IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PERFORMING THE OPERATIONS OF 'SEX- MARKING,' 'CASTRATING,' AND 'TAIL DOCKING' OF SHEEP IN PARTICULAR, AND YOUNG CALVES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rogers Thompson, of Darling Downs,
Queensland, Australia, but at present residing at Sheffield, in the
County of York, Sheep Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INSTRUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PERFORMING THE OPERATIONS OF 'SEX-
MARKING,' 'CASTRATING,' AND 'TAIL DOCKING' OF SHEEP IN PARTICULAR, AND
YOUNG CALVES."
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rogers
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd May 1873.
I, JOSEPH ROGERS THOMPSON, of Darling Downs, Queensland,
Australia, but at present residing at Sheffield, in the County of York,
Sheep Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PERFORMING THE OPERATIONS
OF 'SEX-MARKING,' 'CASTRATING,' AND 'TAIL DOCKING' OF SHEEP IN PARTICULAR,
AND YOUNG CALVES," to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in instruments to be
employed in performing the operations of "sex-marking,” “castrating,”

page_text: and "tail docking," of sheep in particular, and young calves. For this
purpose I employ an instrument consisting of a lancet-shaped knife
fixed in a suitable handle, to which handle is also fixed a pair of spring
pliers, the jaws whereof are serrated or suitably roughened, and extend
in the opposite direction to that of the knife.
By the aid of this instrument the operator can perform the necessary
duties of "sex-marking," "castrating," and "tail docking" without
shifting the knife in his hand, and as rapidly as the lambs can be fetched
to him by the attendants.
Further, by the aid of this instrument the operator is not required to 1
make use of his own mouth and teeth to extract the testicles and draw
sufficient of the "cord" away, the pliers formed on the knife having the
special object of drawing the "cord."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Rogers Thompson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
ROGERS THOMPSON, of Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia, but at
present residing at Sheffield, in the County of York, Sheep Farmer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Rogers Thompson, Her special
license that I, the said Joseph Rogers Thompson, my executors, admini-
strators and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Rogers Thompson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PERFORMING THE OPERATIONS

page_text: OF 'SEX-MARKING, ‘CASTRATING,' AND 'TAIL DOCKING,' OF SHEEP IN PARTICULAR,
AND YOUNG CALVES," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said
Joseph Rogers Thompson, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Rogers Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The Invention has for its object improvements in instruments to be
employed in performing the operations of "sex-marking," "castrating,"
and "tail docking," of sheep in particular, and young calves. For this
purpose, I employ an instrument consisting of a lancet-shaped knife
fixed in a suitable handle, to which handle is also fixed a pair of spring
pliers, the jaws whereof are serrated or suitably roughened, and extend
in the opposite direction to that of the knife.
"
By the aid of this instrument the operator can perform the necessary
duties of "sex-marking," "castrating," and "tail docking without
shifting the knife in his hand, and as rapidly as the lambs can be fetched
to him by the attendants.
Further, by the aid of this instrument the operator is not required to
make use of his own mouth and teeth to extract the testicles and draw
sufficient of the "cord" away, the pliers formed on the knife having the
special object of drawing the "cord."
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is an edge view of an instrument
formed according to my Invention.

page_text: suitably roughened to enable them to obtain a firm grip of the testicles
and "cord."
I would here remark that the knife may be made of any form suitable
for the purposes for which it is intended, and the spring pliers may be
otherwise formed without departing from the nature of my Invention.
By the aid of this instrument the operator can perform the necessary
duties of "sex-marking," "castrating," and "tail docking" without
shifting the knife in his hand, and as rapidly as the lambs can be fetched
to him by the attendants.
Further, by the aid of this instrument the operator is not required to 1
make use of his own mouth and teeth to extract the testicles and draw
sufficient of the “cord” away, the pliers formed on the knife having the
special object of drawing the "cord.”
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that 1
what I claim is, the employment in the same instrument of a pair of
spring pliers in combination with a knife, in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rogers Thompson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of 2
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.
E
MHATERNARY