A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CURING THE GAPES IN PHEASANTS AND OTHER GAME "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Clark of Tardebigge in the County of
Worcester, Game Keeper, for an invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED
COMPOUND FOR CURING THE GAPES IN PHEASANTS AND OTHER GAME
"
»
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1882.
JOHN HENRY CLARK of Tardebigge in the County of Worcester Game Keeper
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CURING THE 'CAPES
IN PHEASANTS AND
OTHER GAME BIRDS AND IN TURKEYS AND OTHER DOMESTICATED FOWLS."
Pheasants and other game birds, turkeys and other domesticated fowls are subject
when young to a disease called the "gapes" which disease proves fatal in the
majority of cases. The said disease is sometimes called the "pip."
My invention consists of the new or improved compound herein after described
the use of which in the manner also herein after described effectually and speedily
cures the said disease.
The said new or improved compound is made as follows: To about twelve
ounces of finely powdered and sifted quicklime, I add about one and a half ounces
of flowers of sulpher one ounce of asafetida and one grain of arsenious acid
commonly called white arsenic. These materials are intimately mixed by sifting
or otherwise and one liquid ounce of oil of thyme is added thereto. The compound
is kept in closely covered or stoppered vessels so as to prevent the access of air.
The absorption of carbonic acid by the lime and the volatilization of the oil of
thyme is thereby prevented. The volatility of the oil of thyme causes it to diffuse
itself uniformly through the mass.
In using this compound I place in a depression in the bottom of the coop
containing the birds to be treated two or three tablespoonfuls of the compound. By
means of a pair of bellows or a blast otherwise produced, I diffuse the said
compound into the air of the coop. It is consequently inhaled by the birds.
said compound after it has been administered once or twice, kills the parasites which
located in the throats of the birds produce the gapes,
The

page_text: Sometimes the disease is cured by one treatment but when necessary the birds
may be treated two or three or more times but it rarely happens that a second or
third treatment does not effect a complete cure
When it is necessary to subject the birds to the action of the compound more
than once twenty four hours should be allowed to elapse after one treatment
before resorting to the next treatment. I have stated the proportions of the several
ingredients of the compound constituting my invention which I have found to
answer well in practice but I do not limit myself to these proportions as they may
be modified within considerable limits without affecting the efficiency of the
compound. Neither do I limit myself to the method described of using the said
compound as it may be used by being blown from a tin or other tube into the coop
containing the birds; or the air of the coop may be impregnated with the said
compound in any convenient manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1882.
JOHN HENRY CLARK of Tardebigge in the County of Worcester, Game Keeper.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR CURING THE 'GAPES IN PHEASANTS AND
OTHER GAME BIRDS AND IN TURKEYS AND OTHER DOMESTICATED FOWLS."
Pheasants and other game birds, turkeys and other domesticated fowls, are
subject when young to a disease called the "gapes," which disease proves fatal in
the majority of cases. The said disease is sometimes called the "pip."
My invention consists of the new or improved compound herein after described,
the use of which in the manner also hereinafter described effectually and speedily
cures the said disease.
One eigan of an ounce or arsenious acid.
These materials are intimately mixed by sifting or otherwise and one liquid
ounce of oil of thyme is added thereto; or in place of oil of thyme a like quantity
of oil of cummin may be used.
The compound is kept in closely covered or stoppered bottles so as to prevent
the access of air.
The absorption of carbonic acid by the lime and the volatilization of the oil of
thyme or other volatile oil is thereby prevented. The volatility of the oil of
thyme or other volatile oil causes it to diffuse itself uniformly through the mass.
The lime may either be in the form of freshly burned or unslaked lime or freshly
burned lime slaked with water. When unslaked, a somewhat smaller quantity
may be employed than when slaked that is to say, twelve ounces of unslaked
quicklime or one pound of slaked quicklime may be employed."
The sulphur may either be flowers of sulphur or milk of sulphur (precipitated
sulphur) or finely powdered brimstone.
In using this compound, I place in a depression in the bottom of the coop
containing the birds to be treated, two or three tablespoonfuls of the compound.
By means of a pair of bellows or a blast otherwise produced, I diffuse the said
compound into the air of the coop. It is consequently inhaled by the birds.
said compound after it has been administered once or twice kills the parasites
which located in the throats of the birds produce the "gapes."
The
Sometimes the disease is cured by one treatment but when necessary the birds
may be treated two or three or more times but it rarely happens that a second or
third treatment does not effect a complete cure.
When it is necessary to subject the birds to the action of the compound more
than once, twenty four hours should be allowed to elapse after one treatment before
resorting to the next treatment.

page_text: I have stated the proportions of the several ingredients of the compound
constituting my invention which I have found to answer well in practice but I do
not limit myself to these proportions as they may be modified within considerable
limits without affecting the efficiency of the compound.
Neither do I limit myself to the method described of using the said compound
as it may be used by being blown from a tin or other tube into the coop containing
the birds; or the air of the coop may be impregnated with the said compound in
any convenient manner.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
invention The new or improved compound hereinbefore described for curing the
gapes in pheasants and other game birds and in turkeys and other domesticated
fowls, the said compound being made and used substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Clark have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
WILLIAM NEASOM
Birchensale
Near Redditch
JOHN HENRY CLARK (L.S.)