Complex sentence: See the footnote on page xv at the end of the preface to the following: In 1770 the word "rubber" was in general use for any object used for rubbing; the word became attached to the new material sometime between 1770 and 1778.
Split into simpler sentences: See the footnote on page xv at the end of the preface to the following: In 1770, the word "rubber" was in general use for any object used for rubbing. The word became attached to the new material sometime between 1770 and 1778.