be skilfull." A conclusion which many of good Queen Victoria's, as well as Queen Bess's subjects, have arrived at, after parliamentary evidence and enactment, in matters which history, experience, and, philosophy have long since taught us flourish best by being let alone.

105

CHAPTER V.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN FEET, ETC.

HERE is nothing more beautifu than the structure of the human foot," says Sir Charles Bell, " nor perhaps any demonstration which would lead a well-educated person

to desire to know more of anatomy

In the

than that of the foot. The foot has in its structure all the fine appliances you see in a building. first place, there is an arch in whatever way you regard the foot; looking down upon it we perceive several bones coming round the astralagos, and forming an entire circle of surfaces in the contact. If we look at the profile of the foot, an arch is still manifest, of which the posterior part is formed by the heel, and the anterior by the ball of the great toe, and in the front we

find in that direction a transverse arch: so that, instead of standing as might be imagined on a solid bone, we stand upon an arch composed of a series of bones, which are united by the most curious provision for the elasticity of the foot; hence, if we jump from height directly upon the heel, a severe shock is felt; not so if we alight upon the ball of the great toe, for there an elasticity is formed in the whole foot, and the weight of the body is thrown upon this arch, and the shock avoided."

Another writer on the "diseases of the feet," thus alludes to the beauty and perfection of the human foot in its natural state :

"The matchless forms of sculptured beauty which the destroying hand of time has left us in the works of the mighty masters of the classic time, exhibit to us the finest specimens of what the foot would be if allowed its free and uninterrupted action.

"We are immediately struck with the admirable manner in which it is organized, both for the support of the frame and for motion; its flexibility, its power of action, its form, seem all to have been the

result of the examination of the most perfect human models. We see that there have been no artificial coverings, nocompression, no restraints, that the gait must have been free, firm and elastic; that the natural and healthful action of every muscle, tendon, joint and bone, was fully studied and expressed. There is no stiffness, no contraction of the heel, or the sole of the foot; to the toes are given their proper functions; we see that only the sandal has been worn merely to cover and protect the integument under the broad and expanded foot, there have been no ligatures, no unyielding bandages, no cramping compresses-all is alike free, healthful, natural.

"We well can comprehend, on examining them, how the Macedonian Phalanx or the Roman Legion, performed its long day's march. We can see how ten thousand Greeks pursued their daily wearying course through the destroying climate of Asia, marching firmly, manfully, alike across the arid sand, the mountain pass, or the flinty plain.

"We are almost led to the wish to see the European

soldier similarly prepared for his toilsome march, unencumbered by the unyielding shoe, which sometimes becomes in the day a source of greater annoyance than of comfort to him. He would be enabled to undertake fatigue and privations for which he is now totally unprepared. He would find an elastic tread, a firm command over his muscular system follow upon such a plan. He would be capable of making a charge upon the enemy with greater steadiness, and enabled to bear the shock which he is now less capable of resisting. In this respect we should do well to imitate the native soldier of India, who, under the English banner, has followed a Clive, a Hastings, or a Keane, when the British soldier has almost sunk from the insuperable difficulties which attend wearing all parts of the dress he has been accustomed to do in England, forgetful of the climate in which he is placed."

For upwards of twenty years as a bootmaker, I have made the feet my study, and during that period many thousand pairs of feet have received my attention. I have observed with minute care the cast