Balling gun, 1817-20

Balling guns are an example of veterinary medical technology that has no obvious equivalent within conventional human medicine. Today, they are in use all over the world. They are devices that enable the user to give medicines to often very reluctant animals, and are made to designs that aim to minimise the chance of injury to both human and animal. The first balling gun was invented by Joseph Goodwin in 1812. He was veterinarian to King George IV. This example, produced a few years later, was made to the same design.