Hot Water Bandage or Appliance for Treating Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug.. 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Hot Water Bandage or Appliance for Treating Horses and other
Animals.
We, ROBERT BUSTIN, of St. John, in the Province of New Brunswick,
Dominion of Canada, Dealer in Live Stock, JOHN ROBINSON MCCONNELL, of
Marysville, in the Province of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, Gentleman
Farmer, and WESLEY VANWART, of Fredericton, in the Province of New
Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, Barrister and Notary Public, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to hot water appliances for treating horses and other
animals for the relief and cure of those complaints in which local application of
artificial heat is indicated as the proper and most efficient remedy.
It is the purpose of the invention to provide simple means for the speedy relief
and ultimate cure of those diseases in horses and other animals of which colic is a
type, and which usually manifest themselves by severe spasms of pain due to
perverted and excessive peristaltic contractions; horses are peculiarly susceptible
to these complaints, and require prompt and efficient treatment to arrest the disorder
before it arrives at a stage where cure is extremely difficult, and in most cases
impossible.
In the early stages of these complaints a topical treatment is usually
indicated as it gives the best and quickest results, and the purpose of the invention
is to provide a simple and inexpensive article, or appliance, which may be readily
used by any person, without requiring previous experience or training, which is
capable of use upon a horse, or upon any other animal, as well as upon the human
body, if necessary.
The invention consists, to these ends, in the novel features of construction and
in the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and then
particularly pointed out and defined in the claims.
To enable others to fully understand and to make and use said invention, we
will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for such purpose to
the accompanying drawings, in which—
Fig. 1 is a view shewing the invention as it appears when applied to a horse, or
other animal.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same removed from the animal and extended
to exhibit the inner face..
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the parts shewn in Fig. 2.
The reference-numeral 1, in said drawings, indicates a' pad preferably made of
rubber, though other suitable, flexible material may be used. It is usually made
of somewhat greater width in its middle portion, to cover the abdomen, and narrowed
toward each end. Straps 2 are attached along one end and a corresponding
number of buckles 3 are attached at its other end, whereby it may be buckled
closely around the body of the animal and drawn up against the abdominal
portion as tightly as may be necessary. Arranged along the inner surface of the
pad, transversely to its length, is a series of separate, Hexible tubes 4, which are
integral with the material of which the pad is composed. The ends of these
tubes 4 approach quite near the edges of the pad and are integral and have

page_text: communication at their opposite ends, with a flexible pipe 5, 58, which pipe is also
an integral part of the pad... This pipe 5, 5ª, extends along both longitudinal
margins of the pad and at one end across said pad.
At the end of the branch 5 of said pipe is provided an extension 6, which
projects beyond the end of the pad. Its extremity is provided with a valve or
plug, preferably threaded to screw into a suitable bushing 7, and connected by
a chain 8.
The extremity of the other branch 5ª of said pipe which extends along the
opposite longitudinal margin of the pad is provided with an opening which is
adapted to be closed with a screw-valve or stopper 9.
The reference numeral 10, indicates an outlet communicating with one of the
tubes 4, preferably the middle one, and which is closed by a screw valve or stopper
as shewn.
We prefer in most cases, to apply to the pad 1 an outer layer of any suitable
material capable of preventing rapid conduction of heat.
The invention is used by filling the tubes 4 and pipe 5, 5ª, with water heated to
the proper temperature, and then strapping the pad upon the animal in the manner
shewn in Fig. 1. the straps being drawn tightly enough to cause the tubes to
press closely upon the abdomen. The local warmth thereby imparted quickly
relieves the more severe symptoms and in many instances will effect a cure without
medication. When the latter is necessary. the action of the remedies used is
assisted and expedited and the animal is rendered manageable by the use of the
invention, so that medicines can be administered without difficulty.
In filling the tubes, when the pad is on the animal, some provision is necessary
for the escape of air at one end of the series of pipes as the fluid enters at the
other end, and such provision is afforded by the opening having the plug 9. The
water outlet 6 and air outlet 9, being, when the pad is upon an animal, at the same
level, water poured into 6 will flow through the pipe 5, 5 and the tubes 4 forcing
the contained air in advance of it and out through the valve controlled opening 9,
so that all the air is driven out and the entire interior space of the pipe and tubes
occupied by the hot water. It can be readily ascertained when the device is
sufficiently supplied with water, as when it is filled, the water will begin to flow
out the opening 9. By providing the outlet 10 at the point indicated, the
temperature of the water in the pipe and tubes may be lowered, if found too hot,
by opening the outlet and permitting a discharge of a portion of the hot water the
place of which may be taken by water of reduced température introduced through
the inlet 6, thus lowering the temperature of the entire body of water. By
providing this outlet 10, also, the device can be supplied or emptied and re-supplied
with warm water while the pad is on the animal, by allowing the water to
discharge through the outlet, then closing the latter and charging through the
inlet 6.
By making the tubes 4 and pipe 5, 5", in one piece with the pad, we avoid the
frequent separation of the same, which is liable to occur from the use of water at
high temperatures, when cement is employed to unite the tubes to the pad. We
prefer to mould the whole structure, including the pad and the tubes, in a single
piece but may form the tubes 4 separately and unite them with the pad 1 while in
a plastic state, and thus form theni, practically, in a single piece with said pad.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
:-
1
1. An abdominal pad for the treatment of diseases in animals, consisting of a
sheet of flexible material having straps and buckles at its ends, provided upon one
side with a series of tubes formed or united integral with said pad transversely
to the length thereof, a continuous pipe extending along both longitudinal
'margins of the pad and across the same at one end and having communication
with all of said tubes, a water inlet and an air outlet provided at the ends of

page_text: said pipe, and a water outlet communicating with one of said tubes, substantially
as described.
2. An abdominal pad for the treatment of diseases in animals, consisting of a
sheet of flexible material having straps and buckles at its ends, provided upon one
side with a series of tubes, formed or united integral with said pad transversely
to the length thereof, a continuous pipe extending along both longitudinal
margins of the pad and across the same at one end, the said pipe being formed
integral with the said pad and the said tubes and having communication with
all of the said tubes, a water inlet and an air outlet provided at the ends of
the said pipe, and a water outlet communicating with one of the said tubes,
substantially as described.
3. The abdominal pad for the treatment of diseases in animals, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of June 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.