CHAPTER V.
Flattened Condition of the Arch—Beauty of one that is Natural—Nature and Purpose of its Construction—How it Becomes Broken Down—Lengthening of the Foot—Lack of Development—Means of Improvement—Lasts for Flat Feet—Transverse Arch.
Another of the prominent disfigurements of the foot is that commonly known asflat-foot, which is seen where the arch of the instep is in a broken-down or flattened condition. This deformity has, if possible, a more awkward and ungraceful effect than that caused by the unnatural position of the toes and joints; though there may be less painful effects attending it than are attached to the latter. The worst trouble accompanying this kind of disfigurement is theweaknesswhich is attendant upon it, and which is sometimes so extreme as to interfere seriously with walking for any great distance, or standing long at a time; making itself felt at various periods, as there happens to be a demand for strength and activity.
It is almost needless to say how unnatural is such a condition. Children are seldom subject to it, except whenconnected with weak ankles. Even the children of parents who are notoriously flat-footed have feet that are tolerably well arched. We venture to say that the wild Indian of the native forest was never seen with the beauty of his symmetrical and handsome frame marred by flat feet. There are some of the race who flatten theirheads, but they never wear boots, nor heels on their moccasins, and their feet are therefore free from this disagreeable shape. The artist never allows a representation of this deformity to appear in his work; on the contrary, an arch that is high and well-marked has always been considered beautiful. It gives an airiness, elegance, and grace to the appearance of the foot which is as beautiful as the flat foot is ungraceful and awkward. A firm step and upright carriage of the whole body are also generally to be found with the arched instep—never without; while the flat foot, if not seen, may always be inferred from the unnatural, shuffling gait of its possessor.
The high arch is thus beautiful for the same reason that any other organ or part of the body is beautiful—because it is better adapted to perform its intended function or office, which is the support of the weight of the body, this design being more perfectly accomplished when the arch is high, because it is then stronger than when low or flattened. To flatten it is like drawing apart the ends upon which it rests, and this, it is apparent, weakens, if it does not entirely break, the unity and strength of the whole.
The nature of the construction of the foot in this respect is thus set forth by Prof. Meyer:
“If the inner aspect of the foot is examined, we find that it is an arch, resting in front on the anterior heads of the five metatarsal bones, but principally on that of the great toe, and on that of the calcaneum behind. The astragalus forms the key-stone of the arch.
“The arch is enabled to retain its form by means of strong ligaments or bands passing from one bone to the others, and thus held closely together, sustains the superincumbent weight of the body without giving way.
“When we rest on the foot, as in standing, the arch is flattened by the pressure from above, and consequently becomeslengthened. When, however, the foot is allowed to hang free,the curvature of the arch is increased. At every step in walking, also, when the foot is raised from the ground,the curvature immediately becomes greater through the action of the muscles.”
This action, it will be readily seen, is precisely that of a spring under a carriage, or other similar vehicle, and seems to have a like intention—that of preventing the transmission of a shock or jar to the joints, and the internal organs of the body above.
It will be found true, we believe, that in persons of muscular temperament—the temperament that gives tall, spare, and angular forms—the curvature of the arch is greater than in those whose natural disposition of body is toward fleshiness. In the latter case, the muscles of thewhole system being weaker, they allow the bones of the foot to separate more easily, and this, consequently, allows the flattening. In other words, we strongly suspect that in this temperament of the body the ligaments are not so dense, firm, and strong as they are in persons whose physical structure is more predominantly muscular. The ligaments which hold the bones together at the joints are not designed to stretch, under ordinary circumstances, but they do yield when sufficient force is exerted upon them, as in the case of sprains and dislocations, and it is reasonable to infer that they adapt themselves to the demand made upon them. The muscles grow longer and larger, as do also the bones, under circumstances that call for such growth or adaptations to conditions. So doallthe organs and tissues of the body, in greater or less degree; and if the ligaments do not, they are a plain exception, which is not probable. This being so, a constant strain upon the ligaments of the foot’s arch, as in standing for several hours without rest, must cause them to stretch somewhat, allowing the bones to loosen and sink down, while the same severe strain, if continued for a yet longer period, would force them to grow into this lengthened condition, to meet the demand upon them, thus rendering the fault permanent. In persons of fleshy tendency, the natural softness and weakness of the muscles and ligaments allow them the more easily to give way to the pressure upon the arch. It is believed to be the fact that the deformity is more common among people of this type,and it will be well for those so constituted to guard against anything that tends to its development.
It is in persons of the opposite type—those who have firm, close, hard, and strong muscles, and no extra flesh—that the arch is found in its greatest perfection. There the strong muscles and ligaments bind the bones together with such firmness that the arch is enabled longer to resist the influences which tend to break it down. Yet the flat foot is very common, in spite of all nature’s efforts for prevention. The deformity, in greater or less degree, may be said to exist as the rule among adult persons, while the natural arch is the exception. Among some classes of people, flat-foot is almost wholly prevalent. Hard toil and degrading conditions not only debase the person morally and intellectually, but they affect the gait and carriage, and their influence may be seen to reach down to the very bottom of the foot.
It was this fault, possibly, which first suggested the practice of wearing heels, or, if it did not originate, at least continued it.Heels partially restore that elevation and airiness of the foot which is given by a natural arch, and which constitutes its grace and beauty. When rightly made, and worn as a choice of two evils, or as a partial remedy for an evil, they are not objectionable; but they can be only a partial corrective. They can never be substituted for a good arch; while, worn as they are and have been,they really become one of the causesof the deformitywhich in turn calls for their use. Another cause is thus explained in Prof. Meyer’s book:
“Flat-foot is occasioned by the loosening of the ligaments that knit the foot firmly together, and, by the consequent sinking of the arch, the inner aspect of the foot no longer presents the natural hollow in the sole. The causes of such loosening of the ligaments are numerous, but by far the most frequent, and one readily induced by the ordinary shoe, is weight improperly directed on the arch. If, for example, a shoe happens to be trodden on one side, and especially, as is most commonly the case, if it be so at the heel, then the heel has no support, except from the inner margin of the sole, which is thus worn away, and the heel-piece becomes oblique, or, in other words, lower at one side than the other. In walking and standing on such a heel-piece, the whole external margin of the foot is raised, and the inner, which naturally supports the arch, is so depressed as gradually to lose its convexity, and thus flat-foot is produced.”
The nature of the cause here spoken of seems to be like that of asprain, to a slight degree, and may be an influential one, but we doubt that it is the most common cause of that loosening of the ligaments which allows the foot to break down. The most common and efficient of all the causes of this difficulty, it appears to us, is theshort heelwhich has always been worn on boots and shoes, and is still, except where an innovation upon its shape has been made within a few years past. This, though notstrictly a direct cause, like a strain from above, is the condition which most frequently admits and encourages the sinking of the arch.
Thatshort heelsmost frequently admit of and encourage the sinking of the arch of the foot will be readily seen by an explanation. There are several bones which, together, form the forward part of the arch, while the back part consists of one larger bone, technically called thecalcaneum, oros calcis, which makes up the principal part of the heel. Partly above this, and between it and the forward bones, is the one called theastragalus, which is the keystone, being located the highest of any, and the one upon which rest the bones of the leg; in size it is next to thecalcaneum. An illustration will show the position.
Fig. 27.The inner aspect of the foot, showing the arched construction of the whole foot—a, head of metatarsal bone of great toe,—b, calcaneum,—c, astragalus.
Fig. 27.The inner aspect of the foot, showing the arched construction of the whole foot—a, head of metatarsal bone of great toe,—b, calcaneum,—c, astragalus.
Fig. 27.
The inner aspect of the foot, showing the arched construction of the whole foot—a, head of metatarsal bone of great toe,—b, calcaneum,—c, astragalus.
The inner aspect of the foot, showing the arched construction of the whole foot—a, head of metatarsal bone of great toe,—b, calcaneum,—c, astragalus.
The forward part of thecalcaneum, or heel-bone, at its lower surface, is somewhat higher than the back part, and has under it a thicker cushion of flesh. When the bare foot treads upon the surface, or when there is no heel upon the shoe-sole, this point—letterein the diagram—is as well supported as any other, and, being so, enables all theother bones to keep their proper places, but when there is a heel on the sole of the shoe, itis not long enough—does not extend under far enough—to support thisforward partof the heel-bone. The sole, forward of the heel, is not usually stiff enough to support it, and therefore it falls downward as much as the leather will give way; the heel-piece being often half an inch too short, and sometimes more than that. Then, if the sole is light, so as to give way easily, there is nothing to prevent this part of the bone from settling down to the extent of a quarter of an inch, or even more. While the back part is supported, the front is turning directly downward. This allows the astragalus and the whole arch to sink down to the same extent, and, in time, all parts of the foot will adapt themselves to their changed condition, and the flat shank become a permanent thing. If any person will examine a slipper worn with a heel, or aboothaving an ordinary sole, it will be seen that just in front of the heel the sole is depressed, or bent downward, from one-eighth to three-eighths of an inch. This is almost invariable, except when a very long heel, or a stiff shank in the sole, preserves the natural position of thecalcaneumor bone of which the heel is formed. The amount of this depression shows how much the arch has sunk, and how much higher it would be if properly supported. It indicates very plainly the occasion and origin of a large proportion of the flat and splay feet that may be so frequently observed.
This inefficiency of the common short heel to properlysupport the arch was first discovered by Dr. J. C. Plumer, of Boston, to whom is due the credit of showing the bad effects just noticed as the result of its being worn. His style of boot and last will be discussed further on.
It has been stated that as the foot flattens, it also lengthens. It has been estimated that some flat feet are as much as two sizes, or two-thirds of an inch, longer than the same feet would be if well arched; an item worth noticing by those who are fastidious upon this point.
In falling down, thecalcaneumis pushed backward making the long-heeled foot, while the bones forward of theastragalusmust advance more or less intheirdirection, thus adding to the foot’s length at both ends, and making the leg appear to be set far toward the middle. The ends must necessarily be separated before the middle of the arch can sink, and this is why its flattening is accompanied by the long heel. In a foot that is well arched, the projection of bone at the upper part of the heel extends farther back than the lower edge at the sole. In a flat foot, on the contrary, the bottom part extends back farther than the bony projection above, which, in fact, is pretty sure not to project at all.
It may be asked, Why not keep the ends of the arch together by a boot that is short at both ends, supposing such a one could be made that would not distort the toes? Simply because it would prevent theuse, and consequentstrength, of the muscles of the under side of the foot,which are themselves the natural bands for holding theends together, and the whole arch in its raised position. These muscles, being weakened by the cramping of a short boot, would allow the arch to sink whenever the artificial support was taken away. This reasoning seems to indicate such a treatment as one of the causes by which flatness is produced, and as pinching the foot lengthwise has been a common fault, this cause may have been quite effective.
Dr. Meyer thus refers to another bad influence:
“We have already seen that the foot forms an arch,the efficiency of which in a special manner depends on the tensity of its ligaments being maintained. If then, an unnatural and flattening pressure be constantly exercised on this arch, the binding ligaments get slackened and the arch falls down; a broken-down arch, as we have already seen, causes flat-foot. The pressure of the upper leather on the instep must, therefore, and particularly in the case of narrow boots, favour the origin of this deformity. The same cause must further interfere with locomotion, for at every step the increased arching of the instep, which takes place the moment that the foot is set to [? raised from] the ground is resisted by the upper leather, and an injurious influence is thus exercised on the action of some of the muscles used in walking, and which runs from the anterior aspect of the lower leg to the back of the foot.”
Allcramping, binding, and confining ofany part of the bodyweakens it, as is well known to every intelligent reader. Hence the manifest impropriety of wearing anythingunnecessarily tight or binding to the arch of the instep. Every boot that is uncomfortably tight has to some degree the effect of weakening, and rendering it more liable to fall down.
More especially is this the case when the leather used isthick,hard, orstiff. Much of the cheap and inferior goods offered for sale ready-made are seriously objectionable on this account. The uppers themselves are—a large share of them, at least—thick and hard, while the pegged soles are made as stiff as possible, to give the appearance of thick, solid, and serviceable leather in that part. Many a poor man is thus actually hobbled, to a greater or less extent, by the miserable foot-gear his poverty compels him to wear. As there is but very littlebendto them,there is but little use of the muscles of the foot. It is cramped or unnaturally pressed upon, even though having plenty of room, and might almost as well be cased in iron as in the stiff kip or cowhide boot or brogan. The result is weakness, flattening, and a tendency to other kinds of distortion. We believe the frequency of flat-foot among some of the poorer classes of people may thus be easily accounted for.
The peasantry of other countries are even less fortunate than our own. Saying nothing of wooden shoes, the leather ones they wear are not only thick and stiff in material, but the soles are often filled with stout iron nails besides. With such things on the feet there can be no spring to the toes, no use for the forward part of the arch,no play to the muscles. The feet can hardly be otherwise than weak and flat. When tightness is added to stiffness the effect must be still worse.
Children must feel these bad consequences more than adults, for being less firm in their muscles and bones, they have less power of resisting the cramping, weakening influence. Some of the boots manufactured in this country for boys can be recommended only as a slightly less evil than going barefoot in cold weather.
One other reason is, very probably,lack of development. The calf of the leg is but partially developed in some races of men, and only comes to its full growth in conditions of civilized society that call for the use of all its muscles. So it is confidently believed that all those steps and motions which give lightness, grace, ease, and elegance to the movements of the body, such as occur in most varieties of the dance,and particularly such as demand the use of the toes, have a tendency to develop and strengthen the foot’s arch. Asitsfull development tends to create easy, light, and graceful movements,so these in turn help it to grow into full strength and beauty. Hence the well-developed calf, the well-arched foot, and the graceful step will almost invariably be found to go together.
There may be yet other and unknown causes of this deformity; but enough have been noticed to account for the great majority of cases. While it is already very common, the influences that have produced it are stillproducing and confirming the wrong shape. Of course the longer the fault is established the more difficult it is to make a change; but there is believed to be a partial remedy, at least, in the case of young persons. It consists in simply supporting the back part of the arch as nature does in her own way; that is, in supporting the whole under-surface of the calcaneum, or heel-bone, as is done when the bare foot is pressed upon the ground. A long heel—one extending under the sole far enough for its front edge to support the front part of the bone—is the thing required. When the foot rests upon such a heel, the whole weight of the body acts as a force to compel the forward part of the bone to push itself upward into its true place, because, being a quarter of an inch—more or less—lower than it ought to be, it cannot be perfectly at ease until it gets back where it belongs. The weight of the body, then, is just as influential in restoring the arch to its natural form when the long heel is worn, as it is in breaking it down when the short heel is the only support. There is reason to think that a large number of the flat feet could be corrected by this simple expedient. The long-standing cases might require considerable time, and even prove too obdurate for this remedy; but the law which compels all parts of the system to adapt themselves to circumstances would tend constantly and strongly to bring about the effect desired. In those cases where the feet have not grown into a positive, settled distortion, we doubt not the result would be decided and very gratifying;and if the children wore these long heels—if, in short, the whole people were educated to see the necessity of wearing them, when any at all are worn, the instances of flat-foot would be far less common.
A few years since, Dr. Plumer (before referred to) patented a style of boot, of which the long heel is one characteristic. This is, in fact, the best thing about his invention, and should go far to make it popular, even if it has no other recommendation. The fashion has been considerably introduced in some places, and has also had some effect in increasing the length of heels in work not made after that style, and thus may indirectly have saved many from having the arch of their feet broken down. For this it is deserving of praise, though we attach less importance to its other peculiarities.
The old-fashioned way of making heels leaves them from one-fourth to five-eighths of an inch too short. The whole tendency of such heels is downward, in a double sense. The more they are worn the farther downward goes the foot, not only inform, but incharacter—in beauty, gracefulness, and strength.
The long heel, on the contrary, tends to raise the foot upward in shape, and also to restore its strength and grace. As a means of prevention, it should be adopted for all children, to preserve the shape of feet that are still natural.
The Plumer heel has frequently been carried to an extreme, and in such a way as to make its shape appearclumsy and inelegant. For this there is no real necessity. A heel that will extend under the foot half an inch farther than the generality of short ones,can be made, by pitching it well under behind, to appear only slightly longer than commonat the top, (or bottom,) and be tasteful in every particular. The form may be that of the most approved, and there is no demand for greater width. If the counters or stiffenings be of the right kind, the heel may be made sufficiently narrow to look well, and correspond with the general appearance of an elegant boot, without danger of its treading over. This latter kind of trouble comes mainly fromcounters that are too weak, though, of course, a heel that is too small relatively—which is not handsome—or that is built inclining to one side, will be likely to produce the same result.
Ahighheel has an influence in encouraging this false condition of the arch by throwing the foot forward, thus creating the same effect as a shortening of the heel itself. This is not so great a cause as some others, it is true, but, as one thing tending to the same general result, it should be considered and guarded against.
It is claimed that a necessity exists for a heel of some kind in order to prevent the stubbing of the toes in walking; and the fact that people of Eastern countries turn up the toes of their shoes seems to countenance the claim. Yet, it is doubtful. Although Nature did not put anything under our heels, it cannot be supposed that she intended us to go about constantly stubbing our toes. Ifthere had really been a need of raising up the heel, she would have raised it. It is more likely that by wearing heels we have got the foot into a false habit of pointing the toes downward more than is natural, and hence our inclination to stub them when the artificial heels are not under us, if such is the fact. The heels must be decided (described) as unnatural as they are unnecessary. Still, a moderately high one is not so obnoxious as to be worth disputing about. If the height were limited to an inch for the heels of a lady’s boot, and an inch and a quarter for those of gentlemen, as a general rule, in both cases, the disadvantage of such heels would be so trifling that they could hardly be objectionable, provided the length was sufficient. But ashortheel, howeverlowit may be, is a villainous thing.
Another great means, both of preventing the fall of the arch, and of restoring it afterward—one hardly inferior to that of the heel—is the exercise and development of the muscles of the under side of the foot. These are chiefly concerned in the use of the toes. They act whenever we spring upon the forward part of the foot in walking, leaping, or dancing. Their exercise not only strengthensthem, but it strengthens all the other parts also; the ligaments and bones, as well, being made more dense, firm, and enduring, according to the law that the proper use of the muscles of any part of the body draws blood, vitality, and strength into the surrounding or contiguous parts. As these muscles extend in a general lengthwise direction,their strong and firm condition tends directly to hold the ends of the arch as near together as they naturally belong, or in other words, prevent their separation. And as they must separate before the arch can sink, it is seen that here is a powerful influence naturally exerting itself to restrain the foot from flattening; a view which can be sustained by good anatomical and medical authority.
The ladies of Spain are said to possess the finest feet of any race of women in the world. The fact can hardly be disputed; and to account therefore it is only necessary to take into consideration the general prevalence of their national habit ofdancing, which, by all its movements and exercises of the foot, tends directly toward strengthening the toes and raising the arch. A person who can support the weight of the body on the tips of the great toes, either naturally or by cultivation, must possess not only strong muscles in the toes themselves, but a strong arch, and strong foot throughout. We will risk the reputation of this book on the assertion that a broken-down arch cannot be found in the whole dancingprofession.
Here, then, is indicated one course of practical effort by which to avoid or ameliorate the deformity. All those movements of gymnastics which go to strengthen the foot may likewise be adopted with advantage. The toes must also be taught to do their share in the process of walking; and whatever action, in short, will cause the exercise of the muscles of the lower part of the foot, should befavoured, and will help to develop and raise the arch. But this effect cannot be produced immediately. It may require patience, determination, and steady perseverance. There is no royal road to recovery from flat-footedness, any more than there is to knowledge.
The coverings for flat feet should always be made upon lasts that are flat in the shank like themselves. A boot made on an arched last cannot possibly fit a foot whose sole is convex from heel to toe; hence such feet need lasts made expressly for them. The upper leather of the boot cannot, in this case, be too soft and pliable. It should be loose enough to allow the bending at the ball and the movements of the toes to be performed with ease. All the muscles must have a chance to act freely, and the blood be permitted to circulate without hindrance. At the same time there is no need of having big wrinkles, or any extra looseness in the fit of the boot, if only sufficient care is taken in the making.
Another thing to be considered is the stiffening in the shank of boots, more particularly in those of men. If a short heelmustbe worn a stiff shank had better go with it. A metallic shank, if strong, will then be useful, and perhaps generally effective in keeping up the foot. A shank-piece of leather is seldom so stiff but that a flat foot will bend it downward to adapt it to its own shape. So it will also depress the steel shank at the forward and middle portions, but probably not directly in front of the heel, where the most support is required. The shank,too, unless nearly straight, will be apt to press against the middle of the arch—or where the arch ought to be—so strongly as to cause discomfort; and it is a question if such a pressure does not itself tend to weaken the foot still more. It is thus doubtful if the metallic shank will be of any benefit to a flat foot, unless pains are taken to make it conform to a flat-bottomed last by straightening. Feet that are tolerably well-arched can wear it with no difficulty.
But, further: the stiffness in the shank of the boot interferes somewhat with the flexibility of the foot, and therefore no more of it than is necessary to pull off the boot ought to be allowed. By far the best way, and the only right way, is to wear a heel sufficiently long to give all the needed support, and a shank as flexible as it can be without breaking or clinging to the foot when the boot is drawn off. The foot—at least the heel and arch portion—is then left unimpeded in its natural action. If it be said that the stiffness is intended to keep the sole in its proper shape, it is replied that when the boot fits naturally and easily—not loosely—it will keep its correct shape without any help, while if it does not it will tread badly in spite of all the stiffness.
There is an additional elegance, and general appearance of elevation given to the foot by having the sole of the boot made as thin and light in the shank or waist as possible. This can be done in men’s boots by driving a row of pegs through the shank-piece, putting the pegsclose together, to create stiffness, without increasing the thickness of the leather. The shoemaker will understand. A shank made in this manner will be firm enough in drawing off the boot, the thickly-driven pegs not leaving room between them for the leather tobreak; while it is much more flexible than a thick one. It is thusbetter adapted to the foot, at the same time that it isquite as reliable for its own proper purpose. One piece of leather may thus take the place of two or three. Where a metallic shank is used, there will of course be the appearance of lightness.
The model boot or shoe of the future, however, will be one in which there shall exist no need of stiffness in order to draw it off, but where this part of the sole will be so thin and flexible as to be easily pressed downward by the large ligament under the arch when the toes are raised, while it will cling upward close to the hollow of the foot when the arch is raised and the toes extended.
Another hint to the bootmaker may not be inappropriate. It is generally considered desirable to have the side seams correspond with, or meet, the forward corners of the heel. To effect this when a long heel is made it is only necessary to add half an inch, or more, to the width of theback-patternat the bottom, before cutting. This width may be added at the bottom, and lessened gradually toward the top, or continued through the whole length of the pattern equally, as preferred. A correspondingamount must of course be taken off from the width of thefrontpattern at the same time. In a boot without sideseams the same rule applies in cutting the ends of the outside counter.
The front of the heel should not be cut out in curved form, as is sometimes done, because that is a virtual shortening of it; though there is no objection to cutting out the upper lifts of the leather, letting the point of the knife come out before touching the sole, which makes a shortened appearance without affecting the length at all where the sole and heel surfaces unite. A heelrounded out, lengthwise, would be preferable to one curvedin, though it might not be thought so elegant unless indorsed by fashion. We speak thus particularly about the construction of the heel, because it is important; as the good or ill form of the foot’s arch seems to depend upon it more than upon anything else, except it be the strengthening of the muscles.
There is a third peculiarity of the Plumer last that is worthy of notice, and which consists in a hollowing out or concaving of the bottom or sole from the heel forward to the toe, but mostly through the ball. This hollow is designed to be filled up with leather in making the boot, so as to leave the bottom of the soleflat, whileinside it is rounded upward. The object of this change in the shape of the last is to make it conform to the shape of the foot, which it does very closely. But, at the same time, so far as this has any effect upon the foot at all it has an injuriousone. The form of the sole of the foot at this place is one thatought not to be conformed toby the sole of the boot. There is a low arch, transversely of the foot, from the ball of the great toe to that of the little one, its two opposite resting points. In nature it is somewhat like the great arch between the ball and heel. To raise the sole under it is like supporting an arch in the middle, which would be absurd. In this case it is entirely unnatural, and only of usein a boot that is very tight, or much too narrow, where it may do good by preventing the formation of a big wrinkle in the sole of the foot, lengthwise, which might come from the drawing together of the opposite sides. The following quotation strongly sets forth the impropriety of the new mode.
“There has been a good deal said of late about the transverse arch of the foot, and the necessity of supporting it to prevent its breaking down, and the unfortunate possessor becoming splay-footed. Did any one ever hear of an arch requiring support? * * * What is called thetransverse archis in reality a portion of an elliptic spring; and the moment you fill up the natural hollow of the foot you destroy its elasticity. What carriage-maker puts supports under the arches of his carriage-springs? The human foot is a combination of bones and strong musclesthat act as springs, and at each point where it comes in contact with the ground is placed a cushion to prevent jarring. When the weight of the body is placed upon the foot, it spreads both inlengthandbreadth, and it contractsagain when the weight is removed; and any artificial support under the hollow of the footprevents this expansion and contraction, and one may as well have a wooden foot, for all practical purposes, as one which has a support under the transverse arch.”[4]
As the foot spreads at every step, the arch naturally flattens in the middle, but this is prevented when the sole is built up under it.It is self-evident that the foot is designed to tread on a flat surface, as its most natural function.Any attempt to make it tread constantly on aconvexone is manifestly wrong. Yet, as said before, it may be of use to prevent a greater evil where people are determined to wear tight or narrow boots in spite of all reason or propriety.
It is also true that a slight hollow will exist under the ball of a well-arched foot, even when pressed upon by the weight of the body. This may be filled up if desired, for, being so small, it is a matter of indifference whether it is so or not, while there is perfect safety in letting it alone.
We see, then, that while one characteristic of the Plumer boot—the long heel—is a very valuable one, another—that of filling under the transverse arch—is useless, or positively injurious. The first, or good quality, however, overbalances the latter, and therefore the boot is an improvement upon the old or common style. The true andnatural-shaped boot would have aflatorlevelsurface from heel to toe on the sole, not wholly,but precisely where in this it is hollowed out. The parts on each side of the level strip would be slightly convex, like the corresponding parts of the foot; not too much so, however, for then the last would be too rounding on the bottom, taking the whole width in view, which is as bad a fault as the hollow, or even worse; as it interferes more with the spreading of the transverse arch, and, by making aconcaveupper surface to the insole of the shoe, compels the ball to tread into just such a hollow as would fit a broken-down, splay foot. The natural inference is that such a shoe would tend to favour the production of just such a foot.
It is believed that the broken-down transverse arch will almost always be found accompanied by the broken-down arch of the instep. Though the latter may exist without the former, yet we suspect that the two incline to go together—that the sinking of the greater arch tends to carry down the other along with it, while a natural weakness of muscle would be a predisposing condition. If there are other causes they are not yet known. The last supposition being correct, then the most direct way to a cure would be to restore the arch of theinstepto its proper shape and position; which would probably have the same tendency to raise the other, that its depression had to break it down. The grand recipe for this, as already given, is the long heel; which can be made upon any kind of covering, whatever its peculiarities. The use ofthe muscles of the toes must also come in as an auxiliary help not to be underrated.
Still another remedial measure is the “righting up” of the foot. Many, if not most, of the feet that have broken-down arches also tread over inward along the whole side. In such cases the weight of the body, as already stated, falls upon the arch in a wrong direction. The arch, instead of standinguprightand receiving the weightdirectly overitself, supports the bodywhile itself leaning over to one side. Any other kind of arch, in a similar condition, would quickly fall over or settle down; and it is no wonder the foot settles down to a level in the shank. Weak muscles in the ankle and foot of a child will allow the foot to take a one-sided tendency, and it is not impossible the child may inherit something of this weakness from a weak-footed parent, and thus the infirmity be perpetuated. But with the fault existing, however produced, the foot cannot get strong till the arch is restored to its natural perpendicularity. The best manner of righting it up will be described in a chapter farther on. The uprightness will give the muscles a better chance to grow strong, while these assist the operation of the long heel; and possibly it will prove not inferior to either of them in promoting the desired result.
We are sorry that facts from practical effort cannot be given to show a realized success in this direction. But in truth we doubt that an earnest and systematic attempt was ever made to raise up a broken-down foot. All thatcan be said is that the methods recommended must necessarily tend toward the restoration of the arch. But this alone ought to furnish assurance of success, and encourage an archless-footed person to combine those methods, and give them a faithful trial.
FOOTNOTES:[4]This paragraph is from Mr. J. L. Watkins, a boot and shoe manufacturer of New York city, who has attempted to carry into practice the idea of Prof. Meyer.
[4]This paragraph is from Mr. J. L. Watkins, a boot and shoe manufacturer of New York city, who has attempted to carry into practice the idea of Prof. Meyer.
[4]This paragraph is from Mr. J. L. Watkins, a boot and shoe manufacturer of New York city, who has attempted to carry into practice the idea of Prof. Meyer.