Georg Hermann von Meyer

“ Camper, writing on this subject in the last century, very truly remarks—"All horse-doctors and horse-fanciers are interested in the shoeing of their horses, numerous papers appear thereon, and shall we not concern ourselves about the foot-gear of man?" ”

“ The subject of the following pages may at first sight appear trivial, but I make no apology for having translated what so eminent an anatomist as Professor Meyer has thought fit to write.
Our ideas as to what is elegant and proper in regard to the feet being so radically bad, I have no hope that the promulgation of the proper shape of the shoe will have any sensible influence in reforming the fashions of the day.
There are, however, many who, having outlived the vanities of fashion, sigh for a little comfort did they only know where to find it ”

“ Parents, too, may be induced to see that the feet of their children are not made deformities before they are fully developed; and I believe that a great boon would be conferred by the introduction of the proposed shape of accidents, and like causes, weakened parts are more susceptible to its influence," and then mentions cases in which first attacks, instead of appearing in the usual seat were limited to the knee or other parts that had suffered from previous injuries. ”

“ The joints of the toes look shorter here than in the healthy foot (Fig. 1) , because, on account of the toes being curved, they are apparently diminished in length. 12 26 Sole of a woman about twenty; the second toe is pressed upwards and is therefore not visible. 13 26 Sole of the foot of a girl somewhat younger; the second toe is not seen here either, and the rest of the toes are also pressed into an opposite and wrong direction. 14 26 Apparently healthy sole of a young man nineteen years of age, in which, however, a false direction of the great toe may be observed. ”