A soldier can not march with sore feet, and marching is the main part of an infantryman’s daily duty in the field.  All soldiers should be familiar with the proper methods of caring for the feet.  Sore feet are generally due to carelessness, neglect, or ignorance on the part of the soldier.

The most important factor in the care of the feet and the marching ability of the soldier is the shoe.  Civilian shoes, particularly light, patent leather, or low shoes, are sure to cause injury and in time will ruin a man’s foot.  Only the marching shoe issued by the Quartermaster Corps should be worn, and they must be properly fitted to the individual.  It will not suffice to order a marching shoe of the same size as one’s ordinary civilian shoes, for it must be remembered that a soldier may have to march many miles daily over rough roads and carrying a heavy pack.  The pack itself causes the foot to spread out to a larger size, and the rough roads give so much exercise to the muscles of the feet that they swell greatly through the increased blood supply. (For directions as to measuring the foot for the marching shoe see General Order No. 26, War Department, 1912, a copy of which should be on hand in each company.)

Do not start out on a march wearing new shoes.  This is a frequent cause of sore feet.  New shoes should be properly broken in before beginning a march by wearing them for several hours daily for a week before the march, and they should be adapted to the contours of the feet by stretching them with shoe stretchers with adjustable knobs to take the pressure off painful corns and bunions.  Such stretchers are issued by the Quartermaster Corps, and there should be one or more pair in every company of infantry.  Should this be impracticable, then the following is suggested: 

The soldier stands in his new shoes in about 2-1/2 inches of water for about five minutes until the leather is thoroughly pliable and moist; he should then walk for about an hour on a level surface, letting the shoes dry on his feet, to the irregularities of which the leather is thus molded in the same way as it was previously molded over the shoe last.  On taking the shoes off a very little neat’s-foot oil should be rubbed into the leather to prevent its hardening and cracking.

If it is desired to waterproof shoes at any time, a considerable amount of neat’s-foot oil should be rubbed into the leather.  Waterproof leather causes the feet of some men to perspire unduly and keeps them constantly soft.

Light woolen or heavy woolen socks will habitually be worn for marching.  Cotton socks will not be worn unless specifically ordered by the surgeon.  The socks will be large enough to permit free movement of the toes, but not so loose as to permit of wrinkling.  Darned socks, or socks with holes in them, will not be worn in marching.

Until the feet have hardened they should be dusted with foot powder, which can be obtained at the regimental infirmary, before each day’s march.  Clean socks should be worn daily.