If toenails could be totally removed (without too much trouble)... huge savings could be realized. I am pretty sure most humans have zero use for their toenails, but I fear I am about to learn otherwise?
-- lewstanley, Jan 04 2008

Steel-capped Socks Steel-capped_20Socks
[Texticle, Jan 07 2008]

Your toenails, unlike your fingernails, are particularly useful. They act as feedback membranes which provide feedback about the precise bacterial level and humidity around the toe region, part of the plantar-glandular (PG) system. If you were to remove them then, in short, you would always have very sweaty feet.

On the positive side, foot sweat is a protective secretion and limits the chances of getting infections into cuts and sores (which is why feet 'sweat' at the strangest times!). Part of that protection is through the maintenance of symbiotic bacteria which are so well suited to the environment that other less friendly bacteria have trouble taking hold. The negative part to this is that they smell, and the more of them you have, the more they smell.

If you normally go barefoot, removal of toenails might be a good idea as it would maximise your resistance to infection of the sole if you cut it, and excess secretions would be controlled by means of evaporation.
-- vincevincevince, Jan 04 2008


Don't they also protect the tips of your toes from getting squished?
-- RayfordSteele, Jan 04 2008


How could I catch fish without my toenails? [-]
-- ed, Jan 04 2008


Most modern people rarely put their toes in situations which require protection against squishing.
-- vincevincevince, Jan 05 2008


This reminds me of my unposted idea for steel-toe socks. I would post it, but, even in this situation, they wouldn't be very useful.

[V3], what about kicking things? Or rude people stepping on your toes? Or standing on the tips of your toes? All of those strain your toes.
-- Shadow Phoenix, Jan 05 2008


// How could I catch fish without my toenails? //

Steal the One Ring from your friend (murdering him in the process) and then spend thousands of years living underground.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 05 2008


You can borrow ours, if you let us watch.

<Scuttles off to register www.seeuspulloutlewstoenails. com>
-- 8th of 7, Jan 05 2008


/This reminds me of my unposted idea for steel-toe socks./

Ahem, [Shadow Phoenix], check the linkadink.
-- Texticle, Jan 07 2008



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