Untitled record

J. H. JENNINGS.

RUBBER BOOT FOR HORSES.

No. 65,231. · Patented May 28, 1867.

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JOSEPH H. JENNINGS, OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 65,231, dated May .28, 1867;

IMPROVED RUBBER BOOT EOR HORSES.

W Stytato ttitm'n to in ifctst ^titers |irttni ani mnhing {art nf iirc.saiiw.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, Joseph H. Jennings, of Cambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Rubber Boot for Horses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which__'

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my rubber boot for horses.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the same on the line x x.

The object of my invention is to afford a means by which various ailments which affect the hoofs and lower parts of tho legs of horses way be treated for cure.

My invention consists in a rubber covering fitted to enclose tho entire hoof, when provided witli a le» or upward extension therefrom, which is slit longitudinally to allow the expansion or opening of saidlcg so as to admit the hoof into that part of the boot designed to receive it, and which is provided witli- means for drawing towards each other the slit or severed parts of the leg. To retard or prevent escape of perspiration from the enclosed parts, or to prevent escape of any fluid or semi-fluid matter which may be poured or placed in the'boot to surround the hoof and leg, a flap, lip, or tongue is made use of to pack the opening in the leg made by the slit. I prefer to have this tongue of rubber, or of rubber cloth, and to have it form a part of the hoot, and be located within the leg. Still, if it is made as a separate piece, and is applied upon the outside of the lc» so as to cover the slit therein, it will perform its function, though in an inferior manner.

In the said drawings the shank or leg portion A of the boot is shown as made from a sheet of rubber cloth cut into pieces of the required size and shape, and united, in a well-known manner, around a thick block of rubber constituting the sole B, thus forming the pattern of boot desired, a arc metal eyelets which arc placed at suitable distances apart within the front portions b of the leg of the boot, which are made thicker than its sides, and are brought together so as to close the opening between them by means of a leather lacing e passin» through the eyelets a. d is a strip of rubber fastened to the leg portion at e, and serves as a flap for more effectually closing the opening between the portions J, and excluding the air from the foot. If a horse’s foot is affected with any complaint, such as quitter-bone, contraction of the heel, sand splits, or should the hoof not grow fast enough to compensate for the operation of cutting it down to fit the iron shoe, it is only necessary to allow the horse to rest, and place the boot upon the foot, when the Opening between the. portions b should be . snugly closed by stretching the flap over it and drawing up the lacing e, by which means the inflammation is entirely .drawn away from the parts affected, the rubber fitting around the parts so closely ns to check the.escape of perspiration, and thus cause the enclosed parts to be surrounded witli or bathed in moisture. If the boot be larger than necessary for the foot it, encloses, a poultice of bran and water may be inserted within the boot, thus superseding, the-necessity of “stuffing” the foot with linseed meal, cow-dung, clay, etc., and more effectually keeping the poultice in place upon the foot. . If the horse’s foot has become hard by standing upon a dry surface, the foot may be placed in the boot and water poured therein, whereby the horn is-softened, and the frog made tender and elastic, care.being taken, however, to remove the boot before the foot is “boiled or drawn too much. The contact of the rubber with the leg in cases of “Splint” is especially beneficial.