View report page

43
person can only limp along. Children who walk
and run so much on their toes should always
have their big toe well clear of the end of the
shoe, otherwise it takes the brunt of the step
end on and conveys the force of the step
directly into the arch, with a jarring and
"paralysing" effect on that. The contact
should be taken by the length of the big toe
and the breadth of the pad or ball of the foot :
this can only be if the end of the big toe (and
second toe) is clear of the end of the shoe at all
times. Failing this, whether the child complains
of pain or not (at this stage children don't often
complain directly of pain in their feet) the foot
is "hurt."
Children's shoes must also, of course,
allow for growth; when the shoes are two
or three months old it is important that the foot should still function happily
inside the shoe. An extra allowance, therefore, must be made at the time of buying
to allow for growth. The necessary allowance overall (for clearance and for
growth) has been judged to be not less than three quarters to one inch longer than
the foot's length. Have the child stand up and measure the length of the foot,
toe to heel, on the measuring board in the shoe shop. Insist on having shoes threequarters
to one inch longer than the actual length of the foot so got, an allowance
longer, probably, than the shoe shop would suggest, but shoes shorter than this
do not last their time and harm the feet.
But mothers may say "How can I put my child in shoes as long as these?
Such shoes won't stop on." Children's shoes are, in fact, made on very wide lasts;
a long enough shoe is often enough a too wide shoe. This can be corrected by
wearing a sock in the shoe, without taking away from the length, but, better, insist
on your shoemaker supplying shoes that are made in different, including narrow,
widths. More children require narrow shoes than mothers ever realize.
If the shoe is a lace one, or one with a broad instep strap (far and away the best
models for children) the effect of too great roominess is minimised. With the
ankle strap shoe, a most unsatisfactory type in general, it is aggravated.
Details of Upper.—The shoe upper, whether in leather or canvas, should be
built up so as to allow room for the thickness of the foot. The foot is thickest
along its inner border, corresponding to the great toe, and thins off towards the outer
toes. Shoes with flattened uppers that allow most room in the middle of the foot
are, therefore, bound to cause cramping and so must be avoided. Some sandals
and welted shoes and all ordinary plimsolls possess this disadvantage.
Diagram V.
Showing effect of too short,
especially if too wide, shoes (dotted
line shows resulting distortion of
toes witli splaying of front of foot;
condition leading to "bunion" or
hallux valgum).
The diagrams are reproduced
from Mother and Child by kind
permission.