that surgical boots do much towards the remedy of deformities in their early stages, but it is most imperative that such boots should be made by firms experienced in the work, and who will fit and contrive for each child what it requires.
Flat-foot, as that very common deformity, caused by the yielding of the plantar arch is generally called, usually occurs either when the child is put on its feet too young, or about the age of fourteen when growth is very rapid and muscular weakness is experienced. In these cases the arch should be supported by a properly-shaped pad fixed into the boot, and as the constitution becomes stronger the deformity will pass away, unless it has been too long neglected. Neither ricketty legs nor yielding plantar-arches are strengthened by tightly laced boots, and although ignorant bootmakers will frequently recommend them, they must be strictly avoided, for what the muscles of the foot and leg want is freedom of action, not compression, which will impair their development.
That very rare thing a well-formed foot in middle life is nearly straight on the inside from the heel to the tip of the big toe; but in infancy the great toe stands out from the others, giving a wider spread to the toes, so that the inside of the foot is concave. At this early period the various parts of the foot are soft and pliant, they are growing very rapidly,and are easily injured by pressure of any kind, Hence the shoemaker has to provide a proper width for the spread of the toes, and must also take into consideration the curve of the inside of the
