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125
Hallux Valgus was found in 11. 2% and could be
due to wearing shoes which were too narrow and
pointed. Curled toes and deflected terminal phalanx
of the great toe accounted for 37. 8% of the defects.
This is a big percentage of the total and is probablydue
to badly fitting shoes. Many shoes favoured by
schoolgirls now-a-days are badly shaped. Casuals
and shoes with pointed toes are probably responsible
for the deformity of toes since casuals and slip-on
shoes tend to become loose through wear and the only
way to hold them on is by curling the toes to grip the
shoes and prevent them slipping.
Shoes that are too short also cause bending
of the toes, especially where the middle toe is longer
than the great toe. Of the few cases of hammer toe
found, 1. 5% were probably due to this cause.
I would like to stress the importance of having
shoes properly fitted in shops where the feet are
measured with a foot gauge. Some plimsolls are
supplied by the school authority and the fitting of
these should be done by an adult and not left to the
children. Plimsolls and football boots are worn for
short periods only and can be kept for too long to
spare expense and the child tends to squeeze his feet
into them. Passing on shoes to younger children is
a doubtful saving, too, as this may damage the feet.
The best type of footwear should be made of
leather, have plenty of room for the toes and be big
enough to allow for growth. The heel should be stout
and not too high and the shoe should fit firmly to the
heel; laced or with a strap across the middle of the
foot to prevent slipping.
Children who had verrucae were advised to
keep the affected foot covered when doing physical
training and not to go to the baths until better. The
few cases of athlete's foot were also warned about
infection - most of them were already treated.
Of the 5,271 children examined only 96 were
found to have dirty feet. "