Suitable Footwear

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 6

Suitable Footwear

This is the twenty-third of a series of informative articles that are being published in THE HUE weekly throughout IU3O, describing many of Xeic Zealand's most important industries.

QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

CONVINCED that leather tanned in New Zealand from New Zealand-grown hides is equal to the world's best, the New Zealand Tanners’ Associaton has drawn the attention of The Sun to a recently-issued report on the dangers of wearing anything but the best leather in footwear.

For some time past the Federation of Boot Trades' Associations in England, having witnessed with alarm the growth of foot troubles among the public, have been conducting an Intensive educational campaign to bring to (he notice of the trade and of the public (he necessity of greater attention being paid to the question of national foot fitness.

In the course of that campaign a questionaire was prepared in which medical officers of health and school medical officers were invited to give, from their own experience, their views upon the following points: THE QUESTIONAIRE 1. fal Are rheumatism and chest complaints largely contributory factors to the juvenile and/or adult morbidity returns of your area?

to heavier leather sole of pod quality as a means of giving projtjr feet support and lessening the risks of damp feet? THE REPLIES The secretary of the National Federation of Boot Trades’ Associations, reports that over 200 medical men were good enough to reply, and some remarkable facts were disclosed. Rheumatism and chest complaints were shown to be factors that largely contribute to the juvenile and adult morbidity returns of the country; 55 per cent of the doctors stated that these ailments and many others were . due to the wearing of defective and unsuitable footwear.

(b) Is any increase or diminution in these figures observable? 2. Could you express an opinion as to whether the above or any other ailments are attributable to the wear ing of defective footwear? 3. Do you agree with Professor Leonard Hill that leather, by reason of its porosity, keeps the feet'warm and allows evaporation of moisture to take place? 4. Could you specify any illnesses or foot troubles that are traceable, directly or indirectly to the wearing, of materials which do not permit of the proper ventilation of the foot?

One reason given by a county and school medical officer for the decline in his area was that since 190 S pressure had been brought to bear on parents to supply their children with good boots.

Among footwear condemned as being contributory to damp or unventilated feet, which, in turn, are blamed for a variety of illnesses, are:—(l) Boots and shoes of poor quality leather; (2) Boots and shoes with thin paper-like soles; (3) Boots and shoes with soles of leather substitutes; (4) "Gum'’ boots or rubber Wellingtons; and (5) Gymnasium or sand shoes.

5. Do you consider that the presentday tendency among women and girls to wear shoes having soft or thin soles incapable of giving adequate foot support is a contributory cause of flat-foot and ill-health? 6. Would you recommend a return

“Shoddy” leather was condemned on all occasions. Rubber footwear was recognised as having useful recommendations. While it is especially suitable for gymnasium wear and for use when the feet are likely to be immersed or partly imtnersed in water, there was almost complete unanimity of opinion that

such footwear should be taken ofl as soon as the occasion for wearing it was past. FOOT VENTILATION The need for proper foot ventilatioa w as stressed, and the doctors specified illnesses and diseases which were traceable, directly or indirectly, to the use of materials which did net permit of proper ventilation of the foot, and which created rheumatism, heart die ease, bronchial, catarrhal, and eye trouble, to chilblains, common cold, and foot fatigue. In reply to question 3. 86 per cent, of the replies agreed with Professor Hill; 4 per cent die agreed wholly or partially, holding that a leather upper worn in conjunction with a non-leather sole, provided sufficient foot ventilation; 10 per cnnL expressed no opinion. The constant wearing of soft or thin soled shoes was indicated as a contributory cause of flat-foot and illhealth among women and children. In dealing w ith this question doctors took the opportunity of condemning the present-day shape of footwear in general, with a special tilt agaioc women's vanity in wearing unsuitmbh footwear because they were fashion able. An analysis of the replies re ceived suggests that in the opinion of the medical profession present-day footwear has little to commend SFootwear made of materials which d* not allow the proper foot ventilation or footwear which creates or allots of damp feet (leather substitutes and “shoddy” leather are both mentioned!, is blamed for the growth of rheumatism, chest complaints, heart arthritis and common colds, white i tight fitting shoes with pointed toes ' and high heels or shoes are : responsible for corns, bunions, ban: mer toes, flat feet, fallen arches, sir; I nervous disorders. LEATHER SOLES To question No. 6 the replies nr«e especially of a helpful nature. 01 these some S 4 per cent, urged a return to a heavier sole or good quality leather. , One doctor said it was very to convince women and girls t“Y I thicker leather soles and shaped boots and shoes were 0*4““ able. and. even if they were convinces, i it was impossible to make such caw ' victions subordinate to the •*** I pow erful considerations of elegnne* 1 and fashion. »