Dehokning. 143 



parts; logwood, ten parts. The essential element of the composition 

 is the potash, which may be used without logwood and of any suitable 

 degree of attention. 



" In practice I commonly make use of the solution when the animal 

 is from one to ten days of age. It is simply applied externally to the 

 young or incipient horn by means of a brush or other instrument, and 

 in most cases I find that a single application is suificient to answer the 

 purpose in view. * * * Having thus described my inven- 

 tion, what I claim is: 1. The improvement in the art of suppressing 

 horns in cattle, consisting in applying to the incipient horn a substance, 

 substantially as described, to check its growth. 2. The improvemei.t 

 in the art of suppressing or eliminating horns in cattle, consisting 

 in treating the incipient horn with potash, substantially as herein 

 described." 



The " Dehorner " was submitted to the Station Chemist, Mr. G. W. 

 Cavanaugh, for analysis and his report is as follows: 



" The sample of chemical Dehorner has been found on analysis in this 

 laboratory to consist of a solution of 32.25 per cent of caustic soda in 

 water. Caustic soda is worth 15 cents per pound and one pound would 

 make about 1 litre of solution of the above strength. The bottle con- 

 tains 1-10 litre and therefore the amount in the bottle Avouldcost about 

 1^ cents." 



The price given in the circular is fl.OO per bottle. 



Concerning the efficacy of the " Dehorner" there can be little doubt; 

 caustic soda is almost identical with caustic potash in its caustic proper- 

 ties and our experiments and those of others have shown caustic potash 

 to be effective in preventing the growth of horns.* Moreover, experi- 

 ments at the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station have shown 

 that the March Dehorner will do what is claimed for it. 



We are therefore inclined to the following conclusions: 



1st. The John !V[arch Company's Chemical Dehorner is undoubtedly 

 effective for the purpose intended. 



2d. It is not made of the materials called for in the specifications of 

 the letters patent. 



3d. It is sold at an exorbitant price. 



4th. There need be little fear of infringement of a patented article 

 consisting of a single well-known chemical reagent, or of a method 

 already so well known and advertised. 



I. P. ROBERTS. 



•8th Annual Rept. of A.gric. Expt. Station of the Univer. of Wisconsin, p. 289. 



