IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF. Cow- HOUSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to, John Gamgee, of the Albert Veterinary College,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Professor of Veterinary Surgery,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF. Cow-
HOUSES."
Sealed the 9th February 1866, and dated the 14th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gamgee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
August 1865.
I, JOHN GAMGEE, of the Albert Veterinary College, Bayswater, in the County
of Middlesex, Professor of Veterinary Surgery, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS-IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COW-HOUSES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
cow-houses.particularly applicable for the housing of cows intended to supply
large towns and cities with milk. From the great value of ground in such
situations, the houses at present in use for such purposes are almost uni-
versally ill adapted for the purpose, and. the cows, from want of proper air
space and appliances for preserving cleanliness, both essentially necessary in.
any large collection of animals, are frequently subject to contagious and other
diseases which again, through their milk, are most deleterious to the con-
This Invention, therefore, consists in the arrangement and con-
struction of cow-houses wherein the cows are housed in large houses separated

page_text: from each other, each house being again separated into compartments capable
of accommodating a small number, say about 20 animals, and each of such
compartments having a distinct entrance, the walls also of each being of solid
work, so that in case of disease in any one of such compartments, there is no
risk whatever of its spreading by contagion to the animals in any of the
others. Each of these houses possesses efficient means of ventilation, con-
sisting of air passages through or between the spaces of the roof, whereby
there is a perfect diffusion of atmospheric air; whilst draughts and strong
currents are avoided. An arrangement is also supplied in each com-
partment for its efficient drainage and cleansing quite separate and apart
from the rest. Water is also so supplied that each compartment can be at
any time separately flooded throughout its entire length, or any desired part
of it. The arrangement above described also admits of a more economical
and convenient preparation and distribution of the food. It is also proposed
to construct the interior walls of these houses throughout with vitrified bricks,
the glaze on the surface of which will prevent the walls absorbing injurious
gases and fluids.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Gamgee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
·February 1866..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GAMGEE, of the Albert Veterinary College, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, Professor of Veterinary Surgery, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her! Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the 29th year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and -grant
unto me, the said John Gamgee, Her special license that I, the said
John Gamgee, my executors, administrators, and assigns, 'or such others'
as I, the said John Gamgee, my executors, administrators, or. 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, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COW-HOUSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Gamgee, my executors

page_text: or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly 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 John Gamgee, do hereby declare the
nature of imy 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention.relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
cow-houses, particularly applicable for the housing of cows, intended to
supply large towns and cities with milk. From the great value of ground
in such situations the houses at present in use for such purposes are almost
universally ill adapted for the purpose, and the cows, from want of proper
air space. and appliances for preserving cleanliness, both essentially necessary
in any large, collection of animals, are frequently subject to contagious and
other diseases, which again, through their milk, are most deleterious to the
consumers. This Invention, therefore, consists in the arrangement and con-
struction of cow-houses wherein the cows are housed in large houses or lots
separated from each other, each house or lot being again separated into rows
or compartments.capable of accommodating a small number, saya about twenty
animals, and each of such compartments having a distinct entrance, the walls
also of each being of solid work, iso that in case of disease in any one of such
compartments there is, no' risk whatever of its spreading by contagion to the
animals in. any of the others. Each of these houses possesses efficient means
of, ventilation consisting of air passages through or between the spaces of the
roof, whereby there is a perfect diffusion of atmospheric air, whilst draughts
and strong currents are: avoided. An arrangement is also supplied in each
compartment for its efficient-drainage and cleansing quite separate and apart
from the rest. Water is also so supplied that each compartment can be at
any time separately flooded throughout its entire length or any desired part
of it. The arrangement above, described also admits of a more economical
and convenient preparation and distribution of the food. It is also proposed
to construct the interior walls of these houses throughout with vitrified bricks,
the glaze on the surface of which will prevent the walls absorbing injurious
gases and fluids.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall

page_text: refer to the several Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) represents a side elevation of one of the large cow-houses
or lots, herein-before referred to; Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan of the roof
of the same; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan showing the general internal arrange-
ment; Fig. 4 (Sheet 2) is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation of one
of the rows or compartments of the cow-house; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal
section of the same.
In stabling a large number of cows in a limited area with a view: to the
prevention of disease,. I subdivide a given portion of ground into several lots or
houses, A (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) separated from each other. by roads,, each road
forming the means of entrance to one lot of sheds only and to none other;
these roads abut or unite in a central yard.in which the ordinary arrangements
are made for the storing and preparation of food for the cattle; söias to render
each and every shed or lot equally accessible to the feeding department.
Each lot of sheds is subdivided into two or more rows or compartments of
stalls a, a, each row or compartment containing accommodation, for not more
than twenty cows; every row or compartment is completely circumscribed
on all sides by imperforate walls b, except by one door c leading to the single
roadway by which each lot of sheds is rendered accessible."
In order that the exhalations, outbreathed air, and secretions of each lot
of cows should never come in contact with another lot of cows, I propose, in
the first place, that the walls be rendered impermeable by effectual painting
or lining, and that ventilation should be abundantly provided in the roof of
each shed, which roof is separate and distinct from the adjoining ones. For
this purpose a ridge and valley roof d with gutters e is constructed over each
lot of sheds, and the openings f, f, for the admission of air are situate at or
near the apex of each ridge and over the centre of each row or compartment.
With a view to confine the atmosphere of each shed within itself as much as
possible, double-folding entrance doors are recommended.
The system of subdivision of stalls and arrangement for collecting the
manure is similar to the plans in ordinary use, but the drainage of each shed
is separate and distinct from that of any other shed. The mangers and the
gutter behind the cows are made to incline towards the road, beneath which
the drain passes with an abundant supply of water at the most elevated part to
secure effectual and frequent flushing.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried

page_text: into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the system or mode of con-
structing and arranging cow-houses, whereby complete isolation of the cows is
secured in cases where it is desired to erect sheds for a large number of
animals on a limited space of ground, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gamgee, have to this my
Specification hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOHN GAMGEE. (L.S.)