Related Inventions

The Garrote-Proof Collar, circa 1862

The Mammary Sympathizer, circa 1893

The Sheep Trick,
circa. 1864

While Michael Flannigan was living in semi-exile in Ireland, he would often take long walks in the Clare countryside, admiring the flocks of sheep and their keepers. Logically, Flannigan turned his inventive mind to the field of animal husbandry. Following the London Garroting Panic of 1862, and his successful Garrote-Proof Collar, Flannigan thought that this invention might be converted to something that would protect sheep from predators. The Sheep Trick was born.

Unfortunately, his subcontractor made the device out of cast iron, causing several problems:

• rust stains on the wool
• ferrous oxide poisoning in lambs
• sheep unable to lift their heads.

This last problem was a serious issue at shearing time, and became known as Flannel Neck.

The future did not look bright for The Sheep Trick, until orders started pouring in from Berlin, London, and other major urban centers throughout Europe. Flannigan was surprised that so many city dwellers would need to protect their animals from wolves and wild dogs, but was happy to have a place to send his unused Sheep Tricks.

The mystery market made more sense on the evening he caught his sister Hope wearing the device while she tried to sneak into the back entrance of the Ennis Friary. He decided not to continue selling the device after Lord Burgen Bumpudler was found dead in his kitchen, apparently self-asphixiated, wearing a Sheep Trick.