IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STOPPING RUNAWAY HORSES, PART OF WHICH APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES GENERALLY
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ferdinand Arus at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1877. (A communication from
abroad by Pierre Roudel, of Paris, France.)
"
FERDINAND ARUS, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STOPPING RUNAWAY
HORSES, PART OF WHICH APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES
GENERALLY." (A communication from abroad by Pierre Roudel, of Paris, France.)
According to this Invention runaway horses are stopped by giving to the horse
or horses an electric shock or shocks, thereby momentarily stupifying them and
compelling thein to come to a standstill.
This Invention also consists of an improved electrical machine with battery for
conveying the electric current, as hereafter described.
According to this Invention a copper wire cord is formed, composed of a series of
fine copper wires twisted, so as to make the said cord more or less flexible, and thus
adapt itself to the stretching of the reins into which this cord is inserted. The
cord has at either end a spring connection, and inside the nose band is fixed a flat
band, divided in the centre, made of fine copper wire, to each end of which is an
eye to attach the aforesaid spring connections to. On the driver's seat or other
convenient part of the vehicle I fix a small electrical machine, to which is attached
by means of suitable spring connections the other two ends of the aforesaid copper
cords.
The action is as follows:-When it is desired to stop a horse it is simply necessary
to depress a button placed outside the case of the aforesaid electrical apparatus, by
which means the connection with the battery is formed, and an electric shock or
shocks is at once given to the horse across the nostrils, thereby stupifying him for a
moment, and thus compelling him to come to a standstill, the shock not being
sufficiently strong to injure the horse, the electrical machine being regulated
accordingly, as hereafter described.
The electrical machine and battery which will be found preferable (on account of
its compactness) for stopping horses, as above, and which is applicable as an
electrical machine generally, is constructed as follows:-A Rhumkoff coil strong

page_text: enough to prostrate a horse, and of a modified form, is used. It has a regulator,
consisting of a spindle with a peg or projection, taking its bearing against some
part of the trembler or vibrating spring according as the spindle is turned, and thus
regulating the number or rapidity of the shocks, and insuring at the same time a
steady action of the current. The spindle has a pointer working over an index to
indicate the rapidity of the electric shocks. The coil has an internal metallic tube
which can be drawn out, more or less, to regulate the intensity of the shocks as
required.
The battery, preferably, consists of an ebony box, lined with a porous cell of very
hard sandstone, charged with bi-chromate of potash. The cover of the box is fitted
with a piece of zinc inside. The battery is made to take out without detaching any
other part. The whole is enclosed in a small case, through the cover of which passes
the aforesaid button, which on being depressed completes the circuit.
This Invention is also applicable for saddle horses; the electrical apparatus is
then conveniently placed in a leather packet on the saddle.
The electrical apparatus aforesaid is also applicable for medical and other
purposes for which ordinary electrical apparatuses are employed.