THE HUMAN FOOT.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 300, 11 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE HUMAN FOOT.

An interesting address descriptive of the anatomy of the human foot, and its special adaptation for the requirements of man, was givon before the Victoria Institute, London, England, towards the end of April, byDr Gerard Smith, M.R.C.S., who attraeted a numerous audience ; he stated that he had selected the human foot as a " concrete example " in proof of a greater "abstract principle." This principle being that the animal body exhibits proof of purpose and design in structure, aDd of being formed for its work, as opposed to the contention that the body is an imperfect result of the actions of environment, and formed by its work, not merely modified thereby.

The human foot offers so valuable an examplo in support of this principle, because Us mechanical arrangement is so unique, being human essentially, and ministering to the unique humun physical advantage, that of the perfect erect posture. The arguments advanced to support the denial of design, or to rssert that design, if present, is u bad one, involvo the further assertions that the deformites of the human body, those of the feet specially, when they are of that class due to failure in duly discharging the function of the feet (not in reference to deformites caused by disease, as paralysis etc.), aie invited and precipitated.by the inherent defects of the structure ; defects which, if the foot is designed, have been introduce I of set purpose, to inflict suffering, etc In defence of these imputations the lecturer brought forward demonstrations that the foundation of such arguments are fallacious, and are entirely misconceptions of tho meaning of the structuro of the foot.

That, though there exist possibilities of failure, since these arc necessary parts of the design, with every one of such possibilities there is an efficient provisou against deformity, the disregard of which (or'denial of their presence, which must beheld t to hi consistent in holding the major premises of materialism) is trie real cause of deformities of this type, and also robs cripples of their provided means for their relief, whilst the methods of physical reduoition of children, based upon theories tof tho kind, are rendered faulty.

The detailed examination of the actual mechanical arrangements of the human foot was entered upon and enforced by tho use of larjfe drawings, most of them from

nature, and the facts which support the assertion of design aud the safeguards against deformites were demonstrated, as also were tho errors on which the opposite theory is founded, and tha great importance of humanity to disproving s.ich theories in order to secure full recognition of the safeguards.