TALKS ON HEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 15

TALKS ON HEALTH.

Fortune-telling by the Feet. BY A FAMILY DOCTOR. Place your damp naked foot on the oil-cloth, 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 the foot is sound it will be your good fortune to enjoy walking and dancing in comfort ; if the arch has fallen and the foot is flattened it may ache lifter 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 of the foot touches the ground; the inner side of the footforming the arch is raised off the ground. As the arch of the foot sinks the band becomes broader until, when the arch has completely gone, band is as broad as the foot. Flat Feet and Flabbiness.

Hospital porters nearly always have flat feet; they have to carry heavy patients on stretchers. Some find great comfort from steel supports inside their boots, and these should be tried—they* often relieve the aching- The long-legged youth of sixteen or seventeen may suffer from flatfoot; all his strength goes in growing; he is probably anaemic, and he works long hours in a stuffy town. The treatment in his case will be directed to building up his strength; better food and more of it (he will not object), more fresh air and general hygiene. As his

strength improves his feet will regain their normal shape, but they must not be allowed to go too far. Footprints of a Venus.

I saw some photographs of a play in London in which a charming actress appeared on the stage with bare feet. That is very shocking to a man of my temperament, but, on a second furtive glance at the photograph, I found they were very nice feet. Each foot had five dear little toes all neatly arranged in a regular row from the one that went 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. If you are a mere man, possibly a contemptible bachelor, 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 racehorses, of large black pigs, but have we improved the breed of men ? Neglect of the Feet.

We seem to take no pride in our feet; they ought to be kept spotlessly clean, but, alas! they are not. and water frequently used would cure many of the ills of our “ understan 1ings.” Please loc«k at your children’s foet tc-night; do not forget. Are you quite sure their boots are big enough, are the toes cramped; are there any corns; is the big toe pressed out of shape; can vou see a commencing bunion; are there any hammer-toes. does the child complain of pain ? A tight -wooden boot was one of the tortures of the Spanish Inquisition; our great naval victory of the Spanish Armada was fruitless if you still torture your children with tight boots. Pedal Dexterity.

It must not be forgotten that some unfortunate beings have been born without hands, and they can use their feet and toes with marvellous agility. A Japanese artist painted beautiful pictures with his feet, holding the brush between his big toe and his second toe. Our cousins, the apes, have four hands instead of two fee* and two hands. One of the most striking differences between the anatomy of the ape and of man is that the ape has a big toe like a thumb; the big toe can be bent round a branch in the opposite way to the toes. . The name Qtiadrumana, given to these animals, means four-handed. I do not wish to imply that we could play the piano with our feet if we tried; our big toes are not thumbs. Our left hgnds, poor things, are much neglected, and we should be wise to educate our children to practise exercises with their left hands.