-looking paper bearing regimental crests and what not.

Addressing himself to Abdul, James spoke: "Come on in, Cornelius! What is good enough for the General is good enough for me!" So Abdul Cornelius, shuffling off his yellow slippers, entered and took possession of James's bedroom. He called for water and towels, and while they were being fetched he opened his little box, spreading the contents around him on the floor, where he squatted pross-legged. Seizing James's foot, he scraped away some hard skin with a small knife. "Now, Sahib, you watch!" He included us all in a grand gesture. With the air of a conjuror he took a small, hollow, conical-shaped object and pressed it down firmly over the first corn. James winced. Suddenly bending over it, Abdul applied his mouth to the point of the cone and sucked the air out of it, quickly sealing the small hole at the top with a piece of wax.

The patient became slightly alarmed. "Here, I say, Cornelius, what are you up to?" Abdul gave a reassuring wave of the hand. "Arl right, Sahib! Arl right! It is a goat's horn —the small end of the goat's horn. I put him on the toe, then I take away the air—afterwards the corn come out!" He proceeded to treat each corn in the same way, after which he sat back and folded his hands. "Now, Sahib, we wait two, three minutes, then we see!"

We all waited in silence, deeply interested, and none more so than James, who regarded his horned toes with affectionate surprise. Abdul bent over his patient's foot once more and removed the first horn. In the centre of James's toe was a small drop of blood. Abdul wiped it away with a piece of cotton wool soaked in iodine.

"See, Sahib, it is gone!" he said. "Now, look, I show you!" and picking up the horn he removed from it, with a match, James's late but not lamented corn, which he held up for inspection. "By jove, Cornelius, you're the goods!" exclaimed James. "I'll give you a beautiful chit for this! Proceed ■with the other foot." Abdul proceeded.

After accepting with dignity the double fee which the fatuously grateful James pressed upon him, he packed up his box of magic and departed, salaaming. "Sahib, those corns never come back, you see!" he said in parting. And they never did.