The mechanics, mechanical anatomy, and mechanical distortions of the bony structure of the human foot : being a synopsis of a demonstration given before the medical schools and societies in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia / by J.C. Plumer.

  • Plumer, John C.
Date:
[1862?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mechanics, mechanical anatomy, and mechanical distortions of the bony structure of the human foot : being a synopsis of a demonstration given before the medical schools and societies in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia / by J.C. Plumer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    LITERARY. \Fi-om the Portland TranscriiH, Jan. 20, 1801.] Mr. Editor : That you may grow cucumbers to a bottle, and oblige them to take the shape of the bottle, everybody kuows or ouy^ht to know. That tli(^ liumaii loot may be transformed iu the sumo way, and be made to take upon itself any shai)e, according to the whim of a shoemaker, ought also to be known, and the sooner the better; lest God's handy work be utterly spoiled by little and little, before the sufTcT- ers get their eyes open, or the tmderstandings eulighteued enough to see or feel the truth. Having tried the new last of Dr. Plumer, and worn the boots long enough to be able to speak without any serious misgiving, allow me to say, as a matter of duty, and of my own free will, without stuicitation, that I look upon the invention as among the most truly scientilic and comfortable, and promising, of our age. Of course improvements may still be made, and if this were a proper time I might suggest one or two, as General Jackson did a new system of banking when heartily sick of the old, but as they would not effect the principles involved, and relate only to their ap- plication, there is no need of waiting till no further improvement can be hoped for, as some do. J. jNEAL. [From the Boston Courier, Feb. 10, 1861.] Easy Boots axd Shoks. — Some weeks since we called the attention of our read- ers to a very ingenious application of the principles of anatomy to the manufacture of boots and shoes, made by Dr. Plumer, of Portland. At that time, although we could not but be convinced of the simplicity and correctness of the principle upon which Dr. Plumer's lasts are constructed we had not the practical experience which now enables us to say that boots made upon them more than fulfil all that their ingenious inventor promises ; they are as easy *'rom the first day as an old shoe,'' being at the same time iu uo way less elegant and tasteful to appearance than tlio old instruments of torture which are so frequently flung away with execrations both loud and deep. A number of ladies and gentlemen of our acquaintance have availed themselves of the invention of Dr. Plumer, and are unanimous iu its praise. It meets with the approval of our best surgeons and physicians, and cannot fail of immediate adoption, wherever it is properly made known. We extract the foUowiag from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of the Slat ult.: A Sensible Shoe.—We have often heard old people, who have outlived their vanity, talk about sensible shoes, by which phrase they intended to convey the idea of long, wide, leather receptacles, too large for the feet. This view being too repul- eive to the minds of those who had more aesthetic ideas, has not been generally adopted. Unfortunately, the latter have forgotten the danger of forming a shoe upon the principles which guide them in the construction of a bonnet. To vary the shape, as is constantly done, without regard to the confirmation of the foot, is sure to be followed by deformity and all its attendant sufferinga. ^ Dr. Plumer, of Portland, has designed a last upon what, the most skeptical will allow, is, at least a correct principle. He has taken the foot itself as a model, and given it support where the latter is most needed, and avoided pressure which could only be injurious. The principle improvements are in the shape of the sole, and the position of the heel, and we feel persuaded that the adoption of them would add much to the comfort of those who Sow in Buffering what they reap in corns. South Bend, Ind., February 16,1801. D. Robinson, Jr. & Co— Gentlemen •. Having for a week past worn the boots made for me upon the patent last invented by J. C. Plumer, M. D., I feel qualified to report concerning them. I have heretofore liad much difficulty in finding boots which would suit my feet, and have usually been obliged, for the sake of ease, to select those which were considerably larger than necessary. Prom the closeness and neatness of the fit, in the pair you made, I was apprehen- sive of a similar difficulty, but to my gratification, I have found that they do not iu the least cramp the foot in Avalkiug. The first thing which struck me was the great firmness and security given to the tread by the position of the heel; the next, the support which the ball of the foot re- ceives, and the free play allowed to the muscles oi' tlie toes. These peculiarities give the boot an advantage, for podestriun exercise, over all others with which I am ac- quainted.