AN IMPROVED DOCKING KNIFE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James McKenny, of Stephen's Green, Dublin, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, M.R.C.V.S., for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
DOCKING KNIFE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James McKenny at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1880.
JAMES MCKENNY, of Stephen's Green, Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
M.R.C.V.S. "AN IMPROVED DOCKING KNIFE."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for performing the operation of
amputating or docking " the tails of horses and other animals, in a manner
affording greater facility to the operater, producing a cleaner incised wound, and
causing less annoyance and pain to the animal than the ordinary docking instru-
ments hitherto in use. For this purpose I arrange a pair of flat plates or jaws,
rivitted together round one margin, and on the other margin I form a cavity or
space for the reception of the tail or part of the animal to be operated upon; and
between these plates or jaws I cause a segmentally shaped cutting blade of steel or
other suitable material, provided with a longitudinal slot to work on a pivot or pin
passing through the said plates or jaws and longitudinal slot.
This cutting blade is connected with the pair of plates or jaws by means of a
connecting link diagonally placed, which, together with the pivot working in the
longitudinal slot above described, imparts to the edge of the blade a rotary as
well as closing motion. By the aid of this instrument the operator can perform
amputation with facility, and the parts cut will heal more readily, seeing that a
combined rotary and closing motion is produced during the operation of cutting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James McKenny in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
March 1881.
JAMES MCKENNY, of Stephen's Green, Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
M.R.C.V.S. "AN IMPROVED DOCKING KNIFE."
"
"
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for performing the operation of
amputating or docking the tails of horses and other animals, in a manner
affording greater facility to the operator, producing a cleaner incised wound, and
causing less annoyance and pain to the animal than the ordinary docking instru-
ments hitherto in use..
For this purpose I arrange a pair of flat plates or jaws rivetted together round
one margin, and on the other margin I form a cavity or space for the reception of
the tail or part of the animal to be operated upon; and between these plates or
jaws I cause a segmentally shaped cutting blade of steel or other suitable material,
provided with a longitudinal slot, to work on a pivot or pin passing through the
said plates or jaws and longitudinal slot.
This cutting-blade is connected with the pair of plates or jaws by means of a
connecting link diagonally placed, which, together with the pivot working in the
longitudinal slot above described, imparts to the edge of the blade a rotary as well
as closing motion.
By the aid of this instrument the operator can perform amputation with facility,
and the parts cut will heal more readily, seeing that a combined rotary and closing
motion is produced during the operation of cutting.
The accompanying Drawings will enable the said Invention to be more clearly
understood.
Fig. 1. is a side view of the docking knife complete, A showing the cavity or
space for the reception of the tail of the animal to be operated upon; A', the blade,
which is secured to the handle A2, and works between the jaws b, b; E, the con-
necting link, which connects the cutting blade with the pair of plates or jaws by
pivots D, D, and is provided with a pin C which slides in the slot B.
Fig. 2 represents the knife as viewed on edge, showing the pin C on which the
slot moves, and the pivots D, D³, of the connecting link.
Fig. 3 is a view of the cutting blade detached, showing the slot B through which
the pin C moves, and also hole F for the reception of pivot D of the connecting
link.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is or may be used in practice, I would have it understood that I
claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent,-
The use and application of an apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating in
the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James McKenny, have hereunto this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.