Improved Means for Administering Electricity to and otherwise Treating Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improved Means for Administering Electricity to and otherwise
Treating Horses and other Animals.
I, GEORGINA MCGUIRE LAWRANCE, of 5 Nottingham Place, Regents Park, in the
County of Middlesex Medical Electrician do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention is designed to provide for administering electricity to and otherwise
treating horses and other animals.
An important feature of my said invention is the provision of novel means for
elevating or raising horses or other animals from the ground, and whereby the difficulties
or inconveniences attending the slinging of such animals, as hitherto usually practised
are obviated or greatly diminished.
My said invention morcover comprises improved means for administering electricity
to horses and other animals and one feature of this part of iny invention is the
provision of a negative electrode having a very large area of contact-surface.
:
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompyaning drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved apparatus for elevating and supporting a horse
or other animal.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line a, a Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line y, y Figures 1 and 2.
Figure is a side elevation of the said apparatus the bed hereinafter described
being removed.
Figure is a plan and
Figure 6 is a front elevation showing a filling-in piece hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is a vertical central section of an improved sponge-holder hereinafter
described.
Figure 8 is a side elevation and
Figure 9 is an end elevation showing an improved battery element or pair of plates
hereinafter described and
Figure 10 is a plan showing a box or case for containing the battery and other parts
of the apparatus for the generation of the electric current.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A, are tables supported upon frames or cross-pieces B and legs C provided with
rollers or casters C₁. The tables A are preferably formed of wood and are mounted
upon metal plates D provided with bosses in which are arranged to rotate freely the
Duis

page_text: upper extremities of screw-threaded spindles E. F, F are metal cross-bars or cross-
pieces firmly attached by means of bolts F¹ or in any other suitable manner to the
frames B and having bosses F provided with screw-threaded holes in which work the
said screw-spindles E. G G are hand-wheels which are secured to the lower
extremities of the spindles E, and by means of which the said spindles can be operated
to raise or lower the tables A as required. H is another screw-threaded spindle
connected at one extremity by means of a plate or bearing H¹ to the frame B of one
of the tables A. The screw threaded spindle H passes through a screw-threaded hole
in the boss I¹ of a hand-wheel I. The boss I' is connected by means of a collar 1 to a
plate or bearing J attached to the frame B of the other table A. By turning the
hand wheel in one or the other direction the tables A may be moved towards or away
from each other, the screw-threaded spindle H serving as a distance piece for retaining
the said tables firmly in any desired position.
K is a bed which is formed of wood or other suitable non-conducting material and
for convenience is preferably constructed in two parts secured together in any con-
venient manner. The bed K is hollowed out to adapt it to receive and support the
body of a horse or other animal. K¹, K2 are extensions of the bed K against which
are intended to bear the fore and hind legs respectively of the said horse or other animal
when in position upon the said bed. The bed K and its extensions K', K² are
provided with a lining K³ of copper or other suitable metal which is a good conductor
of electricity. This lining serves as the negative electrode. Holes K are formed in
the bed K and through these holes are passed wires or conductors which are
electrically connected to the lining K³. The bed K is placed upon and supported by
tables A as shown in Figures 1 to 3. Beds of different sizes may be employed in
which case the tables A may be adjusted by means of the hand-wheel I and screw H
to suit the dimensions of the said "beds. K' Figures 5 and 6 is a filling-in piece of
similar shape in transverse section to the extensions K1, K2 of the bed K and intended
to take the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 when the tables A and bed K
are raised as shown in this figure.
In Figure 3 the apparatus is shown extended, that is to say, with the tables and their
frames in the position which they occupy when the apparatus is ready for use.
Figure 4 shows the tables and their frames brought close together, so that the
apparatus occupies less space than when extended and can therefore be more
conveniently transported or stowed away when not in use.
My improved sponge-holder shown in Figure 7 has a handle Z formed of wood or
other suitable non-conducting material, to the lower extremity of which is attached a
sponge M.
N is a disc formed of metal or other good conductor of electricity, and
having a rod or stem N' to be electrically connected by a suitable wire or conductor
to the positive pole of the battery. O is a set-screw or terminal for securing the
said wire or conductor and the rod or stem N' in the handle Z.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say-The elevating and
supporting apparatus comprising the tables A and bed K is suitably adjusted and is
placed underneath the horse or other animal which is secured to the bed by means of
broad bands of india-rubber or other suitable non-conducting material which are
preferably strapped over the shoulders and back. The bed K is then raised by means
of the hand-wheels G and screws E and the filling-in piece or pieces K³ are placed
in position. The two electrodes, viz. -the lining K³ and the disc or plate N being
connected with the poles of the generator of electricity. The sponge M is then
saturated with water or other liquid to render it a good conductor of electricity and is
applied to any desired part or parts of the horse or other animal, thus administering
electricity to the latter in any desired quantity.
The electric currents may be derived from any suitable source of supply but I prefer
to employ a battery made up of elements such as that illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,
in which P is a sheet or plate of platinum and Q, Q, are sheets or plates of zinc. R is
a handle having steel clasps or clips R¹ for convenience of removing the said element
from the exciting fluid in the cell.
Figure 10 shows the general arrangement of a box or case which I prefer to employ

page_text: for containing the battery and other parts of the apparatus for generating electric
currents. Sis the box or case which is divided into compartments ST S2 S3 SS and S'.
The compartiment S' contains an induction or intensity coil of any suitable description.
In the compartment. S' is placed the battery. The compartment S³ is fitted with a
porcelain or other suitable bath T for the purpose of containing water in which to dip
the plates for cleansing purposes when removed from the cells. The compartment S
is provided with divisions U formed of india-rubber or other suitable material and
intended to contain the different chemicals required. The compartment S³ is intended
to receive the plates when removed from the bath T to drain. The compartment S is
provided with a lining V of india-rubber or other suitable material and is intended to
receive the plates when dry after removal from the fluid in the cells and after being
dipped in the bath T.
By my invention I provide in a very efficient manner for the treatment by electricity
of horses or other animals suffering from rheumatism and organic diseases, enlarged
joints, diseases of the blood and the like.
It is obvious that I can somewhat modify the construction of my apparatus without
departing from the nature of my invention. For instance I can employ other means
than those above described for raising and lowering the tables and the bed supported
thereon or for moving the said tables towards and away from each other. Or I can
dispense with the means for effecting the latter operation and arrange the said tables
at à suitable distance apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 wish it understood
that I claim.
First. An apparatus for elevating and supporting a horse or other animal and
comprising a bed to be placed under the animals body and suitable means for raising
and lowering the said bed.
Second. The combination, with the bed, of the tables and their supports and means
for raising and lowering the said tables and bed, substantially as, and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The combination, with the bed, of a metal lining which will serve as one of
the electrodes of an apparatus for administering electricity to a horse or other animal,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. The bed provided with the extensions and with the metal lining substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The employment, in combination with the bed having the extensions and the
metal lining, of one or more filling-in picces each provided with a metal lining,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The combination of platinum and zinc plates, substantially as hereinbefore
described for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The improved device substantially as described for removing the plates
from the cells of the battery.
Eighth. The improved box or case for containing the battery and other parts of the
apparatus for generating the electric current, substantially as described.
Ninth. The improved apparatus substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings for administering electricity to horses and other animals.
Dated this 21st day of March 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.