It is intentional that we present this chapter immediately after those on the improvement of the functions of the skin and on exercise, as these are the principal means by which, as a general rule, we are able to prevent cold feet.
These are, for the most part, occasioned by an insufficient supply of arterial blood to the extremities. This can be caused either by a hindrance to the circulation—as for example in the case of irrational use of articles of clothing—or through the want of muscular contraction by exercise. In old people, especially, cold feet can be occasioned by the degenerative alterations of the blood-vessels, in consequence of which less arterial blood reaches the feet. If to this anatomical cause there are other factors added, then naturally the sensation of cold feet will much more easily result. We must bear in mind that the feet, like the nose also, are the most distant parts of the body from the center of the circulatory system—the heart, so that naturally in these parts, through the less effective warmth of the arterial blood in old people, and even in younger anæmic women, the sensation of cold will easily arise.
Cold feet through irrational clothing can be caused by using garters or thick footwear with tight shoes, owing to the circulation of the blood being thus impeded in the lower extremities. It is of no use to wear the thickest woolen socks or stockings as a protection against cold feet, which should serve to retain the natural warmth of the feet, and then to prevent this warmth being given off, this latter resulting in the sensation of cold feet. But how can this thick footwear retain the heat, the generation of which it prevents by mechanically compressing the blood-vessels and thus rendering the influx of warm blood impossible?
It is also useless to wear thick socks if there be no layer of air between them and the skin, which layer is the best means of retaining warmth, as mentioned in the chapter on the hygiene of the skin in connection with rational clothing. Neither the footwear nor the shoes must, therefore, be close fitting. Many people wear such tight-fitting socks or stockings, and boots or shoes, that the pattern of the socks is impressed on the feet, in which case of course it need cause no surprise if they complain of cold feet in spite of the thickness of their socks or stockings.
As already mentioned in the chapter on hygienic clothing, it would be preferable to wear thin wool of the best quality and low half-shoes; when so clad we will not suffer from cold feet if we take exercise. The writer of this book wears such even in winter, in which season he puts on gaiters only when the temperature is below 20° F. On some very cold days he might feel cold in them, but then only in the morning, for after a brisk walk, or better, after a smart run (see previous chapter) the cold sensation disappears for the rest of the day.
Exercise is, as a rule, the best preventative against, and the best method of treatment for, cold feet, as it is through the muscular contraction produced by walking or running that heat is generated, as explained in the previous chapter on exercise.
Rubbing and massage of the feet will produce results similar to those obtained by exercise, and are still more effective if supplemented by walking.
When we sit still our body will naturally cool off. It is therefore a good plan to make circular or other movements with the feet and not allow them to remain still if we feel cold in them.
While residing as a guest with an elderly lady, the head of an aristocratic Dutch family, I observed her putting her feet on a silver warming utensil, in which her footman constantly burnt a little oil lamp, in order to keep her feet warm. I told her she could easily dispense with this if she would make up her mind to take exercise on foot instead of driving in her luxurious carriage, and not confine herself to merely walking from one room to another.
Defective circulation of the blood to the feet can not only result in cold feet, but also in very serious ailments, and even in a shortening of the ordinary span of life. Thus, in consequence of a deficient influx of arterial blood and the stagnation of the venous circulation, especially in old people with sclerotic changes of the blood-vessels, a very trying and long-continued ulceration of the feet may result. By bringing more arterial blood to the feet and causing hyperæmia, according to Bier, we can cure this condition.
Still more serious consequences may be brought about by defective circulation in the feet, and especially in the toes, in the form of senile gangrene, which is far more frequently found in diabetic persons, and sometimes even before the commencement of old age. In cases of arteriosclerosis, where cold feet are the consequence of defective blood-supply owing to arterial degeneration, iodides together with thyroid extracts will be found successful. They produce a dilation of the blood-vessels, diminish the viscosity of the blood, and thus produce the sensation of heat. The method of application will be found in the chapter on the treatment of old age by organic extracts.
As the promotion of a hygienic condition is an excellent preventative against cold feet and also excellent for their treatment we repeat again that a foot-bath should be used daily in such cases, and not only warm, but also cold water should be used therein. Cold water acts as already mentioned as a stimulant when applied as a foot-bath; but it should only be used for a very short time, after which energetic rubbing of the feet will produce active circulation and the feeling of warmth in them. We recommend for cold feet to rub them with a cold wet towel, then to pour over them a little eau de cologne or alcohol, and again rub them till they begin to become red; we must next move the toes forward and backward twenty or thirty times with our hand. We will then feel in the feet a sensation of agreeable warmth.