The foot is a shock-absorbing bridge-like structure which supports the body. The stresses on the bones and ligaments of the foot amount, in engineering terms, to 250 tons for every mile walked. Fortunately for the stocking manufacturer, the weight of the foot—due to its architecture—does not fall on any single bone. When standing, half the weight of the body goes down each leg, and falls squarely on the talus, being a wedge-shaped chunky bone at the ankle. This bone throws half the leg weight of the body to the heel; the other half is distributed among five slender bones called metatarsals. These bones run like fingers down the forepart of the foot, and when walking or running, all the weight is thrown forward on to these. Should any of these critical bones become enlarged, or one of the five shirk its share of weight, an extra burden is placed on the others, and in that case, the weight being unevenly distributed, unequal wear would result, as it will be understood that no manufacturer can cater for individual foot requirements. It has been found that in the case of a person weighing 120 lbs. the weight distribution when standing is:-