MORTON’S SYNDROME, MORTON’S TOE, MORTON’S FOOT,
DR. THOMAS G. MORTON, DR. DUDLEY J. MORTON & DUDLEY MORTON , MORTON’S TOE, MORTON’S FOOT, MORTON’S NEUROMA,
Once or twice a year I am asked to reexplain this.
I now will attempt to sort this out.
MORTON’S TOE:
Morton’s Toe or Long Second Toe is an abnormal shortening of the 1st metatarsal bone, as compared to the 2nd metatarsal bone. It is the major component of Morton’s Syndrome, (see below).
MORTON’S FOOT:
This has become a catchall phase meaning different things to different people in regard to foot problems. In fact Morton’s Foot has no exact meaning. If you Goggle, “Morton’s Foot” you will get several different definitions that range from describing a Morton’s Toe, to describing a Morton’s Neuroma
For our purposes Morton’s Toe, and Morton’s Foot Are to Be Considered the Same Thing; an Abnormal Shortening of the first Metatarsal Bone, as Compared to the 2nd Metatarsal Bone.
Morton’s Syndrome: is a hereditary syndrome, described by Dr. Dudley Joy Morton that is made up of three distinct findings
1. a short first metatarsal bone, is the major part of the Morton’s Syndrome
2. abnormal movement of the two small bones ( sesamoids) behind the head of the 1st metatarsal bone and
3. abnormal enlargement or thickening of the second metatarsal bone due to 1st metatarsal bone being short. By Aadaption@ the body makes the second stronger by making it thicker/larger than normal in order to do the job of the defective first metatarsal bone.
Some writers use the term “A Dudley Morton Foot Type” when they are really describing Morton’s Syndrome. Dr. Janet Travell always used the term A Dudley Morton Foot Type” when she was referring to the Morton’s Syndrome.
THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY MORTONS
There are two other chaps named Morton who tend to get confused with our Dr. Dudley J. Morton. First, there was Dr. Thomas George Morton, who also had a famous foot problem named after him, called the Morton’s Neuroma. Second, there is another Dudley Morton who was a famous naval hero of WW II. Let me tell you something about these other Mortons.
DR. THOMAS GEORGE MORTON, AND THE MORTON’S NEUROMA
It seems that ever since I started to write this book I have spent a lot of time telling people that Dr. Dudley Joy Morton had nothing to do with the foot condition known as Morton’s Neuroma. As of now, many people have heard of Morton’s Neuroma, but few of Morton’s Toe.
DR. THOMAS GEORGE MORTON in the latter part of the 19th century was a professor of clinical and operative surgery at the Philadelphia Clinic for Graduates. In 1886, he performed an operation to remove an appendix. The big news here was that the patient lived, that was something in 1886.
In 1896 he wrote a paper describing a painful cramping condition of the nerves of the forefoot and toes; where the plantar nerves are being compressed, entrapped and or impinged[ii]. The most common symptoms are throbbing, aching and radiating pain, going to the 3rd – 5th toes. According to Thomas G. Morton it appeared more in middle-aged females. It is highly unlikely that Dr. Dudley ever met Dr. Thomas, because Thomas died in 1903, when Dudley was just starting medical school.
THE OTHER DUDLEY MORTON
Cmdr. Dudley Morton, was one of the greatest submarine captain of WW II. He graduated the U.S. Naval Academy in 1930. During the war, he commanded one of the U.S. Navy=s most famous submarines, the USS Wahoo. Through one 18-month period, (1942-43) the crew aboard the U.S.S. Wahoo under Morton destroyed and sank about 20 Japanese ships. No other U.S. submarine did as much damage during that time. For the course of the whole war, Dudley Morton was one of the top three most successful submarine captains. The Navy was so happy about the Wahoo and Morton=s success that it allowed a movie to be made called “Destination Tokyo,” with Cary Grant playing Dudley Morton. It is one thing to have a Toe, a Foot, and a Syndrome named after you; but to have Cary Grant start in a film portraying you is something totally else. In late 1943 Morton and the Wahoo departed on patrol and where lost at sea. Again, another amazing Dudley Morton.
