PODIATRY (Gr.iroDc, rod, foot. and laraira, treatment). The art of caring for the feet both to cure and to prevent affections of them, called chiropody formerly (etymology usually given vet], hand, and 'rod, foot, as if treat ment of hand and foot, but probably from xElpvpy, surgery, and sod, foot, euphony leading to the modification of the mid-syllable). The development of the art of caring for the feet has led to the recognition of the necessity not only for a special name but also for the defi nite evolution and regulation of the knowledge and practice of the art. The care of the feet has taken on a new significance in recent years. A number of serious constitutional diseases, as locomotor ataxia (perforating ulcer), diabetes (gangrene), Reynaud's disease and endarteritis obliterans (dry gangrene), as well as others, may give their first significant symptoms in the feet, so that it is all-important that the real meaning of them should not be missed at the beginning when most can be done for them.
The chiropodist had developed from the acorn doctor," but there was manifestly need of more scientific training and more clinical knowledge, and as a consequence of this need the profession of podiatry was created. Like modern dentistry it represents an evolution from unprofessional work to a profession that now does much for the comfort of mankind. Both developments are due to American enterprise and the prac tical recognition and organization of valuable applications of knowledge.
The law of New York State (1919) regu lating its practice defines: "Podiatry shall be held to be the diagnosis of foot ailments and the practice of minor surgery upon the foot limited to those structures of the foot superficial to the inner layer of the fascia of the foot; the palliative and mechanical treatment of de formities and functional disturbances of the feet; but it shall not confer the right to treat communicable or constitutional diseases of the bones, ligaments, muscles or tendons of the foot, or any other part of the body, or to perform any operation on the bones, ligaments, muscles, or tendons of the foot involving the use of any cutting instrument or the right to use any anesthetics other than locals This definition has developed after practical experience with the legislative regulation of chiropody. New
York was a pioneer with New Jersey in the rec ognition of podiatry, but now 20 other States: California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Ne braska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Wary land, Virginia, Massachusetts, Illinois, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ohio, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia have State regulation, and the benefit of it is so clear that probably all the other States will enact similar legislation in the next few years. There are colleges of chiropody or podiatry in Cali fornia, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In New York the educa tional requirements are three years of high school work, and after September 1921 four years or the equivalent. One year of full time school work or two years of evening classes are now required in the actual study of podiatry (anatomy, physiology, pathology of the foot and the treatment of its affections), and this is to be increased after 1921 to two full years of podiatric training. New York was a pioneer in the foundation of a pedic society, and this example led to the organization of similar bodies throughout the country, so that now 37 States have formal associations for the dis cussion of the problems of foot troubles and the proper regulation of the relations of podi atry to the community. There is a national association of chiropodists which co-operated with the United States military authorities dur ing the war as to the care of the feet of soldiers. The new profession is represented by two organs, Pedic Items and The Podiatrist, in which many important articles appear. Many regular physicians, among whom Dr. M. J. Lewi of New York has been a leader, have been co-operating in the development of the new profession, and a number of contributions have been made to the special literature of. the sub ject, including a 'Text Book of Practical Podiatry; Practical Podiatry (contains history of specialty, New York 1918) ; Surgery with Special Reference to Podiatry (New York 1917).