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74
flattening of the anterio-posterior arch, but no protrusion of the navicular bone.
In each case the foot on either side was readily bent, and the arch restored by active
movement on request.
Dr. Jessie
Duncan.
During the Christmas term, 1928, notes were kept by Dr. Jessie Duncan, with
regard to children with "flat foot" and the following are the results:—
Employment.
Special cases.
Leavers.
Born in
1916.
Born in
1920.
Entrants.
Totals.
Percentage
F.F.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
No.
exd.
No.
FF.
Boys
Girls
13
13
1
0
97
69
7
6
198
152
7
5
366
248
10
8
165
113
2
1
839
595
27
20
3-22
3-36
Totals
26
1
166
13
350
12
614
18
278
3
1,434
47
3-28
In none of these cases was there any of the symptoms which are usually associated
with flat foot, e.g., pain, and Dr. Duncan is of opinion that these are not the
children who will in later life develop "flat foot." When the low arched supple
foot flattens there is no resistance and no pain. It is with the high arched foot that the
trouble arises. It offers great resistance and pain is felt before there is any flattening
to be seen. Many of the parents of the children with "flat feet" stated that it was
in the family, and that they themselves had never had any symptoms.
Dr. Agnes
Parson.
Dr. Agnes Parson examined the feet of 582 children, including 199 boys and
383 girls, classifying the children (a) according to the height of the arch—1 high,
2 slightly flat, 3 flat, and (b) according to the following three degrees of mobility:—
(1) those able to stand on tip-toe, with the anterior part of the foot being almost in
a straight line with the leg; (2) those able to stand on tip-toe but with a slight angle
between the anterior part of the foot and the leg, but with the arch restored, and (3)
those worse than (2)—the arch not being restored.
Only a few children complained of pain, aching, or of a tired feeling in the feet,
and then only when directly asked, the majority with flat feet and poor mobility
denied having any trouble with their feet. A very few children have come to notice
complaining of their feet, and in these cases the defect has been very severe, the
mobility almost completely lost. It is to be noted that the children with the best
arches had also the greatest amount of mobility and vice versa.
Boys born in
Arch.
No.
seen,
Mobility.
Girls born in
Arch.
No.
seen.
Mobility.
1 2 3
1 2 3
1914—5 1 7 6 1 0 1914—15 1 15 12 0 3
2 21 10 9 2 2 25 19 6 0
3 11 1 5 6 3 18 9 3 6
39 17 15 7 58 40 9 9
1916 1 11 5 5 1 1916 1 9 6 3 0
2 30 15 12 3 2 52 32 16 4
3 14 6 6 2 3 24 6 11 7
55 26 23 6 85 44 30 11
1920 1 6 2 2 2 1920 1 9 8 0 1
2 49 31 15 3 2 67 41 22 4
3 15 564 3 17 7 82
70 38 23 9 93 56 30 7
Entrants 1 0 0 0 0 Entrants 1 1 1 0 0
2 21 9 10 2 2 50 34 15 1
3 14 7 4 3 3 15 10 5 0
35 16 14 5 66 45 20 1