EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
475 
The language in which the uses and advantages of the 
horse-sandal was pourtrayed on a former occasion, so long 
ago as 1 830, will be found quite applicable to it in its pre- 
sent more finished and yet much simpler condition ; and, 
therefore, looking at the number of years such account of it 
has been before the public, we shall take the liberty of trans- 
cribing it from the pages of the Veterinarian , for January, 
1831 (vol. iv of that publication), wherein we find it 
headed : 
AN ACCOUNT OF THE HORSE-SANDAL OR REMOYEABLE 
HORSESHOE, 
INVENTED BY MR. PERCIVALL. 
{Bead by him at the Veterinary Medical Society, Dec. 1 , 1830.) 
To attach a shoe (or anything that shall answer the pur- 
pose of one) to the foot of the horse without the aid of nails, 
or by such means and in such manner as shall render it both 
serviceable to the animal and removeable by and at the plea- 
sure of his rider, has long been, among the followers of the 
chase [and by officers of cavalry], a thing most desirable to be 
accomplished. The difficulties presenting themselves, how- 
ever, in this field of experiment, have proved such as not 
only to render abortive all hitherto-made trials, but, for some 
years past, to deter any others from being made at all. The 
natural shape of the horse’s foot is such as to render it very 
unsuitable for the attachment of any sort of bandage or liga- 
ture ; added to which, it is a part possessing inward self- 
motion, and consequent power of variation of shape and 
volume : two circumstances which (connected with the super- 
incumbent weight the foot has to support, as well as to move 
w r ith activity under) will be found to oppose considerable 
difficulties in the way of any one who may engage in an 
undertaking of this description. 
In submitting the present invention to the public, rather 
than risk any recommendation of it that may appear in the 
light of unwarrantable praise, I shall send it forth “ with all 
its imperfections on its head simply setting down such facts 
as can be readily proved or attested, and, with the statement 
of them, leaving others to judge to what extent and in what 
ways it may be rendered most useful. 
With a sandal well fitted and properly secured upon the 
foot, a horse will be prepared to perform the same as though 
