Improvements in an Instrument for Veterinary Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in an Instrument for Veterinary Purposes.
CHARLES HENRY HUISH, 8, Fisher Street, Red Lion Square, in the County of
London, Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
:-
This mouth speculum is made on the model of an American instrument, but
which has a grave fault, inasmuch as it is liable to close on the arm of the operator
when in the animals mouth. The instrument may be described as having four
curved side bars, two on each side, hinged posteriorly. To the opposite ends.
are attached two cupped plates or cross bars, the latter being covered with rubber..
It is kept open by means of two spring ratchet catches, working in slots and con-
nected to the side bars.
I propose preventing the serious drawback above mentioned by the use of thumb
cams fitted to the side bar connections and which are to be turned down upon the
backs of the ratchet catches. When these thumb cams are in position the gag
will be effectually held open. I propose making these of phosphor bronze, nickel
steel, or other hard metal. A special feature in my speculum is the fact that it
enables the operator to undertake long operations on the teeth of the animal with
perfect security, I also propose to have tooth plates of various shapes and sizes to
fit aged or parrot mouthed horses, the abscence of which is also a great drawback
in the American speculum above referred to.
Instead of rubber covered convex and concave plates, my plates will be made
covered with leather as the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth adheres
to the rubber covered plates as hitherto used for operations on incisor teeth, and
these leather covered plates are also to be used for cattle.
I do not confine myself to any particular kind of spring for the ratchets, and I
may find it convenient to make a spring or other kind of cam for the backs thereof,
neither do I confine myself to the use of steel, as I may employ malleable iron,
phosphor bronze, nickel steel, or other suitable metal.
First day of June 1897.
Improvements in an Instrument for Veterinary Purposes.
I, CHARLES HENRY HUISH, of 8, Fisher Street, Red Lion Square, London, W.C.,
Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
[Price 8d.1

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This mouth speculum is made on the model of an American instrument, but
which has a grave fault, inasmuch as it is liable to close, upon, the arm of the
operator when in the animals mouth.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed
to describe the accompanying drawing thereof, reference being had to letters and
figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the instrument..
1)
Fig. 2, is an end view of one of the vertical parallel, side bars.c.
Fig. 3, is a plan of the top cupped plate g and the top curved bars a.
Fig. 4, is a view of the speculum attached to the mouth of a horse, the same
being secured thereto by straps and buckles.
+
The instrument may be described as having four curved side bars, two on each
side, hinged posteriorly. To the opposite ends are attached two cupped plates or
cross bars, the latter being covered with rubber. It is kept open by means of
two spring. ratchet catches working in slots and connected to the side bars. I
propose preventing the serious drawback above mentioned by the use of thumb
cams fitted to the side bar connections, and which are to be turned down upon the
backs of the ratchet catches. When these thumb cams are in position, the gag
will be effectually held open. I propose also to make these of phosphor bronze,
nickel steel, or any other hard metal. A special feature in my speculum.is the
fact that it enables the operator to undertake long operations on the teeth of the
animal with perfect security. I also propose to have tooth plates of various shapes
and sizes to fit aged or parrot mouthed horses, the absence of which is also a great
drawback in the American speculum above referred to. And instead of rubber
covered convex and concave plates my plates will be made covered with leather as
the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth adheres; to the rubbered covered
plates used for operations on incisor teeth, and these leather covered plates are also
to be used for cattle. I do not confine myself to any particular kind of spring
for the ratchets, and I may find it convenient to make a spring or other kind of
cam to secure them. Neither do I confine myself to the use of steel as I may
employ malleable iron, phosphor bronze, nickel steel or any other suitable metal.
In carrying my invention into practice I construct two top curved side bars a
with swells s at the front ends and to these ends I. fix studs p to engage with the
hooks of the cupped plate g. The back part of above described bars, I form
vertical bars c these said bars c are provided with cams h working on pivots i by
the means of thumb screws 9 and catches k for engaging with the teeth of the
ratchet bars j. To the top of the vertical bars c I hinge,the knuckles d on pivot
pins e attached to or forming part of the bottom curved bars and at the opposite
ends of these said bars 6 I provide swells s and studs p¹ in order to engage with
the hooks t or ends of the cupped plate r. About half way between the knuckle: d
and the swells of each bottom curved arm I construct two lugs and between
these said lugs I mount on a pivot m a curved ratchet bar j with a flat or, other
shaped spring n fixed to the bar b by a screw o. Slots f, f, and f2, are provided
in the positions indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, for the purpose of attaching leather
straps and bucklės.
The apparatus is attached to a horses head by a strap and buckle v, across the
nose by a strap and bucke u, and underneath the jaw by a strap and buckle w.
The speculum is introduced into the mouth of the animal the same as a bit,
and when spread is kept open by means of two.ratchet bars (capable of sustaining
immense pressure), connected to and at right angles to the curved side bars, as
shown in the accompanying illustrations. Thus held open, there is no possibility
of the instrument closing, and operations on and examinations of the teeth can
be made with the greatest facility.
A special feature of advantage which can be found in no other speculum is the

page_text: curved side bars, which expose the front molar teeth and afford an unobstructed
view of the mouth from either side and the greatest possible space to operate in.
For making examinations and operating upon the molar teeth, the semi-lunar
cupped plates, which are so made that they will fit any mouth, should be used,
so that the pressure of the jaws will be brought upon the incisor teeth instead of
the soft tissues of the gums, thereby causing no laceration or pain. The animal
receiving no injury from the instrument, will not fight it or make any resistance
whatever.
If preferable any other kind of spring i.e. spiral may be used to work between
the curved bar and the flat one only fixed further to the left and also the spring
and ratchet working the opposite way i.e. to be released by pulling the ratchet
towards you.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a mouth speculum, the combination of the various parts of mechanism
fully described in the above specification and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
2. In an instrument for veterinary purposes, the combination of the top curved
side bars a bottom curved side bars vertical parallel bars c knuckles d pivot pins e
slots f, f, and 2, thumb screws g cams pivots i curved ratchet bars i catches klugs
pivots m springs n screws o studs p, and p¹; swells s straps and buckles u, v, and w,
with the top cupped plate 7 bottom cupped plate and hooks t, substantially as
herein described and according to the accompanying drawing.
3. An instrument for veterinary purpose with curved side bars, two on each side
hinged for exposing the front molar teeth and to afford an unobstructed view of
the mouth of an animal from either side, substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
4. An instrument for veterinary purposes when spread as in Fig. 4, is kept open
by means of two curved ratchet bars the teeth of which engage with the catches k
in the vertical bars c, substantially as above described.
Dated this 1st dox of March 1900
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.