EXPANSION OF THE FOOT. 
207 
horse pads invented by my father were commenced ; and from that 
year up to 1827, there were unceasing experiments going on on 
the foot and its functions. During these years I was principal 
assistant to my father in these experiments; and I do not think a 
better school, either for perseverance or variety or ingenuity, could 
very readily be found. From 1827 to 1837 I carried on the same 
system on my own account, and to favour or disprove certain 
theories of my own : since that time, I have pursued other 
branches of observation ; only from time to time seizing upon 
good cases to test the truth of my previous opinions, though 
founded as they were on long and laborious investigations, and 
repeated over and over again. But starting from the worst of 
ignorance, scepticism, and gradually understanding the question, 
not from books, for those with the self-conceit of youth I despised — 
not from the opinions of others, for I was disposed to believe no 
one; — I was trained and reared under the rigid axiom to “examine 
and think for myself,” and sternly was it enforced and acted on. 
I trust that I have said enough on this point. I state nothing but 
what I have actually proved, and which, cceteris paribus, all and 
every one may prove again ; but, if I have drawn wrong theories 
from facts which can be demonstrated, I am open to conviction 
and recantation. As to the schoolboy task of writing out a case 
of experiment, as one would a rule of three sum, I cannot nor will 
not. Like Scott, 
“ I do not rhyme to that dull elf, 
“ Who cannot image to himself.” 
I give the results of experiments in numbers as compared with 
Mr. Gloag’s, in a ratio of not less than ten to one ; and, if my 
veracity in any form of expression I choose to adopt is not as 
veritable as any other, it is time that I withdrew from all contro- 
versy and from all public life. 
There were two modes in which I might have replied to Mr. 
Gloag’s statements, — one by argument, the other by denial. I chose 
the latter, in which I was supported by the true principles of logic; 
but I also knew that the latter was the most difficult position in 
which I could place a sophist, — that of proving his. own case : if 
it could stand such a test, it was worthy of serious consideration ; 
otherwise conclusions drawn from dead parts squeezed in a vice 
were unworthy of more than a mere denial. Beides, 
“ In many nice and ticklish cases, 
“ There’s much to lose, and naught to gain, 
“ By affectation and grimaces.” 
If Mr. Gloag was not prepared to support his position , he ought 
never to have made his speculations public. It is for others to 
decide in what manner they shall reply, — not for him to choose. 
