FOREWORD

This volume has been compiled by men who started out in life as chiropodists. They have lived to see the genesis of podiatry from the trade which was theirs, and each of them has taken active part in the efforts which marked the transition from the old to the new order of things. The period of evolution has been extremely brief. Five short years have sufficed to transform the corn-cutters’ trade to the podiatrists’ profession.

One of the programmed features of the educational development of podiatry was the creation of a scientific literature bearing upon the practice of this branch of medicine. The earliest manifestation along the lines of this progress was the production of “The Text Book of Chiropody.” This ponderous tome (1183 pages) contained matter pertaining to the teaching of medical and other scientific subjects that led up to the study of chiropody and to practical chiropody itself. The chapters on this latter topic were the first attempts of a scientific nature to collect material relating to podiatry practice. In consequence, the articles were few and their contents were meagre. Nevertheless this pioneer attempt to array chiropodical facts and methods of treating foot lesions proved efficacious in stimulating members of the chiropody profession to the higher educational needs, and all over the english speaking globe this literature was hungrily masticated and digested by individual practitioners and by chiropody societies.

Bright and intelligent members of the profession utilized the material thus furnished them by practically applying suggested treatments and methods. Aspiring to augment their own knowledge and to add to this literature, they wrote up their experiences and, from time to time, their matured deductions were given publicity through the columns of “The Pedic Items” and “The Podiatrist.” The instructors on the faculties of the various chiropody teaching institutions, utilized these chapters in their pedagogic work, and medical practitioners turned to them to gain their first concrete knowledge of the subjects which they treated. These initial chapters thus filled an acute want and so proved their worth.

In this volume, a more serious task has been undertaken. Each article will be found to have been prepared with a view to presenting the subject matter in its entirety, in scientific order and with accuracy. There has been no guessing as to cause and effect. Empiricism finds no place in these pages. The medical and surgical viewpoint is continuously in evidence and “Practical Podiatry” thus becomes the first medical work of its kind ever published, a sad commentary on the negligence of medical teachers and medical practitioners who have thus permitted non-medical graduates to compile the first facts relating to an important branch of medicine. The erstwhile tabooed “corn-cutter” thus becomes a leader in a collateral branch of medicine, and medical practitioners are compelled to glean their knowledge of this subject from laymen, who, without their material, moral or monied support—yes, often in spite of obstacles which medical practitioners have placed in their way—have succeeded in clearly and scientifically portraying features of essential medical practice which are to aid materially in creating a better species of the genus homo, and in relieving the woes of our race. Podiatrists may well feel a pride in this achievement and medical practitioners would do well to take home the lesson of indifference which this incident discloses.

Podiatry has not alone enriched the scholastic literature of medicine, but has also augmented the language of science. New terms have had to be coined to properly designate conditions, diseases and instruments. In order that these may be understood by the readers of this volume, their purport is given in the general glossary which will be found in the book. The etymologic construction of these new words is not explained because their origin will be readily apparent from their definitions.

“Surgery with special reference to Podiatry” was the first volume of this series to be published. In presenting “Practical Podiatry” to the profession and to the public, the second rung in the ladder of podiatry literature has been created and within two years it is hoped that the “System of Podiatry,” of which both of the above volumes are a part, will have been completed.

Thus will be constituted a library for practitioners and students of podiatry which it is hoped will ever prove creditable to its sponsors, profitable to the profession and helpful to humankind.

M. J. L.