Improvements in or relating to lethal chambers for the destruction of animals / [Bertram Richardson].

  • Richardson, Bertram.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Improvements in or relating to lethal chambers for the destruction of animals / [Bertram Richardson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/10
    N° 2290 A.D. 1904 Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1904 Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1904—Accepted, 1st Dec., 1904 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. “ Improvements in or relating to Lethal Chambers for the Destruction of Animals.” We, Bertram Richardson, Sculptor, ot 52, Oxford Road, Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, and John Carlton Hunting* Advertising Contractor, of 13, Finchley Road, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows 6 This invention relates to lethal chambers for the destruction of animals and has for its object to enable this to be effected in a painless manner, the apparatus being of a handy and portable type. According to this invention a chamber of suitable dimensions is provided with doors or openings of convenient type, which will allow the chamber to be 10 hermetically closed, while enabling access to be readily had to the interior for the insertion or removal of the animals under treatment. A pump, blower, or the like is combined with suitable pipe connections and a receptacle for an anaesthetic or lethal substance so that the vapour of this sub- stance^can be circulated through the chamber, the continuous circulation caus- 15 ing the fumes within the chamber to gradually increase in strength. When, by means of the anaesthetic or the like thus introduced, the animals to be treated have been reduced to a state of unconsciousness, the operation of the pump is ceased and carbonic acid gas is introduced into the chamber, or other means taken to effect the death of the animals while in the unconscious state. 20 Conveniently a cylinder of carbonic acid gas is placed in communication with the chamber, tne gas being led through a meter of some type which will allow of measurement being taken of the quantity of gas used. After the death of the animals, by asphyxiation or otherwise, has been effected, the pump is put into operation, the connections having been altered, so as to 25 cause fresh air to be introduced to the lethal chamber and the fumes and gas contained therein withdrawn and discharged into the atmosphere or elsewhere as found convenient. The chamber is constructed with walls preferably panelled with glass or the like which will admit a certain amount of light and the whole chamber may be JO arranged in some form convenient for transportation, if desired, though obviously it may be arranged as a fixture, if necessary. Within the chamber are disposed one or more trays which rest upon the floor or on suitable shelves, these trays being adapted to receive the animals to be treated. The trays are provided with supports which raise them off the floor, 35 or the shelves on which they rest, so that the fumes and gas which are intro¬ duced in the upper part of the chamber may circulate freely around the trays and their contents. The trays may be a loose fit in the chamber or may lie closely against the side walls, having openings in their edges to allow for the circulation of the fumes and gas. Preferably the trays have flanged upturned 40 edges in which these circulating openings may be formed. Where shelves are employed these may be arranged to be fixed at varying heights as found convenient and each shelf is provided with one or more open¬ ings for the passage of the fumes and gas, these openings being conveniently disposed at or about th^ centre of the shelf.