A NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF ARRESTING HEADSTRONG OR RUN-AWAY HORSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF ARRESTING
HEADSTRONG OR RUN-AWAY HORSES." - A communication by Augustin
Durand, (M.D.,) residing at Bourg-la-Reine (Dept. de la Seine),
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 18th March 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MEANS OF ARRESTING HEADSTRONG OR RUN-AWAY HORSES," communicated to me
by Augustin Durand, (M.D.,) a person resident at Bourg-la-Reine (Deptt. de
la Seine), in France, and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same,
and made solemn declaration that it is a communication.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons,
do hereby declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
seal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the annexed
Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
The Invention communicated to me consists in the utilization of the shocks
produced by certain descriptions of magneto-electric and electro-magnetic
apparatus, as a means of checking the course of headstrong or run-away
horses. To this end a pair of flexible conductors formed of single or tressed
copper or silver wire are inserted in the reins of the bridle, the forward
extremities being each connected with a piece of moistened spunge so attached
to the musrol or cheek bands as to press, when in position, against each side
of the horse's head, at a short distance below the eye. The opposite extremities
of these conductors, prolonged beyond the grasp of the reins, are fitted with
rings or other suitable metallic attachment, so arranged as to be readily con-
nected with the poles of an induction coil set within reach of the rider or
driver, as the case may be. The nature of the coil thus applied may vary,
the position which it is intended to occupy, but when practicable the magneto-
electric combinations should be preferred as being more simple, compact,
and manageable than those requiring separate battery apparatus.
66
with
A modification of the arrangement known as Breton's electro-medical
coil" having its rotatory mechanism so condensed as to admit of insertion in an
ordinary saddle frame, has been found to answer every purpose. For carriages
where a larger amount of space is available, this apparatus may be employed
in its usual form, the main object in such cases being to obtain easy command
of the working bar. When an electro-magnetic combination is adopted, the
coil and vibratory mechanism should be constructed to play freely under the
action of a feeble voltaic current, so as to permit the employment of a battery
of the smallest possible dimensions. In this class of apparatus the portable
"inductors" constructed by Rhumkorff, of Paris, or again, those known in
England as " Ackland's coils," will be found simple, effective, and easily
'applied.
The accompanying Drawing represents an application of the Invention to a
horse under carriage harness. A, A, on the reins, in which are inserted the
flexible metallic conductors or electrodes B, B, communicating by their front
extremities with the sponge C, on each side of the headstall; D is an ordinary
magneto-electric coil, lodged in the fore part of the vehicle, and connected by
its poles E, E*, with the free extremities F, F, of the main conductors.
When the horse refuses to obey the rein, or otherwise shews an inclination

page_text: to run away, it is simply necessary to set the coil in action by one or two revo-
lutions of the hand bar G, so as to pass a succession of feeble shocks through
the portion of the head comprised between the sponges C. The effect of this
application is to subdue the animal almost instantaneously, and to bring it to
a stand still within a few seconds, even when running at full speed. This
result being obtained, the action of the coil is suspended. In most cases a
very feeble current suffices to produce the desired effect without further
suffering to the horse than that proceeding from the momentary shock; but in
circumstances of extreme difficulty or danger, the intensity may be increased
to such a point as to induce immediate paralysis and render further movement
impossible for the time being.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the mechanical details and modes of distribution above laid
down, as these I repeat may be varied according to the nature or construction of
the apparatus adopted and the position which it is intended to occupy; but what
I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is, the application as a means
of arresting headstrong or run-away horses under saddle or carriage harness of
the interrupted currents produced by a magneto-electric or electro-magnetic
coil, so arranged and combined with conductors as to permit of directing at
will a series of shocks through the head of the animal, substantially as herein
specified and represented in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)