All art, as already noticed in the first chapter, recognizes the right of the toes to sufficient space to touch the surface upon which they tread. It does not crowd them or turn them aside from their natural straightness.[1] An observation of the best specimens of statuary will confirm the assertion, _that the great toe ought, naturally, to lie pointing directly forward, in such a position that a line drawn from the inner surface of the heel past the ball or joint will be nearly parallel to it_. It would seem that such a statement is so nearly self-evident that every one must instantly admit its truth, and ought to be aware of it without argument. Yet we doubt that it is commonly recognized, or that the mass of people ever really think of it. Nor do we suppose those who have thought of it have considered the matter to be of any importance, unless they happened to be afflicted with some of the troubles that accompany toe-distortion; nor often then with any idea of removing or preventing those evils. It is certain that the shoe manufacturer and the last-maker have not had such a supposition clearly in mind, at least with any idea of changing the shape of the last accordingly. One manufacturer who had been engaged in making boots and shoes for the feet of his customers during twenty years recently stated that, having drawings of thousands of feet, and always finding the big toe turned toward the outside, more or less, he never thought of it as being other than the foot’s normal shape. This shows how common the deformity, as well as how uncommon the thought of what is the foot’s true form according to nature. A pamphlet called “_Why the Shoe Pinches_,” discussing this subject quite clearly, and with the authority of science, was written by Hermann Meyer, M.D., Professor of Anatomy in the University of Zurich. To it we are indebted for many of the most important ideas here contained, and for a presentation of the matter which first drew our earnest attention. It gives an anatomical argument, illustrated by diagrams, to show the proper form of the toes and forward part of the foot, which we will try to present in our own way. [Illustration: FIG. 1.—_a a_, METATARSAL BONES; _b_, JOINT.]