There are many movements of the _Light Gymnastics_ that for weak ankles would be highly beneficial. It would be well, where there is an opportunity, to adopt all those movements in which the muscles of the feet are called into play such as charging, leaning, bracing, springing on the toes, and, in short, almost the whole routine of exercises; and to practice them, cautiously at first, but thoroughly, until the muscles and ligaments become strong enough to do their duty in bracing up the foot without any assistance. There are many feet in which the _toes_ turn inward in walking—a habit which may be easily corrected by a little care and perseverance, and the subject of it enabled to go on his way rejoicing in the knowledge that he has gained a respectable walk in place of one that was ridiculously awkward. All that is required to change the habit is to develope the strength of the muscles by calling them into exercise. An every-day practice of turning the feet outward as far as possible, for a few minutes at a time, will do a great deal. If, in addition to this, the step is constantly watched, the toes being kept turned out until the muscles are tired, and then, after resting by a return to the old step, the toes are again forced outward, and this is repeated continuously for a few weeks, the awkwardness will be entirely gone. The practice of light gymnastics is a good corrective for this fault; and the dancing-school is another equally excellent. It is to be hoped that both of them will have their due influence in this respect, till an ungraceful walk is far less common than it is now. With such easy means of correcting and avoiding these faults, any one who will not make a little effort for that purpose, deserves, to say the least, a good share of ridicule.[7] There is a less number of feet that are turned _too much_ outward, and these can be brought into their right place by the same means directed in the opposite way. The only trouble with them usually is a habit, or a weakness of particular muscles. If the toes are turned in, and perseveringly kept so for a short time, a great difference will be discovered. A further continuance in well-doing will bring its reward in an easy, natural, and graceful step. Those feet that are wholly turned, or deformed by being drawn up at the heel or toe, and those impaired by disease of the structure, are cases belonging to the surgeon and physician. Many of them might probably have been prevented by calling in the surgeon’s aid during the childhood of the unfortunate possessor. Let us hope that few who can be saved from such disfigurement will be allowed to suffer from it through ignorance or culpable negligence in the future. FOOTNOTES: [6] Another reason for care in guarding against weak ankles is thus given in a work upon the “Theory and Practice of the Movement-Cure,” by Dr. Charles F. Taylor.