The _metatarsal_ bones are five of the longest bones of the foot, lying below, or in front of, what is commonly known as the instep, and filling the space between the instep and the toes, though, strictly speaking, they form a part of the whole instep. They are nearly parallel with each other, and to their forward ends the bones of the toes are attached, forming the back toe-joints, at the part called the bend of the foot. Where the great toe joins its metatarsal bone, is called the _ball_ or _inside ball_; or, more strictly, it is the under surface which is so called. These metatarsal bones being straight, and so nearly parallel to each other, it is a natural inference that the toe-bones attached to them should lie straight in front of them, on the same lines, and nearly parallel to each other also. In short, _they must do so_, in order that when covered with flesh they shall have room to touch the ground, or bend, without interfering. This would bring all the toes, and their metatarsal bones, parallel or nearly so, with a line drawn past the whole inside of the foot. They would thus be allowed space to grow naturally, to lie side by side, and perform their proper functions without crowding or chafing, or inclining sideways in either direction. The diagram of a skeleton foot (copied from Professor Meyer’s pamphlet) will show this more plainly than words. It is claimed by the Professor, in this little book, that a line drawn from the middle of the heel—on the sole—under the centre of the ball or joint, should pass under the middle of the great toe, through its whole length. His reasoning for this idea is thus given: “The great toe plays by far the most important part in walking, because when the foot is raised from the ground, with the intention of throwing it forward, we first raise the heel, then rest for a second on the great toe, and in lifting this from the ground the point of it receives a pressure which impels the body forward. Thus, in raising the foot, the whole of the sole is gradually, as it were, ‘_unrolled_,’ up to the point of the great toe, which again receives an impetus by contact with the ground. The great toe ought, therefore, to have such a position as will admit of its being _unrolled_ in the manner described; that is to say, it must so lie that _the line of its axis, when carried backward, will emerge at the centre of the heel_; and this is its position in the healthy foot.” The great toe certainly plays an important part in walking, and is therefore entitled to all necessary freedom. The position taken may be further strengthened by bringing forward the fact that all natural feet are slightly wider at the ball than at the instep, an inch and a half farther back; that is, wider at the forward than at the back or upward ends of the metatarsal bones. This is readily seen in the cut of a healthy foot, Fig. 2, and still more plainly in that of the foot-skeleton, Fig. 3. [Illustration: FIG. 2.] [Illustration: FIG. 3.]