IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE AND CATTLE FOODS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS' PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORSE AND CATTLE FOODS." A communication from abroad by Jean Barthe,
of Paris, France.
Sealed the 5th November 1878, and dated the 14th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE AND CATTLE FOODS." [A communication
from abroad by Jean Barthe, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improved alimentary compounds or cakes, especially
suitable for feeding horses and other animals during a campaign, while in transit on
board ship, and in other similar circumstances.
It often happens that troops, when campaigning, have to operate in countries
where forage is scarce and sometimes unobtainable, thus rendering it impossible to
employ cavalry without the attendant encumberance of a large transport train.
In conveying cattle by sea great difficulty is experienced in finding space for the
large quantities of fodder required for their consumption, besides which the fodder
is liable to be damaged, and animals frequently die during a voyage in consequence
of their eating such damaged fodder. For these reasons the transport of live cattlo
by sea is very restricted, notwithstanding the benefits which might be derived from
this mode of conveyance. Moreover, should a voyge be accidentally prolonged,
there is the additional risk of losing the whole of the live cargo for want of a
sufficient provision of fodder.
The object of the present Invention is to provide a food for horses and cattle in
the form of cakes, containing in a small compass all the requisite nutritive elements
for the sustenance of horses and other animals during a campaign, on shipboard, or
in other analogous cases.

page_text: The cakes, after being compressed and moulded of any form or size, are baked
in order that they may be preserved in good condition for a length of time.
In making these cakes such ingredients are selected as will, when combined, form
a complete food for horses and other animals, and not merely serve as a substitute
for any one portion of their ordinary food which may run short.
Some examples of the compositions of these cakes are herein-after given in which
the nature of and proportions of the ingredients will be found to vary, but they
all furnish a food which is by itself sufficient for the sustenance of horses and
other animals.
In the composition of these alimentary cakes nutritive matters, rich in nitrogen,
are combined with matters of a cooling and emollient nature in proportions, which,
as well as the ingredients themselves, may be varied to suit the condition or state
of health of the animal, and thus render the cakes suitable for use under all
circumstances.
'
Cakes may also be made of hay, lucern, straw, vine shoots, maize stalks, and
couch grass, chopped fine and agglomerated with a paste of rye flour or molasses,
and linseed cake residues, the cakes being moulded, compressed, and afterwards
baked. An excellent fodder may thus be obtained in a small volume, which may
be kept in tins, and only requires to be slightly moistened to render it fit for use.
The following is the composition of some of these alimentary cakes, it being
understood that in all cases a certain quantity of molasses and linseed cake residue
should be added to the ingredients to produce a homogeneous paste :-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th November 1878:
-
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53; Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE AND-CATTLE FOODS." A communication
from abroad by Jean Barthe, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improved alimentary compounds or cakes suitable for
feeding horses and other animals, especially during a campaign, while in transit on
board ship, and in other similar circumstances.
It often happens that troops when compaigning have to operate in countries
whero forage is scarce or even unobtainable, so that cavalry cannot be employed
without the attendant encumbrance of a large transport train.
••
In conveying cattle by sea also great difficulty is experienced in providing space
for the large quantities of fodder required for their consumption, besides which the
fodder is liable to be damaged, and numbers of animals frequently die during a
voyago in consequence of eating the damaged fodder."
Moreover, should a voyage be accidentally prolonged, there is the additional risk
of losing the whole of the live cargo for want of a sufficient provision of fodder.
For these reasons the transport of live cattle by sea is very restricted, notwith-
standing the benefits that might be derived therefrom.
The object of the present Invention is to provide a food for horses and cattle in
the form of cakes of any desired shape and weight containing in a small compass
all the requisite nutritive elements for the sustenance of horses and other animals
during a campaign, on board ship, or in other analogous cases.
The cakes, after being compressed and moulded, are baked in order that they
may be preserved in good condition for a great length of time.
In making these cakes such ingredients are selected as will, when combined, form
a complete food for horses and other live stock, and not merely serve as a substitute
for any one portion of their ordinary food which might happen to run short.
Some examples of the composition of these cakes are herein-after given, in which
the nature and proportions of the ingredients will be found to vary, but they
all furnish a food which is by itself sufficient for the sustenance of horses and other
animals.
In the composition of these alimentary cakes, nutritive matters, rich in nitrogen,
are combined with matters of a cooling and emollient nature in proportions, which
as well as the ingredients themselves are varied to suit the condition or state of
health of the animal, and thus render the cakes suitable for use under all cir-
cumstances.
Cakes may also be made of hay, lucerne, straw, vine shoots, maize stalks,
and couch grass chopped fine, mixed with a fluid paste of rye flour, or with
molasses and linseed cake residues and 2 or 3 per cent. of salt, the cakes being
moulded, compressed, and afterwards baked. These cakes form an excellent fodder
compressed in a small volume, and easily digestible, as the ingredients are already
chopped up fine. They may be kept in tins and only require to be slightly
moistened to be kept fit for immediate use.
The following is the composition of some of these alimentary cakes, it being
understood that in all cases a certain quantity of colza or other wholesome and
palatable oil,. molasses, and linseed cake residue should be added to the ingredients
to produce a homogeneous paste and also contribute to the keeping qualities of
the cakes,