Health and Temperance

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1887

Health and Temperance.

COLD FEET AND HEADACHES.

The days of cold feet and headaches have come. Medicine, unfortunately, can do very little for these troubles, and persons afflicted in this way must make up their minds to suffer, or else give over the habit of dressing the feet after the conventional mode. If headaches and cold feet were all the ills that arise from improper treatment of the feet and lack of attention to their needs, the foibles of fashion might be followed at perhaps the expense of a few hours' discomfort, but unluckily these troubles are but the beginning of other disorders and many terrible nervous affections.

"Cold feet and headaches go hand in hand as it were," said a physician connected with one of the city hospitals. "The person who has cold feet is almost sure to have violent nervous headaches. Why? Because the blood not circulating in the extremities is crowded into the upper portion of the body, and exerts an undue pressure upon the blood-vessels of the brain. Nothing causes congestion of the internal organs more quickly than this crowding of the blood into the body, that should circulate freely to and through the extremities. The trouble increases in proportion to the continuance of the practice of ignoring the needs of the feet. The blood-vessels of the extremities become thickened and narrowed by the lack of flow of the vital fluid, and thus the difficulties are perpetuated. Persons suffering in this way—and who is not to a greater or less extent—should soak their feet every night in warm water, and take plenty of outdoor exercise. This counteracts the tendency to congestion, enlarges the vessels, and helps permanently to relieve the feet of their special tendency to coldness.

"The conventional shoe, perhaps, does more to keep the feet cold than any other one thing. A loose shoe, I know, is quite as uncomfortable as a tight one. I know, also, that a shoe should fit as closely as a stocking. But where it should be tight is around the ankle, across the instep, and around the arch of the foot and heel. It should have, however, a loose upper and a large sole. The bones of the foot need plenty of room for movement. A loose shoe is quite as productive of corns and other discomforts as one that pinches; but if it pulls the muscles of the feet awry, pinches up the bones in one place and lets them spread out in another, until they can have no natural action, the circulation must be interfered with. Women are more troubled with cold feet than men. In fact, they are more generally afflicted with diseases of the feet than men. There are very few women that do not have corrugated nails, and yet there is no more need of it than that they should have misshapen nails on their fingers. Have you ever noticed at the sea-shore that occasionally you see a woman with every nail on her feet threaded by rough lines, and the color, instead of being a bright, healthy pink, is yellow and unhealthy? Then you have seen the results of improperly dressing the feet. Again, you see the same disease manifest itself in little holes, that look as if the nail had been worm-eaten, and was full of little pits. A poor circulation of the blood, resulting from indigestion, malaria, or squeezing of the feet, is the cause of all this.

"Almost all the troubles of the feet are unnecessary. Caution and common sense will prevent them. Of course there are some forms of joint disease, gouty and rheumatic inflammations, for instance, which the possessor is not directly responsible for, but even these, if taken in time, can be cured. Feet that perspire should be washed every night and rubbed with a weak solution of carbolic acid. The stockings should be changed daily, and the shoes should have in-soles that can be changed as often as the stockings. The soldiers of the Bavarian army are required to bathe their feet every day, and anoint them with a pomade made of mutton tallow and salicylic acid. This prevents undue perspiration, and keeps the feet from becoming diseased. Most feet can be kept healthy and soft by soaking them in hot water before retiring, and using ammonia and soap freely. Then they should be rubbed briskly with a rough bath towel, and have a small portion of glycerine spread over them. Care must be taken, however, to use good soap. Bad soap is the beginning of many evils. Much of the most highly perfumed article known to the trade is made from the refuse of rendering houses, and is full of alkali. Such soaps are positively injurious. Plenty of good soap, warm water, a frequent change of dressing, and shoes that fit the feet, will prevent any trouble of a local character, cure corns and bunions, and prevent headaches and cold feet; and sensible shoes and care of the feet will oftentimes do in a week what medicines and the doctor could never accomplish."—N. Y. Mail and Express.