Articles about Meyer's Line

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Barefooters
Jan 1, 2011
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AN X-RAY DEMONSTRATION OF SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF SHOES AND STOCKINGS UPON THE HUMAN FOOT. BY H. AUGUSTUS WILSON, A.M., M.D., 1900
https://books.google.com/books?id=xoUyAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA39
Meyer, of Zurich, first directed attention to the fact that in a normal human foot a line drawn from the center of the os calcis through the center of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe, would pass through the center of the distal phalanx of that toe; and further, that a line through the center of each one of the toes should converge at the same point. This line has ever since been called Meyer's line and possesses great value in comparing the positions that feet assume with those that are normal in construction and function.
 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION. VOL II. JULY TO DECEMBER, 1907 BY S.W. WHITEHALL
https://books.google.com/books?id=vyowAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA964
Have you ever noticed the position of the big toes of a baby or young child when not in a sock or boot, and when the foot is flat on the ground? It is invariably pointing straight to the foot, as in diagram “A.” You will notice a dotted line drawn from the centre of the heel, straight though the big toe to the tip of the same. This is called Meyers line, and if the big toe is natural, the push off when walking or running is by the big toe along this line.
But, unfortunately, the boot trade and fashion say out boots must be pointed at the centre of the sole (as Diagram B). … What do these idiosyncrasies entail?
- The forcing of the big toe out of the Meyers line towards the centre of the foot.
- Atrophy of non-development of all the muscles of the toes, especially the seven muscles of the big toe.
diagram.jpg
 
THE HUMAN FOOT ITS FORM AND STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS AND CLOTHING BY THOMAS S. ELLIS CONSULTING SURGEON TO THE GENERAL INFIRMARY AT GLOUCESTER, 1889
http://www.ahcuah.com/ellis/
https://books.google.com/books?id=rO8xXMyXXGkC&pg=PP9
Professor Meyer, of Zurich, more than thirty years ago, pointed out the important fact that, in a natural, healthy foot, the middle line of the great toe continued backwards passes through a central point in the heel. He might, I think have gone further, and said that all the toes radiate from that centre. This line, which should always be called Meyer's line, is shown in fig. 20, pl. 7. This plate is taken from a foot-print made by a foot, the sole of which had been covered with printer's ink, and drawn in duplicate. The subject was a boy of eleven, whose feet I know to have been preserved from injury by boots.
20-21.jpg
Meyer's line being on the sole is not, under ordinary conditions, visible, but, more than this, it has no surface mark to indicate its position. If. however, we continue the middle line of the great toe on the upper surface backwards to the ankle, we find that it runs along the highest part of the foot; it runs, in fact, along the crest of the ridge. Here we have something tangible, visible. This is a line to which reference may be made in studying the contour of the foot. It is shown by a black tracing in fig. 21, pl. 7, which is taken from a photograph of the same feet as those which gave the foot-prints in the adjoining figure. It indicates the course of the long extensor tendon of the great toe, just as Meyer's line follows the course of the long flexor.

This line, seen upon the upper surface, but having its counterpart in the sole, marks, as we shall presently find, the principle line of action in the foot. I therefore regard the visible representative on the upper surface as the leading line of the foot, and propose to call it so. To so designate that which really marks the line of the great toe will serve to stamp the essential difference which exists, visibly, structurally and functionally, between the great and the smaller toes.

The crest or ridge along which the leading line runs soon ceases to be marked, and in front of the ankle is entirely lost. It can, however, be traced by forcibly lifting up the great toe and feeling for the tendon going down to it.
 
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THE TRAINING OF THE BODY FOR GAMES, ATHLETICS, GYMNASTICS, AND OTHER FORMS OF EXERCISE AND FOR HEALTH, GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT. SWAN SONNENSCHEIN, 1901
https://books.google.com/books?id=5SAMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136
No member of the body is so much distorted and spoilt by unscientific clothing as the Foot. And yet it is the member on which we are continually making heavy demands, and which has to bear and move the weight of the whole body. Our ordinary foot-gear is in most cases unsuited to its purpose.
In our Schools of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Lectures are given on the right way or shoeing horses; the shoeing of the human Foot is handed over to the custom of the trade, and, worse still, it is subject to Fashion: just as if the natural shape of the Foot changed with the Fashion!
102.jpg
In Walking naturally, we first set down the Heel, and then the rest of the Foot follow, the movement going from the Heel to the Big Toe. The Foot then pushes off from the ground with the Big Toe.

The line along which the movement goes, the lines from the middle of the Heel to the Big Toe and along it, is called Meyer's Line. The Big Toe should do it's work along this line, if it is to do its best.
The following rules will not all be followed by many. They are suggested in spite of this.

The front part of the sole of the Shoe or Boot must be so designed that the Big Toe resting on it can keep its natural position. This rule is put first because it is the most commonly sinned against. In many Shoes the tip, instead of lying on the inner edge, is almost or quite in the middle or the sole. So the Big Toe is forced out of its natural position, and towards the middle, and the tip of it, instead of pointing straight forwards, thrusts itself towards the line of the sole as in 103 and 104.

This not only lessens the force of the backward-thrust of the Big-Toe as it leaves the ground in walking, but also turns the Big Tie, so that it lies all wrong; hence may come the 'in-grown Toe-Nail' (105)
103-105.jpg
 
MANUAL OF MILITARY HYGIENE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES OF THE UNITED STATES BY VALERY HAVARD, 1917
https://books.google.com/books?id=NQHRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA441
In a normal, well-shaped foot, the internal border is practically straight, that is to say, if placed side by side, the feet will touch each other from heel to tip of the big toe, the shallow lateral curve of the arch excepted. (Fig. 102.) According to Meyer: “The great toe must lie in such a position that its axis, when carried backward, shall pass through the center of the heel.” This “Meyer line” is now generally accepted as practically correct. (Fig. 103.)
102-103.jpg
A badly-shaped shoes, or one too short or too narrow, produces a misshapen foot and various lesions which seriously impair the efficiency of the solder… the big toe, not infrequently, is partly dislocated at the metatarso-phalangeal articulation, which may swell into a bunion. This displacement and deformity of the toes deprive the foot of much of its propulsive power in walking.
Hallus valgus is the name given to the very common condition described above, in which the great toe is pushed away from its proper, straight inner line (Fig. 104), its two phalanges making a marked angle with the first metatarsal, if more than slight, has a very appreciable effect upon the soldier’s ability to stand and walk, while, if considerable, it may constitute a cause for rejection in applicants for enlistment.

The Meyer line is only seen in the perfect foot, that is, in the foot of children and adults who have never worn shoes. In all civilized, shoe-wearing people, the big toe is more or less pushed out of line, so that a certain degree of hallux valgus has come to be regarded as practically normal …
104.jpg
 
http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/picks-from-the-past/151691/man-500000-years-from-now?page=5
In the primitive primate foot the line of leverage in walking passes through the middle toe, which symbolized its primacy over the other toes by its greater length. In the course of primate evolution the line of leverage shifted to a position midway between the big and the second toes as a result of adaptation. In man we find that the line of leverage has remained in this position or even moved over entirely to the big toe. As a result of this greater weight bearing and mechanical functioning the big toe has grown to the largest of all the toes with a progressive decrease in size and function as one moves to the little toe.