EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
477 
it is proper or politic in him to accompany this account with 
much in praise of his invention. Unless he himself had en- 
tertained a good opinion of his production, he would hardly 
have brought it before the public at all ; and when he has 
once done so, that disinterested and many-eyed arbiter — the 
public — is vastly more competent to form a proper estimate, 
and come to a just conclusion on its utility and value, than 
the prepossessed inventor himself. All the puffing in the 
world will not thrust an unworthy invention down the throats 
of the public against their more sober and better judgment, 
however much or long the bantling may have been cherished 
by its parent ; for, even though the cramming system should 
succeed for a time, still the day will come when the appa- 
rition will be unveiled, and its insubstantiality demonstrated. 
An individual is at liberty to invent or introduce novelties, 
but it is for the collective body — the public — to stamp the 
utility or value of such introductions. 
With this preface I shall commence my description of the 
sandal , succeeding its description with directions for the appli- 
cation of it , and concluding with an account of the uses for 
which it appears fitted in sporting and veterinary practice. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SANDAL. 
The sandal consists of two parts \ —the shoe — the iron part, 
or that which defends the bottom of the foot and sustains the 
wear ; and the endless or circular band, whereby the shoe is 
fastened to the foot. 
The Shoe bears much resemblance to the frog-bar shoe 
some years ago introduced into practice by Professor Cole- 
man. I myself suggested to the professor, at the time, the 
expediency of splitting the bar more widely, and making its 
heels rest upon the bearing places of the common shoe, 
rather than suffering it to abut against the frog. And I have 
selected this shape for the shoe of the sandal, as being stronger, 
and adapted with the least quantity of metal, to afford the 
greatest possible cover and protection to the foot. To answer 
the purposes, for which the sandal is intended, it became 
necessary that the shoe should be light, and conveniently 
portable ; at he same time, it was required to be strong and 
protective. 
For the sake of elucidation, and for more ready reference, to 
the different parts of the shoe I have appended names : they 
are, however, but few in number, and are such as seem to me 
naturally to suggest themselves ; and consequently will, I 
hope, require but to be seen to be remembered. 
