Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 7.djvu/924

 3I2 FSOSBAIi SEFOBXBP �in the original he says : �"I do not claim to have originated the devices known as spurs of prongs on the wirea, they having been used before, and conane myself to the means for holding the spurs at proper intervals upon the wires, and to the means for obtaining uniform tension of the wires as claimed." �And the claim in the original is — �" The combination of two wires, B, 0, slotted tube, G, coiled spring, I, and post, K, for keeping the wires at a proper tension in various temperatures, as described and shown." �In the original patent he does not describe in the specifica- tions the pecuiiar manner in which the barb is formed and coiled around the two wires, further than by a reference to the drawings. In division A of the re-issue he describes his barb as consisting of a short wire, pointed at eacli end, and wrapped or coiled around the fence wire or wires at proper intervais, leaving projecting ends as shown. These barbs, which he claims in the re-issue as his own special mode of construction and attachment, are described in the drawings of the original, the only difference being that in the re-issue C, at figure 3, sets forth a barb with one more twist than in the original; but obviously the mode of constructing and attaching the barbs to the wire are substantially jthe same. We have assumed that it is entirely competent for a patentee to correct in a re-issue by the drawings any mistake made in the original, and we think, therefore, that if Glidden was the inventer of the peculiar mode of constructing and attaching the barb which is described in the drawing of the original, and in division A of the re-issue, he had the right to it in his re-issue and to claim it. We admit there is not a very great distinction between this mode of constructing and attaching the barbs and others which existed before. If this were an entirely new and original question, without the action so long cbntinued of the patent-office — without such a business hav- ing grown up in relation to it as now exists, — for it must not be forgotten that the inventors of these barbs have created a new branch of industry, have been the instruments by which barbed wire fencing bas corne into such general use, — we ��� �