Page:Book of health.pdf/11

Rh A. No; cold, if they are accustomed to it, will not affect their ankles more than their arms. It will strengthen their limbs: in short they will be kept sufficiently warm by the shirt and frock.

Q. What is the form of the human foot?

A. At the toes it is broad, the heel small, and the inside of the foot is longer than the outside.

Q. Why has it this form?

A. That man may walk and stand with ease and firmness, and move his body freely.

Q. How ought shoes, particularly those of children; to be formed ?

A. They ought to have the same form as the feet; they, therefore, ought not to be made by one but two lasts, as the shape of the feet may indicate.

Each foot may be laid upon a sheet of paper and its true shape drawn with a pencil, after which model two separate lasts may be made.

Stays and stiff jackets are inventions of the most pernicious nature; they disfigure the beautiful and upright shape of a woman, and instead of rendering her straight, as was formerly supposed, they make her crook-backed; they injure the breast and bowels; obstruct the breathing and digestion; hurt the breast and nipples so much, that many mothers are prevented by their use from suckling their children; may hence get cancers, and at last lose both health and life: they in general destroy health, and render the delivery of women very difficult and dangerous both to mother and child.

Q. Is it advisable to wear clothes that have been worn by people who were infected by epidemic disorders, or who died thereof; or to make dresses of them for children?

A. No: it might cause an entire loss of health, and, perhaps of life.

Q. What ought to be the state of the air in which man liveth, and every moment breathes?