OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23058, 8 December 1936, Page 14

OUR BABIES

By Htoeia. Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for tin Health of Women and Children (Plunnei Society). " It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to main, tain an ambulance at the bottom.'' CARE OF THE FEET Whilst travelling for a distance of some 30 miles in one of our oldfashioned second class railway carriages I occupied myself in observing the passengers who sat oppositetaking stock, not of their faces, but of their feet and footwear. What a sorry story most of them told, especially the women's feet, with the distorted and misshapen joints showing through their shoes. I was filled with pity of it all as I realised the unnecessary suffering that had been caused by the neglect or ignorance of the parents or guardians responsible throughout the childhood of the victims now confronting me. The following article is written in the hope that those of us—parents, guardians, or nurses—who have the care of little children will realise the paramount importance of correct footwear during infancy and childhood, for It is wellnigh impossible to measure the irremediable injury caused during the growing period by illfitting shoes. The responsibility is ours to see that the child runs about barefoot, or, if we must conform to social conventions, see that the footwear we provide will allow the foot to grow as Nature intended, instead of being deformed by ill-fitting shoes To quote Sir Truby King: "To protect the rising generation from the physical vice of deformed feet, let us start with the babies." It is not my purpose to deal with foot deformities, as twisted ankle or flat foot, for which conditions a doctor must be consulted. Rather would I point out to you that experts agree on the following points:—Although some foot deformities may be (1) the outcome of illness, (2) too rapid increase in weight, (3) too rapid growth in childhood, or (4) improper feeding, yet it is safe to assert that in the great majority of cases ill-fitting shoes are the main causal factor. The feet are the most complicated bony structures in the human body. The 26 bones which form a series of arches with weight-bearing points have not only to support the weight of the body with whatever load may be added to it, but must be able to function freely if we are to move with ease and grace. We will assume that baby is now 12 months of age and that during the foregoing period he has worn soft shoes and socks that permitted of the natural development of the feet, and we are now coing to buy the first pair of toddling shoes— something suitable for him to wear v/hile he is learning to walk, although he will really best accomplish this with bare feet on the veranda or smooth, sun-lit lawn, and not on the cold, highly polished floor. The average babv will need size 3 or 4, and the shoes should have a pliable leather sole or pump sole. Welted shoes are ideal when baby is older and walking well, but are somewhat cumbersome for first shoes. When fitting the shoes on allow baby to stand in them, and see

that there is reasonable length—that is, about a quarter of an inch to spare beyond the limit of the great toe. This is most necessary, as the little foot grows so quickly. Do not buy more than one pair of shoes unless you can afford to give them away when he grows out of them, as he will assuredly do this within a few months. At the age of 16-18 months baby will probably have outgrown his first pair, and now we can buy welted -shoes which have firm but pliable soles. Again take the precaution to allow him to stand up in his shoes and see that there is growing room, and never allow him to wear them when the great toe is jammed hard into the toe of the shoe. No matter if the shoes are still in good order, and if they cost you nine or ten shillings, it is better that your child should go barefoot than be tortured by short shoes just because they are not worn out.

Then, to preserve the beauty of the foot to which we have given such loving care in infancy, let us continue throughout childhood to see that the following points are observed when buving footwear:— 1. That the shoes shall be made to fit the foot, and not the foot to fit the shoe. 2. That heels shall be broad and not too high—half an inch to one inch for school boots and shoes. 3. Toes should be well rounded or square. 4. Welted soles when possible, or at least soles suitable for hard wear and to keep the feet dry, and never pump soles except for party shoes. "THE BELOVED CAPTAIN."

In conclusion, the following extract from "A Student in Arms," by Donald Hankey, is of interest:— "No trouble of ours was too small for him to attend to. When we started route marches, for instance, and our feet were blistered and sore, as they often were at first, you would have thought that they were his own feet from the trouble he took. Of course, after the march there was always an inspection of feet. That is the routine. But with him it was no mere routine. He came into our rooms, and if anyone had a sore foot he would kneel down on the floor and look at it as carefully as if he had been a doctor. Then he would prescribe; and the remedies were ready at hand, being borne by the sergeant. If a blister had to be lanced he would very likely lance it himself there and then, so as to make sure that it was done with a clean needle and that no dirt was allowed to get in. There was no affectation about this. No striving after effect. It was simply that he felt that our feet >were pretty important, and that he knew that we were pretty careless. So he thought it best at the start to see to the matter himself. Nevertheless, there was in our eyes something almost religious about this care of our feet It seemed to have a touch of the Christ about it, and we loved and honoured him the more."