Improvements in the Manufacture of Antiseptics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE FARBENFABRIKEN vormals FRIEDRICH
BAYER & Co., of Elberfeld, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Antiseptics.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
My foreign correspondents have described in the Specification of the Letters
Patent No. 3301, dated 19th February 1892, that the salts of' dinitro-ortho-cresol,
in certain respects, have an extraordinary effect upon fungi. This property is of
special value, as the said salts are without smell, and are not volatile, and solutions
of these salts (owing to the evaporation of the solvent employed) become more
and more concentrated and effective, unlike all other phenol or cresol products,
which it is known are volatile. Moreover, the said salts of dinitro-ortho-cresol, as
dyes, chemically combine with the material or surface to which they are applied,
and for this reason they have become now the best preservative against the rotting
of wood and stone or the like.
The researches of my foreign correspondents have shewn that the salts of
dinitro-ortho-cresol act less on solutions of pathogenic fungi, which is a matter of
regret, as these salts form a good deodoriser, and, in view of the above mentioned
advantages, would gain the first place amongst the disinfectants applied in choléra
or other epidemics, if they would effectually destroy bacteria.
My foreign correspondents have now ascertained by thorough and numerous
investigations, that the free dinitro-ortbo-cresol possesses, in a high degree, this
anti-bacterial power, whilst the metal salts of dinitro ortho cresol exhibit these
properties in only a slight degree.
The solubility in water of dinitro ortho cresol is very slight. It is not possible
to keep solutions thereof containing more than 1 part of dinitro ortho cresol in
from 4000 to 5000 parts of water. According to the researches of my foreign
correspondents, even these very dilute solutions are capable of preventing the
growth of germs (bacteria) in bouillon infected with germs causing putrefaction,
the infected bouillon remaining perfectly clear and sweet even after three weeks.
Inoculation, however, has shewn, that the destruction of all kinds of germs
(bacteria) cannot be attained in such a manner, unless the solutions contain a
small excess of free dinitro-ortho-cresol in suspension.
It is noticeable, that the solutions containing 0.5 per cent. of the potassium salt
of dinitro-ortho-cresol will not prevent the action of germs, and that bouillon
infected with germs becomes, after a short time, dull, and assumes a strong smell
of putrefaction in the presence of salts of dinitro ortho cresol.
Investigations made with wort by my foreign correspondents have shewn, that the
free dinitro ortho cresol, even when employed in solutions containing 1 part of
dinitro cresol and 5000 parts of water, perfectly stops the action of yeast in such a
manner that even after three weeks the wort did not shew the slightest trace of
dullness, or disengagement of carbon dioxide, whilst, on merely adding dinitro-ortho
cresol potassium, in a 0.5 per cent. solution (and it would naturally be so in a higher
degree without this addition), the yeast acted in a normal manner.

page_text: °
My foreign correspondents have found that in watery solutions of dinitro ortho
cresol, water is combined as a base with the dinitro ortho cresol, which is evident
from the following:-It is not possible to extract from yellow solutions of dinitro
ortho cresol, by means of ether, the dinitro ortho cresol, though the latter dissolves
in ether with readiness, whilst, after the addition of even the weakest acids, watery
solutions of dinitro ortho cresol, when extracted with ether, instantly become
colourless, the dinitro ortho cresol being dissolved by the ether.
My foreign correspondents have also ascertained another physiological fact, that
watery solutions of diuitro ortho cresol prepared by saturation at the ordinary
temperature, are not detrimental to the animal organism, for they have found that
birds, guinea pigs, and rabbits, remained in best health, when, in place of water,
solutions of dinitro ortho cresol were given them to drink, and that crabs could
stay in these solutions during several weeks without harm.
Though the solutions of dinitro ortho cresol (1.5000) cannot destroy germs
(bacteria), they are capable of perfectly stopping the chemico-physiological action
thereof in a surprising manner.
My foreign correspondents, therefore, propose dinitro ortho cresol in dilute
watery solutions (in consideration of its unpoisonousnous for the animal organism)
as a medicine to be applied for patients affected by epidemics, such as cholera, and
they believe that this medicine can be employed internally with good results.
My foreign correspondents have further found, that the action of the free
dinitro ortho cresol can be materially increased by employing it together with salts
of dinitro ortho cresol.
As above mentioned, a solution prepared by dissolving one part of the potassium
salt of dinitro ortho cresol in 200 parts of water, does not possess, by many degrees,
the same action as a solution containing 1 part of the free dinitro ortho cresol
in 5000 parts of water. If, however, a solution of one part of the potassium salt
of dinitro ortho cresol in 500 parts of water, is mixed with 0-07 parts of free
dinitro ortho cresol, a solution results which (in consideration of its antiseptic
action on fungi of cholera) is far superior to à 0.2 per cent. solution of solveol,
though the aforesaid solution of dinitro ortho cresol, and its potassium salt, merely
contains 1 part of dinitro ortho cresol in more than 7000 parts of water, that is to
say, represents but a 0·014 per cent. solution.
The said solution of dinitro ortho cresol kills fungi of yeast as rapidly as a
0.2 per cent. solution of solveol, both solutions producing this effect after 24 hours.
A 0-2 per cent. solution of dinitro ortho cresol in a 3 per cent. solution of the
potassium salt of dinitro ortho cresol (the latter being prepared by saturation at
ordinary temperature) destroys the fungi after 17 hours, and shews a stronger
action than solveol. The last-named solution of dinitro ortho cresol and its
potassium salt, is capable of killing germs (bacteria) of putrefaction in bouillon,
or soup, under conditions in which all other antiseptics (excluding sublimate) will
no longer act..
My foreign correspondents have also found that, in certain cases, an addition of
soap to solutions or liquids containing dinitrò ortho cresol, with or without a salt
thereof, is very profitable, and that, in place of the above watery solutions or
liquids, alcoholic, or mixed watery-alcoholic, solutions can be used with the same
or a better result.
Dated this 18th day of Octobox 1902

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Antiseptics.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My foreign correspondents have stated in the Specification of the Letters Patent
No. 3301, dated 19th February 1892, that salts of dinitro ortho cresol have, in
certain respects, an extraordinary effect on fungi. This property is of special
value, as the said salts are without smell, and do not volatilise, so that solutions of
these salts, by the evaporation of the solvent used, become more and more
concentrated and effective,-unlike all other phenol or cresol products, which it is
known are volatile. Moreover, the said salts of dinitro ortho cresol, being dyes,
combine with the material or surface to which they are applied, and, for this reason,
as they prevent rotting, they have now become the best preservatives of wood and
stone, or the like.
The researches of my foreign correspondents have shown that the salts of
dinitro ortho cresol are less active in solutions containing pathogenic fungi, which
is a matter of regret, as these salts are good deodorisers, and, in view of the above
mentioned advantages, would gain the first place among the disinfectants applied in
cholera or other epidemics, if they effectually destroyed bacteria.
My foreign correspondents have, however, now ascertained by thorough
investigation, that free dinitro ortho cresol possesses a high degree of antibacterial
power, although the metallic salts thereof exhibit this property in only a slight
degree.
The solubility in water of dinitro-ortho-cresol is very slight, and it is not possible
to keep solutions thereof containing more than 1 part of dinitro ortho cresol in from
4,000 to 5,000 parts of water. According to the researches of my foreign
correspondents, even these very dilute solutions are capable of preventing the
growth of organisms (bacteria) in bouillon infected with germs capable of causing
putrefaction, such infected bouillon remaining perfect clear and sweet, even after
three weeks, whereas solutions containing 0.5 per cent. of the potassium salt of
dinitro ortho cresol will not check the activity of organisms,-infected bouillon
becoming, after a short time, turbid and putrid in the presence of salts of dinitro
ortho cresol.
Inoculation experiments have, however, shown that the destruction of all
kinds of germs (bacteria) cannot be attained in such a manner, unless the
solutions contain a small excess of free dinitro ortho cresol in suspension.
Investigations made with beer-wort by my foreign correspondents, have shown
that even when used in solutions containing but 1 part in 5,000 parts of water, free
dinitro ortho cresol entirely stops the action of yeast, in such a manner, that, even
after three weeks, the wort did not show the slightest trace of turbidity, or dis-
engagement of carbon dioxide, whilst, on merely adding potassium dinitro ortho cresol
in 0.5 per cent. solution (and it, would naturally be so in a higher degree without
this addition), the yeast acted in a normal manner.
My foreign correspondents have found that water is combined as a base with the
dinitro ortho cresol, in solution thereof in water, as it is not possible to extract the
dinitro ortho cresol from such solutions by means of ether, though it dissolves in
ether with readiness, the solution remaining yellow, although, alter adding even
the weakest acids, solutions of dinitro ortho cresol in water instantly become
colorless, when extracted with ether, the dinitro ortho cresol being dissolved by the
ether.

page_text: My foreign correspondents have also ascertained another physiological fact,
viz. that solutions of dinitro ortho cresol in water, prepared by saturating water
at the ordinary temperature, are not detrimental to the animal organism, having
found that birds, guinea pigs, and rabbits, remain in health, if, in place of water, a
solution of dinitro ortho cresol in water were given them to drink, and that crabs
could stay in such a solution during several weeks without harm.
Although solutions of dinitro ortho cresol (1.5000) cannot destroy organisms
(bacteria), they are capable of entirely stopping the chemico-physiological action
thereof in a surprising manner.
My foreign correspondents, therefore, propose dinitro ortho cresol in the form of
dilute solutions in water (in consideration of its being without poisonous effect on
the animal organism), as a medicine to be applied to patients affected by epidemics,
such as cholera, and they believe that this medicine can be given internally with
good results.
My foreign correspondents have further found, that the action of free
dinitro ortho cresol can be materially increased by using it together with salts of
dinitro ortho cresol.
1
As above mentioned, a solution prepared by dissolving one part of the potassium
salt of dinitro ortho cresol in 200 parts of water, is many degrees less active than a
solution containing part of the free dinitro ortho cresol in 5000 parts of water.
If, however, a solution of 1 part of the potassium salt of dinitro ortho cresol in
500 parts of water, is mixed with 0.07 parts of free dinitro ortho cresol, a solution
is obtained which (in consequence of its antiseptic action on cholera organisms) is
by far superior to a 0-2 per cent. solution of solveol, though the aforesaid solution
of dinitro ortho cresol, and its potassium salt, merely contains 1 part of dinitro ortho
cresol in more
than 7,000 parts of water, that is to say, represents but
a 0.014 per cent. solution.
The said solution of dinitro ortho cresol kills yeast as rapidly as a 0-2 per cent.
solution of solveol, both solutions producing this effect after 24 hours. A 0.2 per cent.
solution of dinitro ortho cresol in a 3 per cent. solution of the potassium salt of
dinitro ortho cresol (the latter being prepared by saturation at ordinary
temperature) destroys cholera organisms after 17 minutes, and the Schizomycetes
in general after 17 hours, and is more active than solveol. The last-named solution
of dinitro ortho cresol, and its potassium salt, is capable of killing germs (bacteria)
of putrefaction in bouillon, or soup, under conditions in which all other antiseptics,
when used in the same degree of concentration, excluding corrosive sublimate, will
no longer act.
According to the researches of my foreign correspondents, it is also advantageous
to prepare mixtures of solid dinitro-ortho-cresol, and salts of dinitro-ortho-cresol.
In this case, a certain quantity of these mixtures, when required, is either dissolved
in water, in order to produce a disinfecting liquid, or is directly added to liquids, in
order to prevent putrefaction thereof.
Naturally, other compounds which are capable of dissolving the free dinitro-
ortho-cresol, can also be used in place of salts of dinitro-ortho-cresol. For instance,
salts of boric acid, particularly borax, are distinguished by the property that
solutions thereof in water readily dissolve large quantities of free dinitro-ortho-
cresol. The researches of my foreign correspondents have shewn, that 100 parts,
by weight, of a 10 per cent. solution of borax in water, dissolve more than 10 parts,
by weight, of free dinitro-ortho-cresol. Mixtures containing, for instance,
2 parts, by weight, of borax and 1 part, by weight, of free dinitro-ortho-cresol, can
also be prepared. If desired, a certain quantity of this dry mixture is dissolved in
water, or is added to any liquid which readily putrefies.
Such mixtures form good deodorisers, disinfectants, or the like, as is evident
from the fact that, for instance, 0-3 parts by weight of the said mixture, containing
2 parts, by weight, of borax, and I part, by weight, of dinitro-ortho-cresol, suffice
to prevent the putrefaction of 100 litres of urine (in case the last named parts by
weight, are kilos., by weight).

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed (as communicated to me from
abroad), I declare that what I claim is :-
For antiseptic, deodorising, disinfecting, or the like purposes, the use of free.
dinitro-ortho-cresol, or of solutions thereof in water, in which solutions an excess of
dinitro-ortho-cresol may be suspended, or not, as may be desirable, in either case
with or without the addition of salts of dinitro-ortho-cresol, or borax, or other salts
of boric acid, capable of dissolving dinitro-ortho-cresol.
Doted this 18th day of July 1894
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.