better care of their feet.

Simple steps could be taken to avoid such common foot ailments as bunions, calluses and corns, Scotswoman Ms Fiona Rhodes told Hamilton Lions at their weekly luncheon.

The foot doctor said the state of local residents' feet, on the whole, was poor. She believed this was due to the active sporting life many Bermudians lead.

Ms Rhodes said local chiropodists were kept busy dealing with a steady stream of complaints of foot ailments.

Any ailment of the foot affected the whole body, she said. "Feet are not separate. They are not just stuck on the end of the legs.'' Ms Rhodes said there was more to foot problems than bunions (swelling and inflammation of the big toe's first joint) and bad smells.

And most of the problems were brought on by improper care.

She told women to stay away from pointy shoes with high heels, the biggest cause of painful corns and calluses.

Many people went abroad and had them cut off at the recommendation of US doctors, she noted. But they would simply grow back if you did not change your footwear.

Ingrown toe nails were caused by incorrect cutting, she said. They should be cut straight across, including the side bits.

To avoid fungal infections, you should not wear nylon socks or synthetic shoes, because they do not absorb sweat very well, she said. You should also not douse feet with powder.

A daily application of rubbing alcohol will cure nine out of ten cases of flaking or cracking between the toes -- often thought to be a fungal infection, she said.

And as for smelly feet, "some people just have them''. The best cure is soaking them in a lukewarm bath with dissolved potassium permanganate crystals.

FEET FIRST -- Chiropodist Ms Fiona Rhodes, speaker at the Hamilton Lions luncheon, urges residents to take better care of their feet.