A _slim_-toed shoe—one that is _thin_, and scant in the upper—whatever be its width or shape, has a bad influence upon the nails, not only by inciting them to grow in, but by turning them down at the ends, and keeping them constantly irritated and sore, a condition which effectually prevents the toes from being of any use. The seller of such an article will sometimes try to persuade the wearer that it is a “good fit” when snug at the forward part, however loose elsewhere; and many persons are quite willing to be persuaded in this way. But if they are wise they will not attempt to wear anything that is not perfectly easy to the toes, for these may be allowed all necessary room, and still, if the fit is “just right,” there will be no wrinkling, nor any other bad appearance. The next and most important of the difficulties springing from this source is the enlargement of the great-toe joint. We continue to quote from Meyer: “Not less important are the evils arising at the root of the great toe from the same cause. It has already been stated that the pressure of the upper leather pushes the point of the great toe against the smaller toes. The joint at the metatarsal bone thus becomes _bent aside_, so that it forms a protuberance on the inner side of the foot. If the point of the toe is now pressed against the ground in walking, this protuberance must be made still greater, and so pressed more forcibly against the upper leather. At the same time, moreover, the great transverse wrinkle in the upper leather—the result of the bending of the toes—presses directly on the same point, and the protuberance at the root of the toe is thus constantly subjected to a twofold and very injurious pressure. In these circumstances it is by no means wonderful that this joint becomes subject to a continual inflammation, which by extending to the bones must, in this situation, produce permanent and painful swellings, which become, in their turn, and even from slight causes, the source of inflammations and new growths of bone. “In this manner arise those unseemly and painful swellings at the root of the great toe, which, either from mistaking their true nature, or from wilful deception, are called ‘chilblains,’ or ‘gout,’ just as one or the other term appears the most interesting. In many cases, moreover, this kind of inflammation of the bones, and their investing membrane, may lead to the formation of matter, _and eventually to the disease known as ‘caries,’ or ulceration of the bone_.”