of wearing shoes with soles of this pattern we have subluxations of the great toe at s, whereby the latter is

FIG. 48.-Normal feet (Whitman).

FIG. 49.-Proper soles for normal feet (Whitman).

forced outward and increases the prominence of the ball This decreases the room for the other

of the great toe.

FIG. 50.-Deformed feet
(Whitman).

FIG. 51.-Shoemakers' soles (Whitman).

toes, and, in consequence, these are superimposed upon each other, instead of lying side by side.

Figs. 48, 49, 50, and 51 also give the outlines of

normal feet and the manner in which these normal outlines are deformed by the universal soles of the shoemaker. It will be seen that the shoemakers' soles, as figured by Whitman, in no way conform to the outlines of normal feet.

The heels should be low, broad, and long, so as to afford proper support to the body. High heels are especially injurious, because they place the larger part of the weight of the body on the ball of the foot. The shoes should not be so tight as to compress the feet. Laced shoes are the most rational, because they can be fastened to the feet in such a manner as to allow the least amount of friction. Rubber shoes should be worn only for a short time during wet weather, and should be removed as soon as they are not needed.

Injurious Effects of Clothing.-The clothing should be of such a pattern as to conform to the natural shape of the body without constricting or compressing any portion thereof. With regard to the covering of the feet, this point has already been discussed. Above all, there should be no constriction of the chest and abdomen. The abdominal organs and the lungs and heart should be as free to act as possible. The clothing worn by men is quite rational with this respect, but that worn by women, in general, is most irrational. The wearing of corsets is highly injurious, as has been frequently proved, and it is unnecessary to adduce facts to prove the statement. Corsets compress the chest and abdomen, thus impeding respiration and the movements of the heart. The abdominal organs and muscles are also compressed and correspondingly deformed and interfered with in their normal. functions. The use of tight garters is also injurious. The clothing of women should be suspended from the shoulders, and not from the hips, in order to diffuse the weight more evenly.

The wearing of heavy head-coverings is also injurious, because it places a constant weight upon the spinal col umn. The use of veils is especially injurious, because of the obstructed vision which they induce. The com

bination head-covering worn by women in mourning is injurious, and frequently leads to persistent nervous trouble, as well as to general fatigue from its weight. It is not unusual to see spinal curvature follow prolonged wearing of the head-covering fashionable in mourning.

Reforms in dress are quite difficult to bring into effect, especially if they are opposed by ancient custom as well as by modern fashion. As long as a form of dress is fashionable it is difficult to induce any one to relinquish it, no matter how injurious it may be or how desirable the change from a hygienic point of view.

Cleanliness in Relation to Clothing.-The excretions of the body through the skin are absorbed by the clothing, and consequently frequent changes should be made to prevent injurious effects from the accumulation of these products in the clothing. The excretions of the body fill the pores of the clothing and render it more impervious, and therefore less suited for the interchange of air. This is especially the case in those engaged in laborious work, where the amount of perspiration is great.

Starching and ironing tend to close the pores in clothing and render it more impervious. The wearing of unstarched clothing in hot weather is, therefore, more comfortable. In winter starching and ironing serve to conserve the heat of the body.

The amount of clothing worn must be varied with the season of the year and the sensations of each individual. The amount of clothing necessary to conserve the heat of the body of one person may be entirely too light or too heavy for another. The changes from lighter to heavier clothing, and vice versa, should not be made too suddenly. In localities where there is a variable climate, with frequent changes in the temperature and humidity. of the atmosphere, as is the case in the northern States during spring and autumn, the change from heavy to light clothing, and vice versa, must be made with great circumspection, in order to prevent the development of catarrhal diseases.

The changes must be made accord

ing to the idiosyncrasies of the individual and the season of the year. The change can never be regulated by the calendar, because the conditions vary perceptibly from year to year. The time of the year when the changes may be made with safety must frequently become a question for the physician to decide for those under his. care, because of his larger experience in questions of this nature on account of prolonged observation and study.

Infected Clothes and Bedding.-Viola and Morella have recently published the following conclusions, based upon their experiments :

Clothing, linen, and other garments are capable of holding a relatively large number of micro-organisms, varying from 915 to 571,962 for each square centimeter of goods. While the greater part of these bacteria are saprophytic, pathogenic germs are also found. The number of bacteria found in garments in actual contact with the human body is in direct ratio to the number of days the garments are worn. In general, the number of bacteria found in clothing of a person is proportional to the activity of his occupation. Wool has a greater capacity for germs than cotton or silk. Corresponding to the

local bacteriologic flora of the surface of the human body, there is a quantitative difference in the bacterial contents of clothing covering different parts of the skin. In clothing actually being worn, pathogenic bacteria live a shorter time than in the same garments hanging in a wardrobe. Under all conditions pathogenic bacteria contained in clothing gradually die out. There is, with the passage of time, a gradual diminution in the number of disease-producing germs with which a given article of clothing has been contaminated. There is also a progressive decline in the power of development of bacteria, as they undergo a gradual diminution in virulence. The authors conclude that garments are a potent means for the diffusion of infectious agents, and that without special treatment pathogenic germs can retain their virulence in human raiment for a considerable but not indefinite period.

CHAPTER X.

PERSONAL HYGIENE.

PERFECT health is dependent upon the normal activity of all the organs of the body. The organic functions of the body can be maintained in their normal condition only by observing all the general hygienic rules and regulations. These principles, while they are well recognized and of the utmost general value, cannot, however, be stated in very specific terms when applied to individual conditions, because the individual idiosyncrasies of different persons vary to such a great extent.

There must be continuous moderation in diet, both with regard to quality and quantity. The individual peculiarities as produced by inherited and acquired instincts influence the quality and quantity of food that are most suitable. The nature and amount of work performed is also an important factor in the matter of diet. So also are the temperature, latitude, and altitude of a locality, and the amount and nature of the clothing worn. Individual experience, therefore, plays a most important part in governing the diet of each person. The point to be borne in mind is that all excesses should be avoided. No more should be taken than the system demands and can conveniently utilize. If this point is properly regulated, one of the principal factors in the production of disease is eliminated. The food taken should be slowly and thoroughly masticated. This will favor the admixture of a plentiful supply of saliva, and will also facilitate the subsequent steps in the process of digestion. Proper mastication of the food cannot take place without sound teeth. Defective teeth frequently lie at the foundation of various affections of the stomach.