142 Ageicujltdeal Experiment Station, Ithaca, N, Y. 



1. That for efficiency, cheapness and ease of application, stick 

 caustic potash can be safely recommended for preventing the growth 

 of horns. 



2. The earlier the application is made in the life of the calf, the 

 better. 



PATENTED CHEMICAL DEHORNER. 



On March 16, 1893, we received from the John March Co., 17 & 

 19 River St., Chicago, 111., a circular concerning their " Method of 

 Dehorning easily, safely, perfectly and cheaply with the John March 

 Company's Chemical Dehorner." Accompanying the circular was a 

 bottle of the " Dehorner " containing about a gill of clear liquid. The 

 circular, besides setting forth the merits of the liquid and quoting numer- 

 ous testimonials, laid claim to a patent granted July 12, 1892, "On 

 method of preventing the growth of horns by applying any substance 

 to the embryo horn to prevent its growth," and warning all against 

 infringement. 



The existence of such a patent Avith such sweeping claims was a 

 great surprise to us, as various compounds intended to prevent the 

 growth of horns had been largely advertised in the agricultural press 

 for several years, and caustic potash had been publicly recommended 

 for the purpose at least as early as February, 1892.* 



On looking the matter up it was found that patent No. 478,877 was 

 issued July 12, 1892, to John March, assignor to the John March 

 Company, on a Method of Suppressing Horns in Cattle, the important 

 spi cifications of which are as follows: 



" Be i; known that I, JOHN MARCH, of White Oak Springs, in the 

 county of Lafayette and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain 

 Improvements in the Method of Suppressing Horns in Cattle, of which 

 the following is a specification. * * * ^^^ object 



of my invention is to avoid the troubles and dangers attending the 

 removal of a fully developed horn; and to this end it consists in effect- 

 ing by chemical means the suppression of the lioi'ns while still in an 

 embryotic or incipient stage. I nave found, after many experiments, 

 that it is possible by properly treating the young horn to arrest its 

 growth, and this without in any way affecting or impairing the health 

 or appearance of the animal in other respects. I have found that vari- 

 ous chemicals and chemical compounds maybe employed to accomplish 

 my end. I recommend, however, the following composition of matter: 

 Concentrated potash, one hundred parts; water, one hundred and ninety 



* "Dehorning Calves,"' Indiana Farmer, Feb. 6, 1892. 



