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MECHANISM OF THE FOOT.
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the well-preserved foot of a child about two years old. The line drawn through both figures is that in which the
foot unrolls itself from the ground. The smaller toes, however, are by no means without their uses. In standing they rest on the ground, and give lateral support to the foot; while, in walking, they are bent in a peculiar manner, so that they are firmly pressed against the ground,—and here, too, they support the foot laterally. The first joint is strongly bent upwards, while the second is hollow above. This peculiar curvature enables the toes in a measure to lay hold of the ground as with birds' claws.
