Your Feet

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 8, 1 February 1926, Page 63

Your Feet

FIRST of all, if you, must economise, don’t let it be in your footwear. Small feet these days (probably because of our athletic tastes) are the exception rather than the rule, but the owners of well-shaped, well-shod feet, proportionate to their height, need never feel ashamed of them, even if they don’t “beneath her petticoats like little mice steal in and out.” A tight shoe not only causes the ankle to swell, but makes lines appear on the face 1

Economise in thing but your footwear

Flat Foot, when the arch of the foot gives way and the instep drops, will generally yield to suitable exercises. Bunions are usually caused by wearing shoes that are the wrong shape or too short; or by very high heels, which throw the foot forward into the shoe and cause pressure on the big toe joint. AT the first sign the joint shows of becoming red, it should be painted with tincture of iodine, and well rubbed with lodex, and a wad of wool should be placed between the big toe and the next, in order to keep the former in as straight a line with the inner side of the foot as possible. Shoes specially cut with this purpose in view should be worn, and

they need not necessarily be ugly. If the trouble does not yield to simple remedies, a surgeon should, of course, be consulted. The soles of the feet can be prevented from becoming hard by massaging the sole and heel thoroughly for a few minutes night and morning. Corns usually occur through pressure, but are sometimes “indigenous to the soil” so to speak, being the result of the high living of our forbears, otherwise gout! Corns may be soaked in hot water for ten minutes and filed, but it is far better to visit a chiropodist than to attempt to cut one’s own corns, as without skill and antiseptic precautions, blood poisoning may easily result. Painting hard corns with a reliable corn cure or a corn solvent is often efficacious. SOFT corns, which often occur between the toes, should be touched every night with the “unbusiness” end of a match dipped in glacial acetic acid, the area round the corn having been previously anointed with vaseline, to prevent the acid burning the skin. The toes should then be held apart till the acid in dry and a scrap of cotton wool placed between them. The toe nails should not be neglected. Scrubbing them every day with a very hard nail brush will prevent dry skin forming to excess, as it does invariably with gouty or rheumatic subjects. If the big toe nails show signs of growing into the flesh, a tiny V piece should be snipped out of the middle of the nail, which will cause the sides to grow out. Never cut the corners themselves till they are well above the flesh. A good prelude to dancing, walking or standing is to rub the feet with methylated spirits and the heel with a moist cake of yellow soap, afterwards powder freely with starch and boracic. Blistered heels are caused by chafing. Never allow the skin to break, the part should be rubbed gently with pure vaseline or olive oil, or a good yellow soap will serve the purpose. If your feet swell through much standing, put them up whenever possible, and loosen your straps and laces while doing so. Boracic powder shaken inside the stocking is a wonderful soother and keeps them cool.

i CJheWomari s *J)(Ciri'or Written for The Mirror It is not framed in palaces of Kings, Whose gilded courts reflect the brilliant flow Of loveliness and fashion, and the glow Of soft seductive warmth that Pleasure brings. Ye seek in vain through all the fleeting things Which make that hectic Life whose end is woe. A pool of molten gold? Not there —Ah, no ! Gold is delusionhow shrilly false it rings. But in a child-warm’d home, where lisping prayer Is said at bed-time (on her bended knees A babe, with mother tender, sweet and wise. Beams floods of loveseems like an Angel fair). Find thou thy Mirror, and its secret seize It is in childhood’s deep unfathom’d eyes. FRANK M. SCULLY