IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WATER OR OTHER FLUID TO THE LEGS AND OTHER
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Blackwell, of 259, Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Saddler, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WATER OR OTHER FLUID TO THE LEGS AND OTHER
Sealed the 21st April 1868, and dated the 20th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Blackwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
January 1868.
I, SANUEL BLACKWELL, of 259, Oxford Street, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WATER OR OTHER FLUID TO THE LEGS AND
OTHER PARTS OF HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for applying
water or other fluid to the legs and other parts of horses and other animals.
For these purposes, in order to apply water or other fluid continuously for
any desired length of time to the leg of a horse or any other animal, with a
view to cool, foment, or poultice the same, a hollow tube or band (which, by
preference, is composed of vulcanized india-rubber) is used, which is perforated
with numerous small holes so as to divide the water or fluid into numerous
small streams. The ends of this perforated tube or hollow band are closed,
and a flexible supply pipe is connected to the hollow perforated band or tube,

page_text: whilst the other end of the supply tube is connected to a vessel containing
water or other fluid. To regulate the flow of the fluid, the supply tube may
have a valve or cock applied to it. The vessel which contains the water or
other fluid is arranged to be fastened on the back or other part of a horse, or
it may be otherwise placed and supported when circumstances require it. The
perforated tube or band is attached to or around the leg by a strap or other-
wise. When desired, sponge or other porous and absorbent covering may be
placed and secured over the part of the leg where the fluid is to be applied, so
as to act as a poultice, or the water or fluid may be caused simply to flow in
numerous streams over the parts of the leg requiring such treatment. By
these means water or other fluid may be applied continuously. to any part or
parts of the leg of a horse without any person being required to be constantly
present during the application.
This Invention is peculiarly applicable when applying water or other fluid
to the leg of a horse or of any other animal requiring similar treatment; but
when like apparatus is to be applied to any other part of the body of a horse
or other animal, the form of the hollow perforated tube or band, with the
means of attaching it, will alone require to be varied. Like apparatus, suitably
modified in form, is also applicable when making local applications of water
or other fluid to the legs, arms, or other parts of the person of a human
being
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Blackwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
BLACKWELL, of 259, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Samuel Blackwell, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Blackwell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Blackwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,

page_text: and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WATER OR OTHER FLUID TO THE LEGS AND OTHER PARTS
OF HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Samuel Blackwell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Blackwell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for applying
water or other fluid to the legs and other parts of horses and other animals.
For these purposes, in order to apply water or other fluid continuously for any
desired length of time to the leg of a horse or any other animal, with a view
to cool, foment, or poultice the same, a hollow tube or band (which, by
preference, is composed of vulcanized india-rubber) is used; this is perforated
with numerous small holes so as to divide the water or fluid into numerous
small streams. The ends of this perforated tube or hollow band are closed,
and a flexible supply pipe is connected to the hollow perforated band or tube,
whilst the other end of the supply tube is connected to a vessel containing
water or other fluid. To regulate the flow of the fluid, the supply tube may
have a valve or cock applied to it. The vessel which contains the water or
other fluid is arranged to be fastened on the back or other part of a horse, or
it may be otherwise placed and supported when circumstances require it. The
perforated tube or band is attached to or around the leg by a strap or other-
wise. When desired, sponge or other porous and absorbent covering may be
placed and secured over the part of the leg where the fluid is to be applied, so
as to act as a poultice, or the water or fluid may be caused simply to flow in
numerous streams over the parts of the leg requiring such treatment. By
these means water or other fluid may be applied continuously to any part or
parts of the leg of a horse without any person being required to be constantly
present during the application.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing shows the general arrangement of the
apparatus, and the method in which it is applied to a horse; Figure 2 is a
side view of the apparatus shewn full size.

page_text: a, a, is the perforated tube furnished with suitable straps and a buckle by
which it can be readily secured to the leg of the animal in the position
required. A section of the tube a is shewn at Figure 3, and a plan at
Figure 4; it is conveniently made in vulcanized india-rubber, and the per-
forations are made as fine as possible, conveniently by sticking needle points into
the tube, and retaining them there during the process of vulcanizing. bis an
apron of vulcanized india-rubber attached to the tube, and which may serve to
retain pieces of sponge or other material around the leg of the animal if it
be required; c is the supply pipe connected at one end to the perforated
tube a, and at the other it is connected to a bag which may be secured to
the back of the animal, as is shewn at Figure 1, or it may dip into a tub,
or otherwise. The supply pipe c is made in several pieces, conveniently of
vulcanized india-rubber, and at c¹ it has a stop-cock, which may be of gutta
percha or metal to regulate the quantity of water or liquid descending.
The apparatus shewn in the Drawing is peculiarly applicable when apply-
ing water or other fluid to the leg of a horse or of any other animal requiring
similar treatment; but when like apparatus is to be applied to any other part
of the body of a horse or other animal, the form of the hollow perforated
tube or band, with the means of attaching it, will alone require to be varied.
Like apparatus, suitably modified in form, is also applicable when making
local applications of water or other fluid to the legs, arms, or other parts of
the person of a human being.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Blackwell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
SAMUEL BLACKWELL. (L.S.)